Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pam Muñoz Ryan (born 25 December 1951) is an American latino author.
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She grew up with half her family from Mexico, and the other half from Oklahoma. Having a big family, there were always uncles, aunts, and grandparents around, so she was used to a noisy house.
Growing up in Bakersfield, California, she recalled the sweltering summer days. "My house didn't have air conditioning so I rode my bike to the local library. I read books in the cool air; a relief from the heat." [citation needed]
She is now the author of the bestselling book Esperanza Rising and her newest novel Becoming Naomi Leon.
The inspiration for Esperanza came from her Grandmother. An immigrant from Mexico, she battled inter-family complications and the death of her father. She faced the appalling prejudice that was considered the norm at the time against her Hispanic heritage.
Becoming Naomi Leon came from a 1997 visit to the Mexican city of Oaxaca to an annual Christmas time event called "The Night of the Radishes". In the novel, the side plots revolve around Naomi's school: Buena Vista Elementary. The playground teasing to Naomi's handicapped and crippled brother and Naomi's encounter to a girl whispering "Trailer Trash" as she is passing by is realistic and sends a slight wake-up call to the reader. Naomi's mother is another tag of social issue where Naomi sees Mrs. Leon (or Ms. Skyla Jones as she likes to be called by her maiden name) sneaks bottles of booze, slaps her across the face, and openly calls Owen a bad bargain by pointing out his odd habits and pinched, croaky voice.
Pam Munoz Ryan has also picture books such as Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride. Her other novels include Riding Freedom which has won numerous awards.