Reyna Grande is the author of three critically acclaimed books.
The Distance Between Us, is Grande’s memoir about her life before and after illegally immigrating from Mexico to the United States. The much-anticipated sequel,
A Dream Called Home was released in 2018. Her other works include the novels,
Across a Hundred Mountains and
Dancing with Butterflies. Reyna has received an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlán Literary Award, and the International Latino Book Award. She was a finalist for the prestigious National Book Critics Circle Awards, and in 2015 she was honored with a Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature.
Born in Mexico, Reyna was two years old when her father left for the U.S. to find work. Her mother followed her father north two years later, leaving Reyna and her siblings behind in Mexico. In 1985, when Reyna was going on ten, she entered the U.S. as an undocumented immigrant to live with her father.
The trauma that immigrant students face before, during, and after migration can have a lasting impact on their physical and mental health, their interactions with the world, and their ability to learn. At DL2019, Reyna will discuss how teachers can develop awareness of the needs of this vulnerable population and create safe places where they can share deeper learning experiences.
