Ernesto Cisneros was born and raised in Santa Ana, Calif., where he now teaches. He holds an English degree from the University of California, Irvine, a teaching credential from California State University, Long Beach, and a master's in fine arts in creative writing from National University. As an author, Cisneros believes in providing today's youth with an honest depiction of characters with whom they can identify. Last week, Cisneros won the Pura Belpré Children's Author Award for his first book, Efrén Divided, published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins.
Congratulations! The first question is, of course, how does it feel to win the Pura Belpré Children's Author Award?
It's surreal, for sure. I certainly was not expecting this incredible honor--in fact, I am still letting the idea sink in. The best part, however, has been hearing from both my parents. They are thrilled and incredibly proud. As a son, that is the greatest feeling in the world.
Efrén Divided is your debut and it came out in March. 2020 was, understandably, a bizarre publishing year. What was your experience with making a debut at this time?
As odd as this might seem, being a debut author during these times was a blessing in disguise. Everything was completely new to me, so I did not know what to expect. What helped me most through these uncharted waters were my debut friends at @Class2k20Books. They were amazing. Together we dreamed up new ways of supporting each other.
Another blessing was the support of teachers, librarians, bookstores and the entire literary community, who took it upon themselves to make sure our books reached readers. As an added bonus, I was able to make lots of friends across the nation.
What is it like to be acknowledged for a first work that came out during such a tumultuous period?
Honestly, the experience is bittersweet. It is difficult to be excited about receiving accolades while there is so much hurt and suffering worldwide--particularly in regard to the separation of families.
At the same time, the acknowledgment I have received for Efrén Divided keeps me hopeful. It reminds me of the good in the world, and that things can get better. Hearing that the book is resonating with readers and giving them a new perspective is tremendously rewarding.
Efrén Nava is a U.S. citizen but his parents are undocumented. It is his absolute worst nightmare when his mother doesn't come home one day--she's been deported. Tell us about your inspiration for this book.
In recent years, hatred toward immigrants was given a national platform. Many hurtful things were said about the Latinx community, among others. The distortions were belittling and damaging--they also appeared to be fueled by ignorance--and I did not want children internalizing the things they were hearing in the media.
I was outraged and wanted to take back control over the narrative so that I could remind my students, as well as my own children at home, that our heritage is truly beautiful and not deserving of such animosity.
In addition, I wanted children like Efrén (who have undocumented family members) to know that they are not alone during their time of struggle. They have allies in their community: teachers, counselors, librarians, peers and neighbors who wish to help. Finally, I wanted these children to know that there is hope for change and that they can be a part of it.
Why did you want to write for this age group?
I have taught this age group for most of my teaching career and find it's the time in their lives where I can have the most impact. During this age, middle schoolers are eager to make sense of the world, and they want to find their place in it. I feel an obligation to, at the very least, help point them in the right direction.
I've always felt that books are like the manuals of life. Unfortunately, there are not enough books that speak to the Latinx experience. I wanted students to see themselves on the page and witness how amazing they truly are. Never did I expect that the book would resonate with so many readers.
Anything else you're working on?
I am working on the final edits to my sophomore book, Falling Short. It's a book that I hope will bring laughs and tons of heart to the story of two boys who are best friends and who must rely on each other if they are to become the versions of themselves.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell Shelf Awareness readers?
Yes. It is an honor to be able to share Efrén's world with you. You are SOPER! --Siân Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness