It’s that time again! June is nearly over and we couldn’t let it go by without shouting out our favorite books of the year, so far! Luckily for you we read widely and hope you will find something on this list for yourself, a friend, a relative, your book club, you name it. Our list spans from literary fiction to essays to sports (picture book, chapter book, and romance!). Latinx authors are publishing across genres all year round, and we are here for it!
MIGRANT HEART: ESSAYS ABOUT THINGS I CAN’T FORGET BY REYNA GRANDE | ADULT NONFICTION
“Best known for her memoir and historical fiction, Reyna Grande now comes out with Migrant Heart, a collection of essays on her childhood, family, migration, motherhood and writing. She gleefully explains that while she’d written essays previously for other collections, in this one she purposely ignored the rules of writing and honored her narrative instincts. One of her essays is written in playwriting form for fun; another is written like dictionary entries. Different writing formats but all windows into her life, her heart. Reyna also writes about her daughter and her marriage to a white man. A fun addition to this collection is an essay Reyna’s daughter wrote for school about her. This collection is a lovely read. It’s evocative, emotional, inspiring and hopeful. I highly recommend it.”—Maria L. Ferrer, Events Director
¡VIVA VALENZUELA! BY NATHALIE ALONSO, ILLUSTRATED BY JOHN PARRA | PICTURE BOOK
“I want to give flowers to author Nathalie Alonso and illustrator John Parra for their beautiful picture book, ¡Viva Valenzuela!—about the late Mexican professional baseball pitcher Fernando Valenzuela. The book tells the story of what Valenzuela meant for the Mexican and Mexican American communities of Los Angeles. What I appreciated most about this book was how Alonso, an award-winning baseball journalist, employed her expert knowledge in the sport to craft a meaningful story. It is accessible even to those of us who weren’t aware of Valenzuela’s imprint on baseball history. ¡Viva Valenzuela! is also a powerful reminder about representation, and how deeply many of us search for it in others. Representation matters a great deal to adults, too. Bonus points go to the book’s extensive backmatter, including an explainer on what a screwball is.”—Amaris Castillo, Contributing Blogger
LOLA LEVINE RUNS OUT OF STEAM BY MONICA BROWN, ILLUSTRATED BY CHELEN ÉCIJA | CHAPTER BOOK
“This fabulous illustrated chapter book series stars bilingual, biracial second grader Lola, a fierce soccer player with a big heart and creative spirit. Perfect family fun for World Cup fans!”—Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Fundraising Director
MEDEA SANG ME A CORRIDO BY DAHLIA DE LA CERDA, TRANSLATED BY JULIA SANCHES AND HEATHER CLEARY | ADULT FICTION
“Dahlia de la Cerda became an instant favorite after I picked up the acclaimed short story collection, Resevoir Bitches, last year. With her follow-up novel, Medea Sang Me a Corrido, she’s an undeniable force right now—a unique voice in Latin American literature, a celebration of punky girls, rough around the edges how I like it. Don’t sleep on Dahlia—or keep one eye open if you do.”—Andrea Morales, Board Member
RUNNING HOME TO YOU BY SAMANTHA SALDIVAR | ADULT FICTION
“I tore through Running Home to You. Equal parts slow-burn love story and poignant meditation on queer becoming, Samantha Saldivar cements herself as a queer romance writer to watch.”—Irene Vázquez, Communications Co-Director
CITIZENSHIP: NOTES ON AN AMERICAN MYTH BY DAISY HERNÁNDEZ | ADULT NONFICTION
“I am normally a fiction reader, but since I first heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. And I am so glad I did! Hernández distills the longtime mess that is U.S. immigration policy, swiftly and effectively illustrating it as a form of racism, and weaving in her compelling personal history, because of course, for so many of us, immigration is personal. Both a feat of storytelling and an impressive work of scholarship, this is a must-read for the moment, with all the hallmarks of an enduring classic.”—Toni Kirkpatrick, Chair
