Books by Latinx Authors

Here are some beautiful books by Latinx authors! Again, please comment if I missed a favorite! As you will be able to tell, Pam Muñoz Ryan is one of my favorite authors. 

HISTORICAL FICTION

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Esperanza has always lived a privileged life as the daughter of a rich Mexican ranch owner. But Esperanza's predictable, comfortable life is thrown to the winds when tragedy suddenly strikes the ranch, forcing Esperanza and Mama to flee to southern California to a farm labor camp for Mexican immigrants. The multitude of challenges at the camp are too much for Esperanza. A strike for workers' rights and an illness that falls upon Mama test Esperanza's resolve, and she will have to become a stronger person for Mama's, and her own, sake. 

Winner of the Pura Belpré award, Esperanza Rising is a lyrical, moving coming-of-age story.

Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar 

Ruthi Mizrahi, a Jewish-Cuban girl, is just getting accustomed to her new home in America after immigrating from Cuba in the 1960s when a terrible car accident puts her entire body in a cast for a year. From her confinement in her bed, Ruthie's world becomes what she can see from her window and who passes through her room in her long year of recovery.

Based on the author's own childhood experiences, Lucky Broken Girl is a book about the value of life and imagination.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Esperanza Cordero's family has never stayed in one place for long. When they arrive on Mango Street in the Latino section of Chicago, a downpour of new characters, experiences, and troubles rain down on the Corderos. 

Told in a series of interconnected vignettes, Cisneros's famous novel is at once elegant and realistic.

REALISTIC FICTION

Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina

Merci Suárez's family has never been like the other families at her private school. They live in three small pink houses--Las Casitas--with their extended family, not a big house by the coast. Merci and her brother Roli don't have piles of money, but are on an academic scholarship. So sixth grade is a whole new year of troubles--Edna Santos, school queen, has set her sights on Merci's "sunshine buddy," a new student who is part of Merci's community service. Merci isn't quite sure who her friends are. And on top of everything, Merci's grandfather, Lolo, has been acting strange lately, forgetting things and falling down, and Merci's family won't tell her anything.

This Newbery winner has a strong, relatable, and hilarious protagonist who you will be rooting for until the end. If you enjoy Merci Suárez Changes Gears, be sure to check out the new sequel, Merci Suárez Can´t Dance.

Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw is happy with her peaceful life living in a trailer park with Gram and her younger brother Owen. Sure, she wishes the boys at school wouldn't tease her about her name, and that her gram wouldn't insist on sewing all of her clothes. But when her long-gone mother blows in out of nowhere, bringing with her all sorts of history, questions, and challenges, Naomi has to figure out who she really is.

Becoming Naomi León is an amazing book, and one of my favorites. I've read it about three times!

Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez

Ofelia Castillo is a budding journalist whose parents refuse to let her attend a writing camp in New York City. Aster Douglas is a foodie who lives with her grandpa and adores trying new recipes. Cat Garcia is a birdwatcher who is struggling with her mother's expectations. And Lane DiSanti is the granddaughter of the richest woman in town. When these four girls meet up at Lane's friend-making treehouse club, they aren't instant friends--but they learn to care about each other as they start a revolution concerning a hat and some girl scouts. 

A fun and creative book, Strange Birds explores youth activism, standing up for yourself, and friendship.

FANTASY

Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez

Sal Vidon is just a normal kid who goes to a normal school. Okay, the school isn't normal. And actually, neither is Sal. The school is an art school where the students can take textile arts, love learning, and detention is fun. And Sal...well, Sal can summon things from other universes.

Including dead chickens. And his late mother.

Gabi Real, student council president and most organized person in school, is determined to get to the bottom of this mystery. When she discovers Sal's secret, the two of them embark on an inter-dimensional mission to save Gabi's baby brother, and to possibly break the universe in the process.

A Rick Riordan Presents book and an action-packed comedy. Be sure to check out the sequel, Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe. 

Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan 

When Otto gets lost in the woods, his new harmonica leads him to a trio of trapped sisters whose fairy tale destinies now lie in the mouth harp. The harmonica travels to Friedrich, a boy in the beginning of Hitler Germany whose birthmark has always made him stand out. Then to Mike, an orphan in Pennsylvania who, with his brother Frankie, is trying to forge a path to a real family. And finally to Ivy, a Latina girl who has just moved to a new town where anger against Japanese Americans is beginning to fester. These three children are all connected to Otto and his harmonica, and the fates of the three sisters. Only by saving a life can the sisters be free.

A beautiful and creative genre-bending novel with characters you learn to love and a twisting, intertwining plot. Also the first book I ever featured on this blog!

 

Images from Amazon.com and Penguin Random House