Torrey Maldonado Visit

Thanks to funding from the R.L. Stine Creative Writing Fund at the Bexley Education Foundation, award-winning author Torrey Maldonado talked with Bexley 5th graders at each elementary school on October 9. Maldonado is the author of four books for young readers. Bexley students are familiar with his books as 5th-grade teachers at each school read his novel, “What Lane?” to their classes. Maldonado’s book “Tight” won several awards, including an NPR and Washington Post Book of the Year. His latest book, “Hands,” was released early this year.

Maldonado is a native of Brooklyn and grew up in the Red Hook housing project. He is a veteran middle school social studies teacher and teaches in the same New York City public middle school he attended. 

When talking with students about the themes of his books, he acknowledged that “What Lane?,” is largely autobiographical. “The book is about all of us,” he told the students. “What Lane shows that everybody is important. It’s about friendships.” His newest book, “Hands,” follows similar themes like friendship, family, and choices.

The timing of the author’s visit coincides with a current 5th-grade writing project, as students are working now to write stories about themselves in class. Mr. Maldonado will do another virtual visit later in the year when he will help students through the process of revising their writing.