It’s June, which means it’s time for LxP to share our favorite reads of the year, so far! Spanning adult, children’s, fiction, and nonfiction, these are a few titles we recommend you crack open asap.
AT THE ISLAND’S EDGE BY C.I. JEREZ | ADULT FICTION
“This is an amazing debut for C.I. Jerez. It’s emotional, gripping, and engaging from the start. Combat Medic Sergeant Catalina (Lina) LaSalle-Rivera returns from Iraq a hero but struggling with PTSD and the horrors of war. The single mom moves home to Puerto Rico in hopes of a better life for her and her son, Teo, but family dynamics prove hard and not as supportive as they could be. Lina must find the strength and courage to face her demons head on before she can heal and find peace inside herself.”
—Maria L. Ferrer, Events Director
DETAINED BY D. ESPERANZA AND GERARDO IVÁN MORALES ACCENT | MEMOIR
“As soon as I saw the synopsis for DETAINED, I immediately put it on my reading list: ‘The first-ever memoir of a child’s experience in detention on the US/Mexico border under President Trump’s infamous family separation policy.’ It is critical now, more than ever, to read the first-hand experiences of children and adults detained at the border. Please read this book and share it with a friend, share it with a young adult in your life. It’s a must-read.”
—Ruddy Lopez, Secretary
GUATEMALAN RHAPSODY BY JARED LEMUS | ADULT FICTION
“I fear this one I judged quickly by its cover and title—and with good reason: seeing a quetzal displayed so prominently like it does on the Guatemalan national flag made this one of my most anticipated books of the year. Lucky for us, Lemus’ writing is as impressive in this strong debut as this magnificent bird—I encourage you all to go pick it up.”
—Andrea Morales, Writers Mentorship Co-Director
A HERO’S GUIDE TO SUMMER VACATION BY PABLO CARTAYA | MIDDLE GRADE FICTION
“I loved going on this epic road trip with 13-year-old Gonzalo and his grumpy fantasy author abuelo across the country for a book tour! With themes of loss, family secrets, and storytelling, this charming intergenerational middle grade novel has something for everyone and makes a great summer read!”
— Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Board Member
BROTHER BRONTË BY FERNANDO A. FLORES | ADULT FICTION
“Flores’s latest is a mind trip of a novel, a near-future, surreal adventure set in a bleak, eerily familiar Texan landscape that follows two young women on a mission to reclaim their town and to save books, literally. I cherished this time with Neftalí and Proserpina, the rebel tías, and with Flores’s striking, imaginative language. This is a wildly original dystopia you don’t want to miss.”
— Toni Kirkpatrick, Chair
