As a person of Hispanic descent, Hispanic Heritage Month is such an important time for me and so many others to celebrate the many cultures of Hispanic countries. From September 15 to October 15, I’ll be reaching for books that represent my Latin culture. These are must-reads written by Hispanic authors, featuring Hispanic characters, perfect for Hispanic Heritage Month.
After “borrowing” her father’s credit card to finance a more stylish wardrobe, Margot Sanchez finds herself grounded. Her punishment: working in her family’s grocery store to pay off her debts. With each order of deli meat she slices, Margot can feel her carefully cultivated prep school reputation slipping through her fingers, and she’s willing to do anything to get out of this punishment.
Be sure to also check out Lilliam Rivera's previous novel, Dealing in Dreams!
In the summer before eighth grade, Marco Suarez kissed his best friend Sally Blake. That was his first spark. But at the end of the year, she left without every saying why. Now it's his senior year, and Sally unexpectedly returns, leaving Marco feeling shaken. But as Marco navigates the final days of high school, he learns that leaving home is never easy and a first spark is hard to ignore.
What does it mean to be yourself? To be born here or somewhere else? To be from one family instead of another? What does it mean to be human? Collected by Lori Carlson-Hijuelos, A Path to the World showcases essays by a vast variety of luminaries—from Gary Soto to Nawal Nasrallah to Ying Ying Yu, from chefs to artists to teens to philosophers to politicians (keep your eyes peeled for a surprise appearance by George Washington)—all of which speak to the common thread of humanity, the desire to be your truest self, and to belong.
Winged beings are meant to be free. And so are artists, but the Cuban government has criminalized any art that doesn’t meet their approval. Soleida and her parents protest this injustice with their secret sculpture garden of chained birds, but when a hurricane exposes the illegal art and her parents are arrested, Soleida escapes to Central America alone. There she meets Dariel, and together they work to protect the environment and bring attention to the imprisoned artists in Cuba. They are fighting for a better future—and the chance to be together
Margarita Engle has so many great novels featuring Hispanic culture. Check out Rima's Rebellion, Your Heart, My Sky, Soaring Earth, With a Star in my Hand, Jazz Hands, and Enchanted Air for more of her work.
Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be. Once you've read Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe continue Ari and Dante's story with Aristotle and Dante Dive into the Waters of the World!
When Lila's life seems to be falling apart, her parents have the perfect idea: spend the summer in England to reset and relax. Yet, the sunless skies, the grumpy inn cook, and the small town lacks the Miami flavor Lila loves. This dream vacation feels more like a nightmare...until she meets Orion Maxwell. Once you've read Cuban Girl's Guide, pick up the companion read that follows Orion's sister Flora, A British Girl's Guide to Hurricanes and Heartbreak!
Liliana Cruz's life is not easy: her father's left (again) and she's been accepted into a very suburban (and white) school, a place where she has to change who she is to belong. But then light is shed on some hard truths: It isn’t that her father doesn’t want to come home—he can’t…and her whole family is in jeopardy. And when racial tensions at school reach a fever pitch, the walls that divide feel insurmountable.
Seventeen-year-old Maya's talent for making clothing out of unusual objects landed her a scholarship to Guatemala City’s most prestigious design school and a finalist spot in the school’s fashion show. When her biggest supporter, her Mamá, doesn’t come to the show, Maya doesn’t know what to think, but the truth is worse than she could have imagined. The gang threats in their neighborhood have walked in their front dor, and after barely making their escape, Maya and her mom have no choice but to continue their desperate flight all the way through Guatemala and Mexico in hopes of crossing the US border.
When her twin sister reaches social media stardom, Moon Fuentez accepts her fate as the ugly, unwanted sister hidden in the background, destined to be nothing more than her sister’s camerawoman. But this summer, Moon also takes a job as the “merch girl” on a tour bus full of beautiful influencers and her fate begins to shift in the best way possible. Check out Raquel Vaquez Gilliland's previous novel, Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything.
Ever since her mom died three years ago, Analee Echevarria has had trouble saying out loud the weird thoughts that sit in her head. She spends most of her time avoiding reality and role-playing as Kiri, the night elf hunter at the center of her favorite online game. So when high school heartthrob Seb Matias asks Analee to pose as his girlfriend in an attempt to make his ex jealous, Analee agrees. Can she use this opportunity to win her real love?
Longlisted for the National Book Award
In this stirring young adult novel-in-verse from award-winning author Margarita Engle, love and conservation intertwine as two teens go on a “transformative journey celebrating the power of overcoming personal struggles to make a lasting impact” (Kirkus Reviews).
From the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, this novel follows two Cuban teens in LA’s Echo Park neighborhood who clash over their visions for the future, the secrets between their families…and the sparks flying between them.