Hispanic Heritage Month is September 15 to October 15. Especially this year, when some want to shrink the list of available books, it’s a great time to find diverse authors and fall in love with books we haven’t read yet. Here are some suggested reads from Hispanic/Latina authors.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Cisneros created a wonderful series of vingettes about a Chicana girl growing up in Chicago. If you haven’t read this classic yet, I recommend you do it right away.
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces by Isabel Quintero
Gabi’s voice is so unique yet reflective of what all teen girls go through. I loved following her (and her family and friends) as she faces challenges with humor, spirit, and enough junk food to fuel a small army. If you’re looking for one of the best of YA, you need to read this book.
Don’t Date Rosa Santos by Nina Moreno
The women in Rosa Santos’ family are cursed, so no one wants to date her. Then Alex Aquino shows up as she’s trying to save her hometown and navigate a path for her future. Lovely YA story with just the right amount of romance, family, and friendship!
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by Laura Namey Taylor
After the trifecta of her grandmother's death, a betrayal by her best friend, and her boyfriend dumping her, Cuban-American baker Lila is forced to take a "vacation" in chilly England. But she is surprised to find it's not all bad, thanks to baking, new friends, and a boy named after a constellation. A cozy, sweet young adult novel that you'll think of fondly--I loved this book! (Also enjoyed her novel When We Were Them, but recommend you read the other one first because the movie just came out.)
Can’t afford to buy all of these? Remember your local library! If they don’t have it yet, you can request a book for them to add to the collection—just ask your librarian for details.
I use The StoryGraph to help me keep track of my reading. If you’d like to join me there for your own reading journey, please go to https://www.thestorygraph.com
and look for lynnlovegreen.