Tap into Your Roots with These Hispanic Reads
The world of literature is full of colorful and magical reads. From the wonders of love to discovering magic in reality, there is a book for everyone. Broaden your horizon and pick one of these compelling reads conceptualized and written by Hispanic authors.
I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez
The book, which was released on March 5, 2019, immediately scored a place in New York Times' Bestseller list. Sanchez' story perfectly embodies a Jane the Virgin-Esque, laugh-out-loud young adult fiction that focuses on finding yourself amid the pressures and expectations of growing up in a Hispanic family.
This coming-of-age story features Julia who is set on finding out little secrets about her late sister's not so perfect Mexican-American life after a tragic car accident took her away. Along the way, Julia discovers familial bonds, life, and love.
Sanchez's story highlights the beautiful Mexican culture as well as the challenges of seeking independence and exploring the world through an immigrant's eyes.
The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea
Urrea's story is a captivating and moving read that secured a spot as a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. The House of Broken Angels features the life of the De la Cruzes, a family living on the Mexican-American border, as they celebrate the last legendary party of ailing Miguel Angel de La Cruz.
The book showcases the emotions and the struggles of Miguel's half-brother, Little Angel, as he navigates the truth that he shares a father with his siblings who he has never shared his life with. Across the whole book, the author celebrates the life of Miguel and his mother through inspiring tales of ordinary and heroic acts that have allowed them to flourish in the land they call home.
Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez
This award-winning memoir about a young Chicano gang member fighting to survive on the streets will surely have readers gripping at the edge of your seats.
Hailed as a New York Times notable book, Always Running is a tale of a young veteran's life after he is lured by the invincible gang culture on the streets of East Los Angeles. Through his years in the barrio, he witnessed shootings, beatings, and deaths-forcing him to choose a life away from violence and desperation.
The sad and vivid memoir is Rodriguez's attempt to fight for his child's freedom as he explores the dangerous gang life and warns against the chaos that ultimately haunts its participants.
With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo
From the New York Times bestselling author comes an enchanting tale of a girl who perfectly represents the drive and talent hidden inside every Latina's soul.
The story revolves around Emoni Santiago, a woman who fights to provide for her Abuela and her daughter while honing her talent inside the kitchen. The book contains some of the most distinctive and unique ingredients that turn this masterpiece into a thought-provoking and hopeful prose that is universal and transcendent.