ACE News
Ashley Pérez, novelist and former ACE tutor
January 26, 2011
ACE is very proud to congratulate our former tutor, Ashley (Ray) Pérez on the publication of her young adult novel What Can't Wait. Ashley served as tutor with ACE in 2002–2003 and was an undergraduate at the University of Texas at Austin. She credits ACE with setting her on the journey to becoming a teacher, and went on to serve in Teach for America in the Rio Grande Valley. She is now working on her PhD in comparative literature at Indiana University.
ACE Director, Mary Ellen Isaacs, says, "Ashley was a great ACE tutor. And it is evident that she became a teacher who strives to understand her students' lives in and out of the classroom. She has written a compelling story that beautifully captures the strengths and struggles of students who are the first in their families to apply to college. I highly recommend this book, and look forward to reading Ashley's future books!"
Ashley was interviewed about her writing and her perspective by Alfredo Ródriguez of Teach For America. Mr. Ródriguez has graciously allowed us to excerpt the interview here.
You were once a bilingual tutor for ACE; now you’re an author and a teacher. What role did ACE have in your journey?
I’ve always been drawn to teaching, but ACE got me fired up about combating inequity in education. I loved my work as a bilingual literacy tutor at Blackshear Elementary, and my encounters with students and teachers there made a lasting impression on me. Because of ACE, I decided to join Teach For America in 2004. I haven’t stopped engaging with education issues since.
You have a novel being released soon, What Can’t Wait. Tell us a little bit about the plot.
What Can't Wait is the story of Marisa Moreno, a bright teen marooned in an immigrant family where making ends meet matters more than making it to college. Caught between the demands of her family and her desire to chart her own path, Marisa has to decide for herself what can't wait.
Does anything from your ACE experience show up in the book?
Yes! One of the characters in my novel, Marisa’s niece Anita, was based on one of the students that I tutored at Blackshear. Also, Marisa decides to teach Anita how to read. Without knowing it, she works to develop Anita’s phonemic awareness in one chapter. I bet ACE tutors will recognize some of her strategies.
How much of the book was inspired by what you encountered while teaching in Houston?
The story was shaped by a struggle I saw many of my talented and hard-working seniors encounter. Because I enjoyed a lot of parental support for education, I assumed going into Chávez that my students—whatever their background—would as well. For some of my kids, however, there was an unspoken cost for personal success: potential alienation from their families and peers, many of whom never left Houston or aspired to do so.
What are your hopes for What Can’t Wait?
My aspiration for the novel is that it will be the “gateway” book for many readers, the book that gets them hooked. As a high-interest story with a 7th-grade reading level, it has that potential even for struggling readers or intermediate to advanced English-language learners.
You are a mother, a teacher, a grad student, and an author. First of all, WOW. But more importantly, how do you manage to excel at so many things at once?!
Well, my son’s not walking yet—it might all go out the window soon! Seriously, I actually use the same strategies that I taught my students. I break large tasks into smaller steps and focus on how moderate daily effort adds up over time. For example, right now Liam and preparing for my qualifying exams are my top priorities, but I try not to let my writing fall to the side completely. Instead, I set aside fifteen minutes a day to write. Even though it’s not much, I still get work done in that small time, and it keeps the project (my third novel) from getting cold.
Do you have a new year’s resolution?
Of course! I have some mundane ones, but I mainly like to use the new year to renew my commitment to working purposefully toward goals while also recognizing the blessing of the present moment. I used to make my students come up with a personal motto, and I still have mine over my desk: Be peaceful. Be patient. Be persistent. That’s a good plan for today and for 2011!
Favorite quote?
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” (Mary Oliver, from “The Summer Day”)
Any resources you would like to share for more information on your novel?
Absolutely. There’s more on What Can’t Wait at my website, www.ashleyperez.com. Teachers who would like a complete e-galley of the book for their review can email me or follow the netgalley link on my publisher’s website. The publisher’s site also offers a downloadable discussion guide and bookmark for What Can’t Wait. Finally, I’m always happy to hear from teachers or other youth advocates; I can be reached at novels@ashleyperez.com.