Northwest author Liz Prato is from Generation X, that population born between 1965 and 1980. It’s a generation, she says in her book, “Kids in America: A Gen X Reckoning,” that received many labels.

“We were called latchkey cynical lazy sarcastic flighty disaffected alienated easily-distracted late blooming self-involved aimless apathetic skeptical pessimistic self-medicating impatient angry uncommitted won’t-grow-up purposeless unreliable slackers,” Prato writes.

Gen X also was the last generation to live without fear of being gunned down in school, she notes.

Prato will discuss her book at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 21 in the Cannon Beach Library. The free talk is part of the library’s NW Authors Series.

This is a hybrid event, available in person at the library or online via the library’s website: cannonbeachlibrary.org (click the banner at the top of the page). Masks are required at the author’s request.

Prato’s writings cleverly blend memoir and cultural critique and have been described as poetic, vivid and compelling.  Her previous book, “Volcanoes, Palm Trees, and Privilege: Essays on Hawai‘i” was named a “top summer travel read” by the New York Times and was a finalist for the Oregon Book Award.

She is the author of the short story collection “Baby’s on Fire”; her stories and essays have appeared in dozens of literary journals and magazines.

Prato teaches writing, has guest lectured at several workshops and conferences, and is the

editor at large for Forest Avenue Press. She lives in Portland, and enjoys small presses, indie bookstores, community and palm trees.