Thank you Suzy Marrufo, branch manager, and the entire staff of the
Sergio Troncoso Branch Library for your work on behalf of the annual
Troncoso Reading Prizes.
On December 18th, we held the ceremony to present the winners with
certificates of achievement and gift cards from Barnes and Noble. I also
gave each student a signed copy of one of my books.
The newly renovated Troncoso Branch Library looks beautiful. I arrived to an expanded parking lot, gorgeous light from the sunset coming in through the windows, and library patrons quietly reading books and magazines on the new furniture. The circulation desk was also redone. Bravo, City of El Paso, for investing in our local library! Even the reconstruction and widening of Alameda has been finished, so now the road to and from the library is also in great shape.
The 2019 winners of the Troncoso Reading Prizes are:
Mirayah Arleene Flores and
Anthony Morelos (1st place);
Jocelyn Soria and
Sofia Aguirre (2nd place); and
Isabella Guerrero Cortes and
Celine Guevara
(3rd place).
I loved chatting with this year's winners and their parents about growing up in Ysleta, education, the importance of reading, and creating a reading culture at home. They asked many questions, and I was happy to have great conversations about how reading can foster concentration, self-worth, and a sense of self that helps you achieve your goals. The
El Paso Public Library
was where I learned to satisfy that intellectual hunger for ideas and
stories, and I could see that hunger and focus in all of these students.
Each of them reminded me of who I was many years ago. I love this
community, and I will keep returning to Ysleta to award these prizes
every year and to talk to families about how they can educate
themselves and their children to gain a voice, to reach their goals, and
to return and help others.
Every year, we award prizes
for students who read the most books between September 15-November 15. The
prizes are awarded only to students within the geographical area
covered by the Sergio Troncoso Branch Library.
First
Place receives a $125.00 gift card.
Second Place receives a $100.00
gift card.
Third Place receives a $75.00 gift card.
All prizes are
gift cards from Barnes and Noble Booksellers. A total of six prizes are awarded.
Librarians
at the
Sergio Troncoso Branch Library register
readers during the eligible period of the prizes. The library staff
administers the prizes and makes final decisions on all the
prizewinners.
If you have any questions or to register
for the 2020 prizes, please contact the library staff at the Sergio Troncoso
Branch Library, 9321 Alameda Avenue, El Paso, Texas, 79907. Telephone:
915-212-0453.
A great review of A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant’s Son (Cinco Puntos Press) from the Midwest Book Review. Thank you.
A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant’s Son (Cinco Puntos Press) makes the Best of Texas 2019 list from Lone Star Literary Life. Thank you Michelle Newby Lancaster and Si Dunn.
The newly renovated Troncoso Branch Library looks beautiful. I arrived to an expanded parking lot, gorgeous light from the sunset coming in through the windows, and library patrons quietly reading books and magazines on the new furniture. The circulation desk was also redone. Bravo, City of El Paso, for investing in our local library! Even the reconstruction and widening of Alameda has been finished, so now the road to and from the library is also in great shape.
A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant's Son (Cinco Puntos Press) makes the
recommended list by librarians at the Austin Public Library. I love
public libraries, and on Wednesday (12/18) I'll be at the Sergio Troncoso Branch Library in El Paso to give out the Troncoso Reading
Prizes. So happy and grateful that librarians in Austin like my book.
Support and fight for public libraries!
Here's an interview I did with Emma Nelson at Blue Muse Magazine, a
publication of Central 
Thank you, David Gutowski of LargeHearted Boy. He gave me the opportunity to create an imaginary playlist for A Peculiar Kind of Immigrant's Son at this nexus of writing and music. Thirteen songs on Spotify, with my commentary about how they remind me of the characters and situations in my book.