Matt De La Peña is an American author known for his young adult novels. He was born on December 23, 1975, in Los Angeles, California. De La Peña's writing often explores themes of identity, culture, and the challenges faced by young people. He has received several awards for his work, including the Newbery Medal for his book "Last Stop on Market Street." In addition to his novels, De La Peña has written picture books and is a prominent speaker on issues related to literacy and diversity in literature. He is also a professor of creative writing at New York University, where he inspires the next generation of writers.