He is a past president of ALAN, the Assembly on Literature for Adolescents of NCTE. Black Hole Sunis his second novel. His first, Soul Enchilada, was an ALA Best Book for Young Adults in 2010, a Kirkus Best Book in 2009, a Bank Street College Best Books of the Year selection in 2010, and an NYPL Stuff for the Teen Age selection in 2010.