Benjamin Alire Sáenz (pronounced "signs") was an award wining author and poet.  Most of his books are set on the US-Mexico border, which mimics his own experience growing up in El Paso, Texas. Before becoming a writer, Mr. Sáenz was a Catholic priest. After a few years working as a priest, he went back to school for a degree in creative writing and went on to write poetry collections, short stories, and novels for adults, young adults, and children. Later in life, Mr. Sáenz came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community; his identity also influenced his writing.

Mr. Sáenz passed away July 28, 2026 before his last young adult novel, When the World was Happy, was published in September.

Find copies of his books in the LMC and on Destiny Discover.

“About Ben.” Benjamin Ink, https://www.benjaminsaenz.com/about-ben.

Longman, Jeré. “Benjamin Alire Sáenz, First Latino Writer to Win PEN/Faulkner, Dies At 71.” The New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026, https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/28/obituaries/benjamin-alire-saenz-dead.html.

Ramirez, Cindy, and Robert Moore. “Renowned El Paso Author, Artist Benjamin Alire Sáenz Dies At 71.” El Paso Matters, 29 July 2026, https://elpasomatters.org/2026/07/28/benjamin-alire-saenz-el-paso-author-dies-kentucky-club-aristotle-and-dante/. Accessed 7 Oct. 2026.