Celebrating Hispanic Heritage With Your Entire Family
Hispanic heritage is a vibrant tapestry of cultures, stories, and traditions that have enriched literature for generations. Whether you're looking to introduce cultural books to your baby, engage your children with compelling stories, or find thought-provoking reads for adults, there is a wealth of Hispanic literature available for the whole family.
This article explores a variety of Hispanic books, from fiction to nonfiction, that celebrate this rich heritage.
Hispanic Baby Books: Fiction and Nonfiction
For the youngest members of the family, Hispanic baby books offer a delightful introduction to Hispanic culture. These books feature colorful illustrations and simple stories that capture the imagination. Titles like Besos for Baby by Jen Arena and Día de Muertos: Números by Duncan Tonatiuh introduce basic concepts through bilingual storytelling, setting the foundation for a love of reading and cultural awareness.
Besos for Baby: A Little Book of Kisses
by Jen Arena - Blanca Gomez
From mami and papi to perro and gato, baby is giving kisses to everyone in this charming bilingual board book that gently infuses basic Spanish vocabulary on every page.
The rhythmic, spare, and simple Spanish is accessible for both bilingual parents and those who wish to introduce Spanish to their little ones. This charming read-aloud proves that love is the same in every language!
Parents won't be able to resist giving baby muchos besos as they share this bilingual read aloud, filled with bold, graphic illustrations, with their little bébé!
It's Time for Día de Los Muertos
by Lilibeth M Jimenez - Lilibeth M Jimenez
Celebrate Día de los Muertos with this sweet board book that highlights the joys of remembering beloved family members who will always live on in your heart.
Get ready with Meli as she gathers family portraits, prepares her abuelito's favorite ponche, bakes her tía's favorite pan dulce, and prepares the ofrenda with her family. It's time for Día de los Muertos!
With bright and festive illustrations from author-illustrator Lilibeth M. Jimenez and engaging text that features some key Spanish words, this sweet story teaches little ones that by celebrating and honoring the lives and memories of your loved ones, your family will always live on in your heart.
Just Shine!: How to Be a Better You
by Sonia Sotomayor - Jacqueline Alcántara
From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Just Ask! comes a sweet and powerful story about being true to yourself and shining your brightest. How will you help people shine?
There once was a little girl who grew up in Puerto Rico with an incredible ability--she was able to make everyone around her shine. She listened, she understood, she worked hard, and she brought out the beauty in each person she met.
In a story inspired by her mother's ability to help people see their own brilliance, Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor shows readers how helping others shine makes the whole world brighter.
With art by award-winning illustrator Jacqueline Alcántara, Just Shine will help readers find their own inner glow--and recognize that glow in those around them.
Día de Muertos: Números: A Day of the Dead Counting Book (a Bilingual Board Book)
by Duncan Tonatiuh
Count up to ten in this bilingual board book celebrating Día de Muertos / Day of the Dead from award-winning author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh/Cuenta
From award-winning and beloved author-illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh comes this celebratory bilingual board book centering on a Día de Muertos ofrenda (Day of the Dead altar), constructed annually to honor the memory and welcome the spirit of a loved one.
The book uses a counting structure, from one to ten, to focus on family members and their offerings, with a double-gatefold finale opening to reveal the family gathered around the fully decorated ofrenda with all of their offerings. Included at the back of the book is a brief author's note that lends additional context on the holiday.
My Mother, Mi Madre: Bilingual English-Spanish
by Raúl the Third Raúl the Third - Raúl the Third Raúl the Third - Elaine Bay
In this colorful bilingual Spanish and English board book from New York Times bestselling, three-time Pura Belpré Award-winning author-illustrator Raúl the Third, join Coco Rocho as he celebrates his mother and their adventures together in the World of ¡Vamos!
Adventures with mom are always fun, especially when they're in both English and Spanish!
In this bilingual board book, young readers are introduced to Spanish vocabulary through the love between mother and child.
¡Te quiero, Mama! Join Coco Rocho and all his companions in this sweet celebration of mothers everywhere!
For more from Coco Rocho and his friends, check out My Party, Mi Fiesta and My Nap, Mi Siesta!
When Sun Rises
by Aida Salazar - Caribay M Benavides
Derived from Mexican Indigenous wisdom, this is the third title in a series of poetic board books centering around establishing an authentic, heartfelt connection with nature.
Using Mexican concepts, this poignantly lyrical series invites young children to pay witness to nature and the ways in which the outside world interacts with our own human rhythms. The Sun guides all life on Earth. We move to its cycles through the seasons--listening to the awakening of nature in spring, celebrating the shining warmth in summer, honoring our loved ones in autumn, and dreaming of better days ahead in winter. Its steadfastness touches and gives life to every being, showcasing the power of universal interconnectedness. Award-winning author Aida Salazar lovingly turns her attention to the youngest readers with her signature lyrical text--in English with a few Spanish words interwoven, perfectly paired with vibrant, mystical art crafted by Caribay M. Benavides. This book is a truly meaningful and formative experience for all young readers.
Hispanic Children Books: Fiction and NOnfiction
As children grow, their appetite for stories expands. Hispanic children books provide a wonderful way for kids to see themselves in the characters they read about. Books like A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila and Bold, Brilliant, and Latine by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Sol Cotti bring tales of family stories and multicultural experiences to life. These stories not only entertain but also teach important lessons about identity, belonging, and the beauty of diversity.
A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
by María Dolores Águila
Based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident, this vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young child's courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community is perfect for fans of ESPERANZA RISING and INSIDE OUT AND BACK AGAIN.
Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the youngest of his siblings, born on United States soil. He's el futuro, their dream for a life away from the fire of the Mexican Revolution.
Moved by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican propaganda, the Lemon Grove school board and chamber of commerce create a separate "Americanization" school for the Mexican children attending the Lemon Grove Grammar School. But the new Olive Street School is an old barn retrofitted for the children forced to attend a segregated school.
Amid threats of deportation, the Comité de Vecinos risk everything to stand their ground and, with the support of the Mexican Consulate, choose Roberto as the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board in this vivid and uplifting novel in verse based on true events.
From critically-acclaimed author María Dolores Águila (Barrio Rising) comes an inspiring debut novel in verse set against the backdrop of the Great Depression and Mexican Repatriation, based on the true story of the United States' first successful school desegregation case, two decades before Brown v. Board of Education ruled that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
The Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy (the Unlikely Aventuras of Ramón and El Cucuy Book #1): An Illustrated Chapter Book
by Donna Barba Higuera - Juliana Perdomo
A young monster befriends the human child he's been assigned to scare in this spooky-funny chapter book debut from Newbery Medal-winning author Donna Barba Higuera, with illustrations throughout by Juliana Perdomo
It's a monster's ancient duty to inflict unimaginable horrors on misbehaving kids.
But when a young cucuy who's anxious to prove himself is sent to the human world to terrorize his first child, the naughty niño isn't scared by glowing eyes, sharp talons, or even disgusting breath. Instead, he's preoccupied with worries about his first day at a new school. Can the little cucuy prove himself as a fierce boogeyman? As he soon learns from his human, maybe some things are scarier than creatures under the bed . . . and maybe even a monster could use a friend.
Featuring two-color illustrations throughout, this first chapter book from Newbery Medal-winning author Donna Barba Higuera and acclaimed artist Juliana Perdomo delightfully blends sly humor, light spookiness, and lots of heart, and is perfect for fans of Jon Klassen's The Skull.
More Aventuras with Ramón and El Cucuy (Picture Books):
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too!
It's Navidad, El Cucuy!
Fall of the Fireflies (Seasons of Sisterhood #1)
by Guadalupe García McCall
From bestselling author Guadalupe García McCall comes the first book in the Seasons of Sisterhood trilogy, in which twins Velia and Delia take on a divine assignment to be monster-hunting warrior women and save their father's life.
From Pura Belpré Award--winning author Guadalupe García McCall comes the first in the Seasons of Sisterhood trilogy: a reimagining of Sophocles' Antigone set in the world of her bestselling Summer of the Mariposas.
As fifteen-year-old twins Delia and Velia plan the launch of their Magic-Twin Tour with their father's Tejano band, a sudden supernatural attack on their father derails the family. Papá is delirious with a susto, a fright so awful that it allows a mysterious supernatural being to begin slowly sucking the life out of him.
As the twins hunt down his attacker, a wider world of borderland monsters opens up to them. Each twin has her own decision to make, with her own guide from the Aztec pantheon--Quetzalcoatl guiding Velia, and Xolotl advising Delia. Soon the girls must choose: Should they follow a divine mandate to become monster hunters for the goddess of death?
Can the sisters obey the will of the gods while saving their father's life? Anything can happen within the magical realm of the borderlands.
Bold, Brilliant, and Latine: Meet 52 Latine and Hispanic Heroes from Past and Present
by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris - Sol Cotti
Inspire the next generation of changemakers with this celebratory biography anthology of 52 Latine and Hispanic heroes.
All children deserve to see themselves positively represented in the books they read. This belief underpins the See Yourself in Their Stories biography series that brought you the critically acclaimed, bestselling Young, Gifted and Black. In Bold, Brilliant and Latine, young Latine and Hispanic children can see themselves reflected in 52 heroes from the past and present, whom everyone can look up to.
From sporting legends to fashion icons, political leaders to fearless changemakers, as well as renowned writers, musicians, artists, scientists, and more, these heroes' lives are vividly recounted by queer award-winning Dominican and Puerto Rican storyteller Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and brought to life by Argentinian illustrator Sol Cotti's artwork. Kids will find motivation in the stories of:
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez - Politician, youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress
- Lionel Messi - Superstar soccer player
- Sonia Sotomayor - US Supreme Court Justice
- Frida Kahlo - Iconic artist
- Cesar Chavez - Activist and labor leader
- Ellen Ochoa - First Latina astronaut in space
- Lin-Manuel Miranda - Actor, composer, creator of Broadway musicals
A heartwarming and empowering book for Latine and Hispanic children and families, this anthology is also ideal for homeschoolers and educators looking to diversify their perspectives through Latine and Hispanic history and achievements, with one new figure to explore each week of the year.
Proud, talented, and boundless, these extraordinary men and women will inspire readers of all backgrounds to chase their dreams...whatever they may be.
Also available from the series: Young, Gifted and Black; Young, Gifted and Black Too; Baby Young, Gifted and Black; and Shining Bright, Shining Black.
Leyendas/Legends: 60 Latine People Who Changed the World
by Mónica Mancillas - Isadora Zeferino
Celebrate sixty legendary Latine icons who have changed the world--from artists to engineers to activists and more! This gorgeous illustrated compendium is perfect for readers of Little Leaders and Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls.
Did you know ...
- A famous Colombian singer wrote her first song at just eight years old and had a record deal by thirteen.
- The work of a Mexican chemist led to the discovery of the hole in the ozone layer.
- The youngest congresswoman in US history is Puerto Rican.
Discover the stories of sixty inspiring figures--including celebrities and icons like Frida Kahlo, Roberto Clemente, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sonia Sotomayor, Shakira, Walter Mercado, Elizabeth Acevedo, and Jharrel Jerome--in this beautifully illustrated, celebratory collection showcasing the multitude of talent within the Latine community.
Each extraordinary person has a unique story--from artists who have shaped pop culture to athletes who have won championships to activists who have changed laws and so many more--and this empowering book shows that anyone can make a difference in the world if they set to their mind to it!
REAL-LIFE ROLE MODELS: This collection is filled with real-life role models, both current and historical, for aspiring artists, scientists, and activists--particularly Latine children--to relate to and see themselves in.
GREAT TEACHING RESOURCE: Offering a fresh take on traditional history or biography books for kids, Leyendas/Legends profiles famous modern-day figures as well as past and lesser-known heroes. Makes an excellent addition to classroom and library collections for young readers eager for books that represent and celebrate people of all backgrounds.
EMPOWERING READ-ALOUD: Great for reading aloud together during story time or bedtime, this volume is full of satisfying, bite-sized biographical stories that encourage conversation, connection, and dreaming big.
INSPIRING GIFT: With vibrant visuals and engaging stories, this exciting contemporary nonfiction book for kids makes a great gift for almost any giving moment, from birthdays to holidays to special celebrations.
Perfect for:
- Readers who love biographies of inspirational historical figures
- Teachers and librarians looking for multicultural books
- Fans of Latine musicians, writers, activists, artists, athletes, scientists, and more
- Latinx/Hispanic Heritage Month resource book
- Gift-giving for birthdays, including quinceañeras, holidays, graduation, and any special occasion
The Giving Flower: The Story of the Poinsettia
by Alda P Dobbs - Emily Mendoza
A lyrical picture book about the Poinsettia flower and the holiday traditions it has inspired
First, the flower grew wild--a yellow blossom with bracts that turn brilliant red in winter. The ancient Nahuas cultivated it; then it inspired Mexico's most famous Christmas legend. After the flower caught the eye of Mexico's first US ambassador, it became known as the Poinsettia. Yet it has many more names and traditions--and even more colors!
From Pura Belpre Honoree Alda P. Dobbs and illustrator Emily Mendoza comes a lyrical and vibrant picture book history of the flower that has given the world so much.
Hispanic Teen Books: Fiction and Nonfiction
The young adult genre is brimming with Hispanic fiction that tackles complex themes such as identity, culture, and social issues. These books are perfect for teens exploring their own cultural identity and seeking stories that reflect their experiences.
The Golden Boy's Guide to Bipolar
by Sonora Reyes
From bestselling author Sonora Reyes comes a poignant and searingly honest companion novel to the multi-award-winning The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School, following beloved character Cesar Flores as he comes to terms with his sexuality, his new bipolar diagnosis, and more mistakes than he can count.
Seventeen-year-old Cesar Flores is finally ready to win back his ex-boyfriend. Since breaking up with Jamal in a last-ditch effort to stay in the closet, he's come out to Mami, his sister, Yami, and their friends, taken his meds faithfully, and gotten his therapist's blessing to reunite with Jamal.
Everything would be perfect if it weren't for The Thoughts--the ones that won't let all his Catholic guilt and internalizations stay buried where he wants them. The louder they become, the more Cesar is once again convinced that he doesn't deserve someone like Jamal--or anyone really.
Cesar can hide a fair amount of shame behind jokes and his "gifted" reputation, but when a manic episode makes his inner turmoil impossible to hide, he's faced with a stark choice: burn every bridge he has left or, worse--ask for help. But is the mortifying vulnerability of being loved by the people he's hurt the most a risk he's willing to take?
Lemons and Lies
by Alexis Castellanos
A sweet meet-cute or a scheme destined to turn sour? Fake dating, family drama, and foodie fun combine in this YA paperback original.
Valeria Morales' senior year is not off to a great start. Her twin brother Adrian isn't talking to her, she's realizing all of her friends were actually his friends, and now she's failing math. Enter Gage Magnussen. Gage isn't looking to take on any tutoring gigs now that his standing as valedictorian is at risk after letting a catastrophic breakup distract him--not to mention his demanding parents expect Gage to coordinate their yearly charity auction alongside his cheating ex. So Valeria offers him a deal: If he helps her pass, she'll take over event planning AND pretend to be his girlfriend. A win-win-win!
But as their study sessions move to deep conversations and their fake dates begin feeling realer and realer, is it possible the lemons they've been dealt will turn to lemonade? Or will this arrangement only sting?
The Story of My Anger
by Jasminne Mendez
The Pura Belpré Honor Award winning author of Aniana del Mar Jumps In makes her YA debut with a powerful novel-in-verse about a Texas teen who is battling racism in her theatre program and book banning efforts by her town's school board.
Yulieta Lopez is angry. Angry at her racist drama teacher who refuses to cast Black students in lead roles. Angry at the school board threatening her favorite teacher for teaching works of literature that they deem "controversial." Angry that she has to keep quiet until she can head to college and leave Texas forever.
Yuli is accustomed to playing various roles: the diligent daughter, the honorable hija, the good girl who serves everyone else before serving herself. But as the fire of Yuli's rage spreads and lights her up, she can no longer be silent. Determined to find a way to fight back, Yuli and her friends start a guerilla theatre club which stirs things up and gets people talking, and finally, Yuli steps into the role she was always meant to play.
Beyond the Board: The Untold Story of the World's Most Daring Big Wave Surfer
by Maya Gabeira
In this thrilling YA memoir, pro surfer Maya Gabeira tells the awe-inspiring true story of her journey from unstoppable teenager to the Guinness World Record-holding legend she is today.
Who am I, beyond the board? Surf legend Maya Gabeira is famous for her nerve. Her surfing journey began at the age of fourteen and reached a high when she set (and later broke) a Guinness World Record for highest wave conquered by any big wave surfer--man or woman--after bouncing back from a near-fatal accident.
Gabeira has been heralded as one of the top surfers of her generation. But who is the ferocious personality beyond the board? What are the stories behind the relationships and challenges that shaped her into the indomitable surfer, women's rights advocate, and champion for mental health awareness she is today?
For the first time ever, Maya looks back on her formative years: the romances, career highs, vulnerabilities, and setbacks that defined her at an early age.
At seventeen, she left her home in Rio de Janeiro in order to chase waves around the world, toting a single backpack and waiting tables to get by. Maya carved her own path as a teen, defining her own remarkable narrative: that of a vulnerable, passionate, and driven young woman who learned never to flinch--even in the face of death.
Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora
by Saraciea J Fennell
Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a ground-breaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope
In Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed, bestselling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These fifteen original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.
The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.
It's All Love: Reflections for Your Heart & Soul
by Jenna Ortega
An empowering collection written by Jenna Ortega, the award-winning actress starring in the hit Netflix series WEDNESDAY. These deeply personal stories and quotes are accompanied by beautiful illustrations that explore Jenna's struggles with depression, experiences falling in--and out of--love, the loss of close family members, and growing up Latina in Hollywood.
This collection from actress Jenna Ortega is filled with her own original quotes and affirmations that will inspire you to lean into faith and love and family during life's most difficult, and most joyous, moments.
Jenna has had to balance her acting career, her private life, and public expectations from a young age, and she's learned that the only way to get through it all is to wake up every morning and affirm her commitment to herself, her faith, her mental health, and her family. In this honest and moving debut, she shares openly and intimately what it means to live this life of self-appreciation.
Jenna's vulnerability in her writing will remind readers that there's power within us all and we are not alone in our struggles.
Hispanic Adult Books: Fiction and Nonfiction
There are so many great works of fiction and nonfiction by Hispanic authors. We found a few new ones that we think you will enjoy!
The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes
by Chanel Cleeton
"This captivating story is an ode to book lovers!"--Woman's World
A mysterious book with a legacy spanning from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day unites three women--and their secrets--in this unforgettable novel from New York Times bestselling author Chanel Cleeton.
London, 2024: American expat Margo Reynolds is renowned for her talent at sourcing rare antiques for her clients, but she's never had a request quite like this one. She's been hired to find a mysterious book published over a century ago. With a single copy left in existence, it has a storied past shrouded in secrecy--and her client isn't the only person determined to procure it at any cost.
Havana, 1966: Librarian Pilar Castillo has devoted her life to books, and in the chaotic days following her husband's unjust imprisonment by Fidel Castro, reading is her only source of solace. So when a neighbor fleeing Cuba asks her to return a valuable book to its rightful owner, Pilar will risk everything to protect the literary work entrusted to her care. It's a dangerous mission that reveals to her the power of one book to change a life.
Boston, 1900: For Cuban school teacher and aspiring author Eva Fuentes, traveling from Havana to Harvard to study for the summer is the opportunity of a lifetime. It's a whirlwind adventure that leaves her little time to write, but a moonlit encounter with an enigmatic stranger changes everything. The story that pours out of her is one of forbidden love, secrets, and lies... and though Eva cannot yet see it, the book will be a danger and salvation for the lives it touches.
This Is the Only Kingdom
by Jaquira Díaz
From the Whiting Award-winning author Jaquira Díaz, an epic novel of a mother and daughter wrestling with the aftermath of a murder, set against the backdrop of a tightknit, working-class barrio in Puerto Rico.
When Maricarmen meets Rey el Cantante, beloved small-time Robin Hood and local musician on the rise, she begins to envision a life beyond the tight-knit community of el Caserío, Puerto Rico - beyond cleaning houses, beyond waiting tables, beyond the constant tug of war between the street hustlers and los camarones. But breaking free proves more difficult than she imagined, and she soon finds herself struggling to make a home for herself, for Rey, his young brother Tito, and eventually, their daughter Nena. Until one fateful day changes everything.
Fifteen years later, Maricarmen and Nena find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation as the community that once rallied to support Rey turns against them. Now Nena, a teenager haunted by loss and betrayal and exploring her sexual identity, must learn to fight for herself and her family in a world not always welcoming. For lovers of the Neapolitan novels, This is the Only Kingdom is an immersive and moving portrait of a family - and a community - torn apart by generational grief, and a powerful love letter to mothers, daughters, and the barrios that make them.
The Night We Became Strangers
by Lorena Hughes
An immersive, historical novel based on true events: In 1938, Orson Welles's legendary radio dramatization of H.G. Wells's novel The War of the Worlds terrified Americans into believing Martians were invading. Eleven years later, an Ecuadorian radio station adapted the show--with catastrophic consequences. Now, two young journalists are determined to uncover what really happened to their families that night--even as secrets endanger their future.
1957: Aspiring photojournalist Valeria Anzures returns to her hometown of Quito with a secret purpose: to discover the truth about how her parents really died. The disastrous 1949 War of the Worlds show caused a mob to torch her family's radio station--and the newspaper run by their closest friends, the Monteros. The tragedy shattered the families' relationship--and left the station on precarious financial ground. Now, expected to save her family's legacy through an arranged marriage, Valeria will risk everything to find out the truth. Even if it means allying with the man she's always loved--but who now treats her like a stranger.
For Matías Montero, the scars of that night run deep. He saved his mother but blames himself for not rescuing his father. As a journalist, he views Valeria as a rival. Still, they're both on the same mission. Perhaps, together, they can unearth the past their families and friends would rather remain buried.
Valeria and Matías soon find trusting each other is as dangerous as the attraction they can't resist. Between their families' mutual hatred, duplicitous witnesses, and insidious lies, and ruthless manipulations, exposing the real story will put their future on the line--and ignite revelations no one saw coming.
Follow My Voice
by Ariana Godoy
*Coming soon to Amazon Prime Video!*
*A BookTok and Wattpad Viral Sensation*
This spellbinding #BookTok sensation from internationally bestselling author Ariana Godoy follows a nineteen-year-old battling agoraphobia as she forms an unexpected connection with the host of her favorite college radio show.
Klara Rodríguez has barely left her house in eight agonizing months. Imprisoned by agoraphobia and anxiety, she has seen her world shrink to the walls of her bedroom, where every other night, one voice pierces through her isolation. It belongs to Kang, the soothing, thoughtful host of her favorite late-night college radio program.
Then, an unexpected text message changes everything.
The voice that has been her invisible companion suddenly has a life beyond the airwaves. As their connection deepens, it becomes the fragile thread Klara clings to while fighting to reclaim pieces of herself.
Can you fall in love with someone you've never seen? Can a voice become your anchor in the storm? And is Klara strong enough to face not only the outside world but the person she loves?
In a moment of desperate courage, Klara enrolls in community college. But she realizes the universe has a sense of humor when she discovers that Kang's schedule overlaps with her only in-person class.
Now, Klara's greatest battle isn't just against the pull of her bedroom walls. It's facing the person she might already love.
Achingly raw and profoundly hopeful, Follow My Voice reminds us that sometimes the most important voice to follow is the one we find within ourselves--even when it's the hardest one to hear. Though it doesn't hurt if you find love and friendship along the way.
Startlement: New and Selected Poems
by Ada Limón
An essential collection spanning nearly twenty years of emphatic, fearlessly original poetry from one of America's most celebrated living writers.
Drawing from six previously published books--including widely acclaimed collections The Hurting Kind, The Carrying, and Bright Dead Things--as well as vibrant new work, Startlement exalts the mysterious. With a tender curiosity, Ada Limón wades into potent unknowns--the strangeness of our brief human lives, the ever-changing nature of the universe--and emerges each time with new revelations about our place in the world.
Both a lush overview of her work and a powerful narrative of a poet's life, this curation embodies Limón's capacity for "deep attention," her "power to open us up to the wonder and awe that the world still inspires" (The New York Times). From the chaos of youthful desire, to the waxing of love and loss, to the precarity of our environment, to the stars and beyond, Limón's poetry bears witness to the arc of all we know with patient lyricism and humble wonder.
"A poet of ecstatic revelation" (Tracy K. Smith), Limón encourages us to meet our shared futures with open and hungry hearts, assuring "What we are becoming, we are / becoming together."
Banished Citizens: A History of the Mexican American Women Who Endured Repatriation
by Marla A Ramírez
A moving portrait of a grim period in American immigration history, when approximately one million ethnic Mexicans--mostly women and children who were US citizens--were forced to relocate across the southern border.
From 1921 to 1944, approximately one million ethnic Mexicans living in the United States were removed across the border to Mexico. What officials called "repatriation" was in fact banishment: 60 percent of those expelled were US citizens, mainly working-class women and children whose husbands and fathers were Mexican immigrants. Drawing on oral histories, transnational archival sources, and private collections, Marla A. Ramírez illuminates the lasting effects of coerced mass removal on three generations of ethnic Mexicans.
Ramírez argues that banishment served interests on both sides of the border. In the United States, the government accused ethnic Mexicans of dependence on social services in order to justify removal, thereby scapegoating them for post-World War I and Depression-era economic woes. In Mexico, meanwhile, officials welcomed returnees for their potential to bolster the labor force. In the process, all Mexicans in the United States--citizens and undocumented immigrants alike--were cast as financially burdensome and culturally foreign. Shedding particular light on the experiences of banished women, Ramírez depicts the courage and resilience of their efforts to reclaim US citizenship and return home. Nevertheless, banishment often interrupted their ability to pass on US citizenship to their children, robbed their families of generational wealth, and drastically slowed upward mobility. Today, their descendants continue to confront and resist the impact of these injustices--and are breaking the silence to ensure that this history is not forgotten.
A wrenching account of expulsion and its afterlives, Banished Citizens illuminates the continuing social, legal, and economic consequences of a removal campaign still barely acknowledged in either Mexico or the United States.
Radical Senora Era: Ancestral Latin American Secrets for a Happier, Healthier Life
by Christina Kelmon - Ann Murray Dunning
A practical, accessible guide to how women everywhere can cultivate their own inner señora through simple yet radical ways hard-working, resourceful Latina women for generations have found to refresh, renew, and take time out for themselves.
Robust or struggling, tireless or fatigued, traditional or future-bound--anyone in any stage or walk of life can become a "radical señora." And in our post-hustle culture, post "Boss Babe" era, when the pandemic and "Quiet Quitting" have ushered in a major work-life reckoning, women everywhere are seeking ways to put self-care first--and find relatable alternatives to modern "exclusive" wellness practices. Now authors Christina Kelmon and Ann Murray Dunning turn decades of ancestral knowledge, personal lore, and cutting-edge research into a
one-of-a-kind book that can help you learn time-tested, simple habits and rituals based on natural living.
Rediscover how to do something purely for the pleasure of it--without deadlines, goals, or the constant pressure to be "productive." Find out how this generates a flow that is a mix of play and energy that consistently renews your spirit and outlook. Learn how to incorporate señora home practices that can help you integrate calm and positivity into your precious space. From teas to face masks to gardening wisdom, try the easy, nature-based beauty secrets and solutions that can help you feel good.Develop helpful rules for living that will lead to physical health and peace of mind.
Inspirational and informative, Radical Señora Era can help you find joy in even the smallest moments of the day--and create a self-care toolbox that will not only bring you happiness, but ongoing, lifelong fulfillment.
Celebrate through Reading this month
Celebrating Hispanic heritage through literature allows readers of all ages to connect with and appreciate the diverse stories and experiences of Hispanic authors. From board books to classic novels, these works offer invaluable perspectives and contribute to a more inclusive understanding of the world. By integrating these books into your reading repertoire, you not only honor Hispanic culture but also enrich your own literary journey.