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Sacramento 14-year-old Ethan Minton founded E-Train Talks Inc. to ensure kids have access to books.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — At 14 years old, Sacramento teen Ethan Minton is already making an impact on children across the community.
The freshman at Sacramento Country Day School is the founder and CEO of E-Train Talks Inc., a nonprofit he launched in 2022 to help kids gain access to books.
Minton said he was inspired after learning about “book deserts,” areas where children have little or no access to reading material.
“The reason early literacy is so important to me is books have always been a huge part of my life, and during COVID, it was a pretty isolating experience,” Minton said. “Books were a great opportunity for me to get out of the secluded area that I was in. We couldn’t really leave our house to go to many different places.”
Through donations, Minton has collected more than 7,000 books, with a goal of reaching 10,000 by the end of 2025. He donates the books to children’s hospitals, libraries and underserved communities, spreading what he calls “book joy.”
Minton has spoken to thousands of children through school visits, virtual events and community outreach. One of his most memorable moments, he said, was helping distribute signed books to more than 600 students at Dyer Kelly Elementary alongside author Stuart Gibbs.
This year, Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty named E-Train Talks a Nonprofit of Distinction, one of 30 organizations in the city to receive the honor.
“It meant the world to me. I go out and give books to kids, and it’s rewarding in and of itself to know that I’m making an impact on a kid’s life,” Minton said. “But receiving actual recognition in the form of being a Nonprofit of Distinction really tells me that I am making a true impact and that people are seeing and recognizing the work that I’m doing.”
Minton said the honor motivates him to continue making an impact in Sacramento, a city he says is close to his heart.
“I’ve lived in Sacramento my whole life, so anything I can do to make a positive impact and be a good role model to kids,” Minton said.
Outside of his nonprofit, Minton hosts a podcast under the same name — a nod to the childhood nickname “E-Train” given by his dad. He started the show at age 11 by reviewing books before expanding into author interviews.
Balancing school while running a nonprofit, two websites and a podcast isn’t easy, but Minton said he couldn’t do it without his parents. They help edit scripts and videos and manage social media.
Minton hopes to keep the nonprofit going throughout high school while also pursuing his dream of becoming a sports journalist.
For now, the teen is focused on handing out more books — and inspiring more young readers.
“I wanted to find a way to get other kids reading and have other kids have the chance to have that out-of-body experience that comes with reading a book,” Minton said. “Books transport you to different worlds. They give you the chance to be anybody and follow along any adventure.”
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