Author Visit with Reyna Grande - Chabot College

 

Hayward Public Library is pleased to host award-winning author Reyna Grande at two public events on Wednesday, November 2, and invites community members to read and discuss her best-selling memoir, The Distance Between Us. This eye-opening book describes her life before and after emigrating to the United States.

 

Born in Mexico and raised by her grandparents after her parents left to find work in the U.S., Grande entered the U.S. at age 9 as an undocumented immigrant. At first filled with hope, she quickly realized that life in America was far from perfect. Grande found solace in books and writing, and became the first person in her family to obtain a college degree, earning a B.A. and then an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Grande's first novel, Across A Hundred Mountains (2006), received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and a Latino Books Into Movies Award. Her second novel, Dancing with Butterflies, was published in 2009 to critical acclaim. It was the recipient of an International Latino Book Award and was selected by Las Comadres Para Las Americas National Book Club. Grande’s memoir The Distance Between Us was a National Book Critics Circle Awards finalist, and was hailed by the Los Angeles Times as 'the Angela's Ashes of the modern Mexican immigrant experience.' A young readers’ edition of the memoir was released last month.

 

Ms. Grande will be making two appearances on Wednesday, November 2:

 

Chabot College, Bldg. 2500 - Gymnasium

25555 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward

 

Hayward Main Library

835 C Street, Downtown Hayward
Free parking available in the adjacent parking lot: enter from either Mission Blvd. or Watkins Street.

 

Copies of Grande’s books will be on sale. (Check out copies of Grande’s memoir at the Hayward Library; obtain a 15% discount when you purchase a copy at The Book Shop located at 1007 B Street.) The presentation will be delivered in English, with simultaneous translation in Spanish offered via audio devices, available on a first-come, first-served basis.