Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Benjamin Alire Sáenz (born August 16, 1954) is an American poet, novelist, and writer of children's and young adult books known for exploring Mexican-American experiences, identity, and LGBTQ+ themes. Poets.org. His most notable works include Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe (2012), which won the Pura Belpré Award, Stonewall Book Award, and a Printz Honor, and Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club (2012), earning him the PEN/Faulkner Award as the first Latino recipient. TeachingBooks. Other achievements include American Book Awards for Calendar of Dust (1992) and Lannan Poetry Fellowships.