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Benjamin Alire SáenzBenjamin Alire Sáenz<div class="ExternalClass1D860E5F1D434FF887632494081581DC"><p><span style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;">Benjamin Alire Sáenz was born in New Mexico and studied in Colorado and Texas. He eventually settled in El Paso, Texas, where from he wrote ​novels, short stories and poetry for adults, young adults and children. Sáenz​'s identity as a Chicano informed much of his work and his later-in-life coming out as gay found its way into his works as well. In fact, </span><span id="ms-rterangepaste-start" style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;"></span><span style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;">Sáenz​ ​​attributes his writing as ​​a way to contend with and eventually celebrate his most genuine self.</span></p><p><span lang="en" dir="ltr" style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;">The winner of many accolades, </span><span style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;">Sáenz​ ​was the first Latino to win the </span><a href="https://www.penfaulkner.org/our-awards/pen-faulkner-award/" target="_blank" style="font-size:1em;">PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction</a><span style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;"> in 2013.​ </span><span style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;">His writing is funny, truth-telling, emotionally bold, and identifies strongly with his lifelong home, the borderlands. </span></p><p><span style="color:rgb(119, 119, 119);font-size:1em;">Discover a singular voice in contemporary American literature.</span></p><br></div>

 

 

 

 

Discover the works of American author and poet Benjamin Alire Sáenz (​1954-2026). Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.Discover the works of American author and poet Benjamin Alire Sáenz (​1954-2026). Photo by Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.https://www.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/images/Staff Picks/Authors/SP_BASaenz_web.jpg1431

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carry Me Like Water : A Novel [electronic resource]Carry Me Like Water : A Novel [electronic resource]Sáenz, Benjamin Alire.7816607Book9780062045980<div class="ExternalClass946D9213122C4E8E9341EB05372D4FE4">1995<br>​Novel<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22carry%20me%20like%20water%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood [electronic resource]Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood [electronic resource]Alire Saenz, Benjamin 4181184Book9780739360651<div class="ExternalClassE6717953088949F5923C58E034D902A1">2004<br>​Young Adult Novel<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22sammy%20and%20juliana%20in%20hollywood%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
En el Tiempo de la Luz [electronic resource]En el Tiempo de la Luz [electronic resource]Alire Saenz, Benjamin4215729Book9780060779221<div class="ExternalClassC77B5BE3815B41698D9BD53B60AD49DA">2006<br>Novela (Españ​ol)<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22en%20el%20tiempo%20de%20la%20luz%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
A perfect season for dreamingA perfect season for dreamingSaenz, Benjamin Alire. author8896644Book9781933693774 (electronic bk)<div class="ExternalClass729E4C603D25499A85C02F47E2341E60">2008<br>Children's Picture Book<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22a%20perfect%20season%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Hecho en Tejas : an anthology of Texas-Mexican literatureHecho en Tejas : an anthology of Texas-Mexican literature3782616Book082634125X<div class="ExternalClassA7971452CBB444139ED6C84B2C135E1E">2008<p>Anthology containing ​"The Unchronicled Death of Your Holy Father; Fences"<br>REFERENCE ONLY <br><a href="/locations/burton-barr/arizona-room" target="_blank" title="">Arizona Room​</a><br></p></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22hecho%20en%20tejas%22&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
In Perfect Light : A Novel [electronic resource]In Perfect Light : A Novel [electronic resource]Sáenz, Benjamin Alire. 7824936Book9780061981074<div class="ExternalClass42D9FE4400D34D6DAB45B916817AA119">2008<br>​Novel<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22in%20perfect%20light%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Names on a map [electronic resource] : a novelNames on a map [electronic resource] : a novelSáenz, Benjamin Alire.4157949Book9780061576171 (electronic bk. : Adobe Reader)<div class="ExternalClassD0D3A5E914744C8AA338D2FBF0CC2F7F">2008​<br>​Novel<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22names%20on%20a%20map%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
The dog who loved tortillas = La perrita que le encantaban las tortillasThe dog who loved tortillas = La perrita que le encantaban las tortillasSáenz, Benjamin Alire.3986463Book9781933693545<div class="ExternalClassFB45BF62EE3E4F549D1D60A0A5E698DE">2009<br>Children's Picture Book<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22the%20dog%20who%20loved%20tortillas%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Aristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universeAristotle and Dante discover the secrets of the universeSáenz, Benjamin Alire.3601536Book1442408928<div class="ExternalClassB189CCC5A6A94730AA1215C92F70A89D">2012<br>​Young Adult Novel<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22aristotle%20and%20dante%20discover%20the%20secrets%20of%20the%20universe%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club [electronic resource]Everything Begins and Ends at the Kentucky Club [electronic resource]Alire Sáenz, Benjamin4180145Book9781935955337<div class="ExternalClass53449391465544DEA0F4FA813DBABA7E">2012<br>Short Stories Collection<br>Winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction<br>​<br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22everything%20begins%20and%20ends%20at%20the%20kentucky%20club%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
The inexplicable logic of my lifeThe inexplicable logic of my lifeSáenz, Benjamin Alire4636971Book9780544586505<div class="ExternalClassA1CD4F0A39384DD6B6249720B2E7910A">2017 <div>Young Adult Novel<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22the%20inexplicable%20logic%20of%20my%20life%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Aristotle and Dante dive into the waters of the worldAristotle and Dante dive into the waters of the worldSáenz, Benjamin Alire6431902Book9781534496194<div class="ExternalClassF8061896D3ED443B9C91F08BB450D18D">2021<br>Young Adult Novel<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22aristotle%20and%20dante%20dive%20into%20the%20waters%20of%20the%20world%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10
Grandma fina's wonderful umbrellaGrandma fina's wonderful umbrellaSaenz, Benjamin Alire 8915471Book9780063294127<div class="ExternalClass836C5A71A18D435D8B80E58769478800">2026<br>Children's Picture Book<span id="ms-rterangecursor-start"></span><span id="ms-rterangecursor-end"></span><br></div>https://discover.phoenixpubliclibrary.org/search?query=%22grandma%20fina%27s%20wonderful%20umbrella%22%20saenz&searchType=everything&pageSize=10