Reyna Grande will be at the Olympia Timberland Library on Thursday, October 4 from 7:30 to 8:45 p.m. to discuss her new memoir, “The Distance Between Us,” and the impact immigration had on her life and her writing. Grande will share details of her arduous journey from being an undocumented immigrant to an award-winning novelist, public speaker and creative writing teacher.
After publishing two acclaimed novels, “Across a Hundred Mountains” (2006), and “Dancing with Butterflies” (2009) that drew on her experiences, Grande decided it was time to write about life before and after illegally immigrating from Mexico to the United States and what actually happened to her and her siblings when they were young children.
Born in Mexico and raised by her grandparents after her parents left to find work in the U.S., at nine years old, Reyna enters the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant to live with her father. Filled with hope, she quickly realizes that life in America is far from perfect. Her father isn’t the man she dreamed about all those years in Mexico. His big dreams for his children are what gets them across the border, but his alcoholism and rage undermine all his hard work and good intentions.
Reyna finds solace from a violent home in books and writing, inspired by the Latina voices she reads. After an explosive altercation, Reyna breaks away, going on to become the first person in her family to obtain a higher education, earning a college degree and then an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. The Distance Between Us was published in August. Among numerous positive reviews:
- “A brutally honest book… the “Angela’s Ashes” of the modern Mexican immigrant experience.” –LA Times
- “A standout coming-of-age story.”—Kirkus Reviews
- “Grande captivates and inspires.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
- “…[A] touching and enormously personal memoir… puts a face on issues that stir vehement debate.”—Booklist
Among many other awards, Grande has received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and an International Latino Book Award. Her website is http://reynagrande.com
The Olympia Timberland Library is at 313 8th Avenue. For more information call the library at (360) 352-0595 or go to www.TRL.org. The event is cosponsored by the Friends of the Olympia Timberland Library and the Hispanic Roundtable of South Sound.
