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Books by Hispanic and Latin authors
Affecting stories of immigration, family, and identity by acclaimed Hispanic and Latine authors.
Publicado el 18 de septiembre de 2023
Daughters of Latin America: An International Anthology of Writing by Latine Women
Sandra GuzmanThis vital collection encompasses 140 women authors representing dozens of countries and several generations. Featuring well-known names like Ada Limón (“The Hurting Kind”), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Angie Cruz (“Dominicana”), plus others who deserve equal recognition, “Daughters of Latin America” gives voice to the many cultures, memories, traditions, and experiences that make up the Latine and Hispanic identities.
Our Migrant Souls: A Meditation on Race and the Meanings and Myths of “Latino”
Héctor TobarDrawing on personal and collective experiences, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Tobar (“The Last Great Road Bum”) examines commonly held beliefs about the “Latino” identity in America. Moving between his native L.A. and other Latino enclaves across the country, Tobar’s lyrical essays cover the many missing pieces in Latino and Hispanic stereotypes, and how the popular yet reductive “non-white” identity fails to represent and respect one of the largest people groups in the nation.
Chita: A Memoir
Chita RiveraDrawing on her seven-decade-long career, during which she earned three Tony Awards and the Presidential Medal of Freedom, actress and dancer Rivera gives a rich account of life in the entertainment industry. From escaping the typical Latine typecasts to working with major players like Stephen Sondheim and Liza Minnelli, Rivera’s career is a storied tale of hard work and breaking the mold.
The Making of Yolanda la Bruja
Lorraine AvilaYolanda Alvarez sees foreboding visions when a new student arrives at Julia De Burgos High School, and she must draw on the wisdom of her family, friends, and bruja ancestors to prevent the worst. Avila uses Yolanda’s singular voice as a deaf, queer, Afro Latina teen to explore vital themes like gun violence in America and how certain perspectives are ignored. “The Making of Yolanda la Bruja” celebrates community and legacy.
Where There Was Fire
John Manuel AriasNearly 30 years after their Costa Rican banana plantation goes up in flames, an estranged mother and daughter still grapple with their losses. Reconciliation may be possible, but their family legacy remains forever painful. Arias’ debut is a heartbreaking family saga about generational trauma, entrapment in unhealthy cycles, and how American imperialism feeds both.
Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home: Stories
Ana CastilloThe truth is both painful and freeing, as the protagonists in Castillo’s stories know all too well. This collection follows seven characters, primarily women, as the fallout of family secrets transforms their lives. For example, in one story, Katia travels to Mexico City to find her mother and discovers a shocking truth that makes her question her beliefs. Mexico plays a strong role in each story, as does the immigrant experience.
Tropicália: A Novel
Harold RogersThe Cunha family is cursed, each generation reckoning with bad luck and even worse choices. Just as Daniel Cunha is reeling from a messy breakup, his absent mother makes an unwelcome return. Told from multiple perspectives, “Tropicália” unfolds over the week leading up to New Year’s Eve in Rio de Janeiro, where the Cunha’s ultimate confrontation plays out on Copacabana Beach. Tense and melodramatic, this story of a fractured family trying to make sense of the world cuts deep.
Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora
Avi RoqueFifteen wild tongues, wandering hearts, and worldly souls write about their personal experiences with the Latin American diaspora in this collection. Just as identity exists in a state of flux and is always being actively shaped, these essays experiment with form for further insight. It includes nonfiction works from some of the biggest Latin and Hispanic YA authors, including Elizabeth Acevedo, Mark Oshiro, and Ibi Zoboi.
Breaking Through Your Own Glass Ceiling: Consistent, Authentic Confidence
Linda GonzálezWe often think of the glass ceiling as something imposed upon us, but what about the limitations we place on ourselves? These beliefs can be even more damaging than external challenges. In this quick course, González guides listeners on building self-confidence and believing in our potential. Applicable to anyone but especially relevant to women and people of color, this course is as empowering as it is empathetic.
The Hurting Kind
Ada LimónThis poetry collection gives voice to the hurting kind of person — the vulnerable, soft, and sensitive people who can’t help but empathize with the pain of others. It explores grief, isolation, and the beauty that can always be found in nature. Limón is a recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Poetry and the first Latina Poet Laureate in the U.S. She also authored a Scribd Original called “Shelter.”
L.A. Weather: A Novel
María Amparo EscandónSunny beach weather all the time, right? Wrong. Howling Santa Ana winds, drought-parched hills, and raging wildfires are also native to Los Angeles, and the well-to-do Mexican American family at the heart of “L.A. Weather” is forced to deal with fallout from climate change. Publishers Weekly raves about Escandón’s “rollicking and hilarious family drama of telenovela-esque proportions that doubles as a fiery love letter to Los Angeles.”
Dominicana: A Novel
Angie CruzSet in the political turmoil of the 1960s, Dominican American author Cruz’s vibrant coming-of-age novel explores the propulsive forces behind immigration. When 15-year-old Ana’s parents marry her off to a man twice her age, she leaves her home in the Dominican Republic countryside to start a new life in New York, determined to find a way for her family to join her.
Infinite Country: A Novel
Patricia Engel“Infinite Country” reflects our current global moment: tense, cut off from each other, but with a glimmer of hope. This powerful story moves readers back and forth in time, across borders, and among anguished family members separated by the sacrifices they’ve made at the altar of the American Dream. The propulsive plot hooks you right from the first chapter when teenage daughter Talia escapes from a juvenile detention center in the mountains of Colombia, racing to make a flight to the U.S. before she loses her chance to reunite with her family.
The Book of Lost Saints: A Cuban American Family Saga of Love, Betrayal, and Revolution
The Book of Lost Saints: A Cuban American Family Saga of Love, Betrayal, and Revolution
Daniel José OlderSci-fi and fantasy meet alternative historical fiction in Older’s “The Book of Lost Saints.” When the sweary ghost of his tía Marisol appears before him in New Jersey, Ramón begins digging into her mysterious disappearance during the Cuban Revolution. His investigation unearths a heartbreaking family history and throws him into the path of gangsters, courageous good Samaritans, and Cupid.
Of Women and Salt: A Novel
Gabriela GarciaThis moving novel graced many of 2021’s “most anticipated books” lists. Roxane Gay, who selected it as one of her Audacious Book Club’s picks, writes, “Gabriela Garcia captures the lives of Cuban women in a world to which they refuse to surrender and she does so with precision and generosity and beauty.” A moving story of mothers and daughters, immigration, and the sacrifices each generation makes for the next.
The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina: A Novel
Zoraida CórdovaCórdova (“Brooklyn Brujas”) conjures up an enchanting tale of family, legacy, and magical realism in her first adult novel. When the mysterious matriarch of the Montoya family dies, she leaves behind more questions than answers about her magic. Years later, desperate to stop a sinister killer, family members flee to Ecuador on a quest to uncover her secrets.
The House of Impossible Beauties: A Novel
Joseph CassaraIf you’re a fan of “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” you might’ve heard the expression “category is.” (RuPaul even wrote a song called “Category Is!”) This phrase hails from the underground ballroom scenes of the 1980s and early ’90s, which is the setting for “The House of Impossible Beauties.” In this heartbreaking yet vibrant story, two dancers break down barriers when they create the ball circuit’s first all-Latin house: the House of Xtravaganza.
My Favorite Girlfriend was a French Bulldog
Legna Rodríguez IglesiasFun and smart with a bold and playful structure, the 15 linked stories in this novel by Cuban author Rodríguez Iglesias explore identity (queer, immigrant, and feminist) through the eyes of the Cuban narrator who fiercely loves her pet dog, the titular French bulldog.
Trejo: My Life of Crime, Redemption, and Hollywood
Danny TrejoThough he’s been in more than 250 movies and TV shows, Trejo’s life story might be his most incredible role. The actor’s inspirational autobiography describes his abusive childhood, prison stints, and drug addiction, and how he turned it all around to become a Hollywood star.
Letter to a Bigot: Dead But Not Forgotten
Myriam GurbaGurba (“Creep”) pens a scalding letter to the former mayor of her hometown, who fanned the flames of racism. Connecting the mayor’s hateful rhetoric and policies to her sexual assault, Gurba’s essay is a call to arms for all those whose complacency continues to allow harm to come to immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community.
Hola Papi: How to Come Out in a Walmart Parking Lot and Other Life Lessons
John Paul BrammerDubbed the “Cheryl Strayed for young queer people” and the “Picante Carrie Bradshaw,” Brammer steels (and steals) hearts and soothes minds with his frank and hilarious advice column for the LGBTQ+ community. Part extension of his “¡Hola Papi!” column and part memoir of growing up gay and biracial in rural Oklahoma, Brammer’s book is all love. A glowing reminder to pick ourselves up from past pitfalls and embrace the person we become.
Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration
Homelands: Four Friends, Two Countries, and the Fate of the Great Mexican-American Migration
Alfredo CorchadoA thought-provoking look at Mexican migration to the U.S. from Corchado, an immigration journalist and Mexican American author. Tracing the experiences of four friends, “Homelands” provides much-needed personal and historical context to the current political debate.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
Benjamin Alire SáenzSáenz’s stunning novel is a delicate and beautifully written portrayal of first love. Aristotle (Ari) and Dante meet when they are 15-years-old at the local swimming pool. Despite being complete opposites, they strike up an instant friendship. As the story unfolds, Ari and Dante confront the challenges of family, culture, and sexuality. This book is a visceral reminder of how formative and raw the teenage years are.
In the Time of the Butterflies
Julia AlvarezAlvarez (“How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents”) weaves a remarkable tale of courage and sisterhood set against the rise of the brutal Trujillo dictatorship in the Dominican Republic. With her signature poetic prose, she alternates chapters between the brave Mirabal sisters — women who were assassinated for their political activities and became symbols of the resistance.
The House of the Spirits: A Novel
Isabel Allende“The House of the Spirits” established Allende as a top Latin American talent. And while it’s a sprawling family tale, the core keeping the clan together is Clara del Valle Trueba, loving mother and wife (who also happens to be a clairvoyant).
The Beautiful Ones: A Novel
Silvia Moreno-GarciaGet swept away to the fictional city of early 20th-century Loisail, complete with extravagant balls, family wealth, and … telekinetic powers? Moreno-Garcia’s melodrama is a successful work in genre exercise, flawlessly blending Charlotte Brontë and Jane Austen-esque Gothic romance with elements of magic and the paranormal.
Caramelo
Sandra CisnerosThis semi-autobiographical novel by award-winning author Cisneros (“The House on Mango Street”) traces a family of shawl-makers from Chicago to Mexico City and back. The under-the-radar coming-of-age story is also a love letter to Cisneros’ Mexican heritage.
Make Your Home Among Strangers
Jennine Capó CrucetLizet, the daughter of Cuban immigrants and a first-generation high school graduate, dreams of attending an elite college in New York. The only problem? Her parents can’t fathom the idea of her leaving Miami. However, just as she’s set to move, her father abandons the family, sending Lizet, her sister, and mother into turmoil. Lizet’s coming-of-age story will resonate with readers who have experienced the feeling of being caught between two worlds.
In the Dream House: A Memoir
Carmen Maria MachadoMachado (“Her Body and Other Parties”), whose grandfather immigrated to the U.S. from Cuba, doesn’t just break all the rules with her marvelous memoir — she transcends them. Masterfully weaving together dozens of genres, from gothic and folktales, to lesbian pulp and road trips, Machado tells the frightening story of a past relationship with an abusive girlfriend. “In the Dream House” breaks the destructive silence surrounding abusive queer relationships — and breaks open a new form of nonfiction storytelling. It also won the 2020 Lambda Award for best LGBTQ Nonfiction.
You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation
Julissa ArceArce’s book, which is part memoir, part history lesson, and part essay, is for any Latina woman who’s been told, “You sound like a white girl.” Arce doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of her experience as an immigrant, including her attempts to assimilate into American culture and what she lost as a result of those attempts. She calls for immigrants to celebrate who they are while also deftly navigating the complexities of intersectionality within marginalized communities.
A Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes: A Son’s Memoir of Gabriel García MArquez and Mercedes Barcha
A Farewell to Gabo and Mercedes: A Son’s Memoir of Gabriel García MArquez and Mercedes Barcha
Rodrigo GarciaGarcía pays homage to his beloved parents, Mercedes Barcha and Gabriel García Márquez, in this moving memoir that chronicles his father’s battle with dementia. Marquez, affectionately known as Gabo by his countless fans, gave much to the world, and his son offers unique insight into the life of the famed author and how that fame affected their lives. He also recounts sweet memories of his parents and his own perspective on life, death, and grief. As his father once said, "What matters in life is not what happens to you, but what you remember and how you remember it."
Making Hispanics: How Activists, Bureaucrats, and Media Constructed a New American
G. Cristina MoraCurious about the creation of the term “Hispanic” and how several distinct cultures became lumped together under a single panethnic identity? Mora, a professor of sociology and Chicano and Latino studies, dives deep into the history of this identity category. With the help of archival research and interviews, she reveals the political, social, and business motivations behind the emergence of Hispanicity.
The Taste of Sugar
Marisel VeraSet in Puerto Rico on the verge of the Spanish-American War, Vera takes readers on an unforgettable journey that spans seven decades and across nations. There’s a whirlwind romance between two people from completely different worlds and the story is rich with the little-known history of the mass migration that saw thousands of Puerto Ricans move to Hawaii to work on sugarcane plantations.
My Time Among the Whites: Notes from an Unfinished Education
Jennine Capó CrucetAs a first-generation Cuban American college student, Crucet experienced firsthand the difficulties that come with navigating mostly white spaces and what it feels like to live as an outsider amongst peers. Her collection of essays thoughtfully observes a range of topics, including her complicated love for Disney, institutionalized racism in academia, and the cultural differences between American and Cuban weddings.