Gary Soto is a poet, essayist, and fiction writer who has published works about Mexican American teenagers. Since Soto himself was once a Mexican American teen growing up in Fresno, CA, he writes about subjects, settings, and situations with which he is intimately acquainted. Soto attended Fresno City College to avoid the 1970 draft. After completing two years, he transferred to California State University. Although he had no idea what he wanted to do, Soto wrote poetry while working many jobs and living at home.
