Staff Picks: Great Reads for Hispanic & Latinx Heritage Month

From September 15th–October 15th, we are featuring stories about Latinx people and books from Hispanic and Latinx authors in our buildings and our online platforms. Here, Lexi from our Mt. Washington branch and Tracy from our Public Relations team share just a few of the titles they’ve loved.

Lexi’s Picks:

Anna-Marie McLemore’s books are amazing. Their writing is phenomenal and is some of the best YA magical fantasy I’ve read. When the Moon Was Ours is my favorite.

 

In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado is a memoir where Machado talks about her experience in an abusive relationship using different narrative tropes to look at all the angles. It’s a heavy read, but deeply moving and a book I think everyone should try to read. The audiobook was especially good.

Tracy’s Picks:

 

Maybe Something Beautiful by F. Isabel Campoy
Brimming with exuberance and color, this visually stunning and inspirational story about creativity and community is based on a true story.

Radiant Child by Javaka Steptoe
This wonderful true story about artist Jean-Michel Basquiat helps to encourage children’s artistic aspirations and promote understanding of less traditionally “pretty” art styles. The book also does a fantastic job of dealing with sensitive issues with relatable language and expressions. And the illustrations are dynamic, bold, and perfectly reflective of the subject.


Separate Is Never Equal
by Duncan Tonatiuh
An important story of desegregation and fighting for what is right is told through one family’s struggle to end the “Mexican schools” in California. Folk-inspired artwork celebrates Mexican and Latino heritage while the text clearly explains why segregation is wrong.

 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
In the summer of 1987, two 15-year-old loners meet and forge a powerful friendship. This stunning novel about identity and acceptance deals with several teen “issues,” including sexual and ethnic identity, but never comes across as heavy handed. With simple, lyrical prose Sáenz creates a magical tale that speaks of universal truths and fears. This is a book I recommend enthusiastically and often.

Source: Book News and Reviews