Jesse

Gary Soto is a poet, essayist, and fiction writer who has published works about Mexican American teenagers. Since Soto himself was once a Mexican American teen growing up in Fresno, CA, he writes about subjects, settings, and situations with which he is intimately acquainted. Soto attended Fresno City College to avoid the 1970 draft. After completing two years, he transferred to California State University. Although he had no idea what he wanted to do, Soto wrote poetry while working many jobs and living at home. Soto says he first became interested in poetry when he discovered the works of poets of the “Beat” generation. After receiving his master’s degree, Gary moved to Mexico City and later taught at several universities. He left teaching in 1991 to become a full-time writer. Soto now concentrates mainly on children’s literature, but he still writes poetry for adults. Because his work has touched the lives of many Latino-American children, Soto feels very rewarded.