Award-winning author Alexandra Diaz is making a special stop on her regional book tour at Tennyson Knolls Preparatory School on September 15. She will be showcasing her latest release, Camp Big Top, a coming-of-age story about four kids who overcome challenges while trying to save their circus camp from closing.

"I am always looking for opportunities to enrich our students' lives through reading," says Nina Lisitsa, Tennyson Knolls library media technician. "This experience is a perfect fit because it helps students view authors as tangible role models."

The daughter of Cuban refugees, Diaz is a native Spanish speaker who explores the lives of young immigrants. Her stories explore the hardships and realities of their situation, and she does extensive research to raise awareness of what children around the world have experienced.

The visit comes at a fitting time, kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month with stories from a successful Latina author.

"For many of our families, the journey to success involved overcoming major obstacles, like learning a new language, adapting to unfamiliar customs, and building a life in a new place," explains Lisitsa.

After the interactive presentation, Diaz will sign and distribute free copies of Camp Big Top to nearly 100 students. The books are provided by Books to Kids, a local non-profit committed to providing free, new books to as many children as possible to promote youth literacy.

"The students are thrilled," Lisitsa adds. "Hearing about the author's real-world challenges will show them that adapting to change and pushing through setbacks is a natural, rewarding part of reaching their full potential."