Hispanic Heritage Month - Diverstories’ Picks

It’s National Hispanic Heritage Month! To celebrate and amplify Latinx voices, we have compiled a collection of 18 books that highlight Latinx authors and characters from various countries with bold stories, brave hearts, and big dreams. At Diverstories, we believe in the power of literature to spark conversations and create change. When you read the books on this list, you will meet new characters, discover new authors, and educate yourself on the diverse identities, cultures, struggles, and triumphs of Latinx people. We encourage you celebrate and amplify Latinx voices by reading, learning, and listening all month long (September 15-October 15). Happy reading!

 

Kids (ages 4-10)

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  1. Coquí in the City by Nomar Perez

A heartfelt picture book based on the author-illustrator's own experiences, about a boy who moves to the U.S. mainland from Puerto Rico and realizes that New York City might have more in common with San Juan than he initially thought.

 
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2. If Dominican Were a Color by Sili Recio and illustrated by Brianna McCarthy

The colors of Hispaniola burst into life in this striking, evocative debut picture book that celebrates the joy of being Dominican.

 
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3. Pepe and the Parade: A Celebration of Hispanic Heritage by Tracey Kyle and illustrated by Mirelle Ortega

Join Pepe as he celebrates his Mexican-American heritage by participating in a Hispanic Day parade. Children will delight in seeing many Hispanic cultures proudly honored in this joyous picture book.

 
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4. Waiting for Biblioburro by Monica Brown and illustrated by John Parra

Inspired by the heroic efforts of real-life librarian Luis Soriano, award-winning picture book creators Monica Brown and John Parra introduce readers to the mobile library that journeys over mountains and through valleys to bring literacy and culture to rural Colombia, and to the children who wait for the BiblioBurro.

 
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5. My Two Border Towns by David Bowles and illustrated by Erika Meza

A picture book debut by an award-winning author about a boy's life on the U.S.-Mexico border, visiting his favorite places on The Other Side with his father, spending time with family and friends, and sharing in the responsibility of community care.

 
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6. Dinner on Domingos by Alexandra Katona and illustrated by Claudia Navarro *Available October 11, 2021*

Warm memories wash over a first-generation Latinx American girl as she experiences a typical Sunday night dinner at her Abuelita’s house.

 

Young Adults (ages 11+)

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  1. Never Look Back by Lilliam Rivera

Acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera blends a touch of magical realism into a timely story about cultural identity, overcoming trauma, and the power of first love.

 
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2. Running by Natalia Sylvester

When fifteen-year-old Cuban American Mariana Ruiz's father runs for president, Mari starts to see him with new eyes. A novel about waking up and standing up, and what happens when you stop seeing your dad as your hero--while the whole country is watching.

 
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3. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L Sanchez

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian meets Jane the Virgin in this poignant but often laugh-out-loud funny contemporary YA about losing a sister and finding yourself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican American home.

 

4. Furia by Yamile Saied Méndez

A powerful contemporary YA for fans of The Poet X and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line--even her blooming love story--to follow her dreams.

 

5. Fat Chance, Charlie Vega by Crystal Maldonado

A sensitive, funny, and painfully honest coming-of-age story with a wry voice and tons of chisme, Fat Chance, Charlie Vega tackles our relationships to our parents, our bodies, our cultures, and ourselves.

 

6. Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora edited by Saraciea J. Fennell *Available November 2, 2021*

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.

 

Adults

  1. My Time Among the Whites: Notes from an Unfinished Education by Jennine Capó Crucet

From the author of Make Your Home Among Strangers, essays on being an "accidental" American--an incisive look at the edges of identity for a woman of color in a society centered on whiteness

 

2. Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

Afterlife is a compact, nimble, and sharply droll novel. Set in this political moment of tribalism and distrust, it asks: What do we owe those in crisis in our families, including--maybe especially--members of our human family? How do we live in a broken world without losing faith in one another or ourselves? And how do we stay true to those glorious souls we have lost?

 

3. They Could Have Named Her Anything by Stephanie Jimenez

Racism, class, and betrayal collide in this poignant debut novel about restoring the broken bonds of family and friendship. They Could Have Named Her Anything explores the heartfelt expectation of what it means to live up to the name you've been given and the more rewarding discovery of what really matters.

 

4. Dominicana by Angie Cruz

Shortlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction, Angie Cruz's Dominicana is a vital portrait of the immigrant experience and the timeless coming-of-age story of a young woman finding her voice in the world

 

5. Living Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America edited by Margarita Longoria

In this mixed-media collection of short stories, personal essays, poetry, and comics, this celebrated group of authors share the borders they have crossed, the struggles they have pushed through, and the two cultures they continue to navigate as Mexican Americans. Living Beyond Borders is at once an eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and hopeful love letter from the Mexican American community to today's young readers. A powerful exploration of what it means to be Mexican American.

 

6. App Kid: How a Child of Immigrants Grabbed a Piece of the American Dream by Michael Sayman *Available September 21, 2021*

An inspiring and deeply personal coming of age memoir from one of Silicon Valley's youngest entrepreneurs--a second-generation Latino immigrant who taught himself how to code as a thirteen-year-old and went on to claim his share of the American dream.

You’ll notice that the hyperlinks take you to Diverstories’ Bookshop. When you buy a book through our Bookshop, 10% of all proceeds go to Diverstories, so we can keep filling Little Free Libraries with diverse stories. Thank you for your support!

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