Award-winning author Reyna Grande recently visited D-E’s 7th graders, who read her memoir, The Distance Between Us: Young Readers Edition at the Middle School. The book is about growing up in rural Mexico and crossing the border at a very young age with her family to live in Southern California. Students gave welcoming and closing remarks and moderated an hour-long Q&A session with the author. They asked Ms. Grande thought-provoking questions about the hardships she endured, the real-life characters from her book, and her writing process, says Grade 7 English Teacher Miriam Butterman. “I was immersed in the experience of meeting her in person,” exclaims Jonas C. ’30. Adds classmate Josie M. ’30, “I really liked [learning] about all of the experiences she went through—it made me understand the book more.” 

Grade 7 English and History Teacher Pooja Patel sums up the event to say, “It was an inspirational morning…Our kids shined bright. The questions they asked were evident of critical thinking. It reminds us all how wonderful our D-E kids truly are!” 

Ms. Grande completed her visit with a book signing.  Thank you Ms. Grande for sharing your insights with us!