Young adult novelist Matt de la Peña ("Mexican WhiteBoy," "We Were Here" and more. )  is going to be returning to California on Nov. 19 to 20 to advocate for literacy during a visit to Stagg High School in Stockton, drop in on a creative writing class at Pacific, and give a lecture on the vital role that diverse literature plays in the lives of young people. He was born in San Diego, graduated from Pacific on a basketball scholarship, and now lives in Brooklyn. He has two new books coming out in January.

LINKS:

• University of the Pacific Event
• NPR: Even On The Water, Class Remains In Session
• NY Times: Racial Lens Used To Cull Curriculum in Arizona