Interview with Zoraida Córdova, author of The Inheritance Of Orquídea Divina

A Poetic Trance That Transports The Reader

It would be too ordinary to simply call The Inheritance Of Orquídea Divina “magical.” This story is beyond that. It is mystical, a poetic trance that transports the reader into an enchanted world that is filled with a sense of belonging, a source of empowerment and belief in the impossible.

The story follows the Montoyas, an Ecuadorian family who lived in an ordinary town, but who were far from ordinary themselves. For years, they all lived their lives without questioning the mysterious occurrences that surrounded them. 

Then came the request of their matriarch, Orquídea Divina, to attend her funeral. A funeral that brought the family more confusion than answers, but also provided them with an inheritance of unconventional gifts. This is the start of the Montoya’s journey; fueled by the powers of the earth and surrounded by the enchantment of the cosmos. They must learn to find strength within themselves and each other, in order to discover their hidden past, save their present and protect their inheritance; their future. 

I got to talk to Zoraida Córdova, on behalf of LatinX In Publishing, to learn about her history and passions, what brought her to writing The Inheritance Of Orquídea Divina, her connection to her audience and her wish for our community.

““...Bad luck woven into the birthmarks that dotted her shoulders and chest like constellations. Bad luck that felt like the petty vengeance of a long-forgotten god.” ”

— The Inheritance Of Orquídea

TG: I was immediately mesmerized by your lyrical writing but also your ability to subtly craft foreshadow so early in the storyline, in a way that makes the reader just get lost in the poetry of it all ..."Bad luck woven into the birthmarks that dotted her shoulders and chest like constellations. Bad luck that felt like the petty vengeance of a long-forgotten god." --- Where does your inspiration come from? Was there something in particular about this storyline that brought out something magical inside of you?  

ZC: Thank you so much! My inspiration comes from everywhere. I’ve read fantasy my whole life and I think that the reason I write is because I’m filling in the gaps that I see. When was the last time that you read about a magical Ecuadorian family? I know I haven’t, but I’ve been waiting for my whole life. It’s not always that things don’t exist, because I believe that they’re out there. It’s about access and discoverability, and most of the worlds I’ve discovered have shaped me but have left me with my own need to create.

TG: This story brought Guayaquil to life! I was lost in your descriptions of the culture: food, scenery, customs. The airport scene made me laugh. It was so on-point. It was exactly what I experienced when visiting Ecuador. Did you draw from your own personal experiences to bring life to Guayaquil in the storyline? 

ZC: I was born in Guayaquil, and I grew up in Queens, New York. Still, I went back most summers to see my father and other family. As an adult, I try to make it back, but life gets in the way. My last trip in 2018, I did go to the sites in this book. The chapel at the tip of the hill, the cemetery to visit my great grandmother. A lot of Orquídea is a composite of my grandma and mom, but also older stories from ancestors that I barely know from pictures, but we keep them alive through stories. 

TG: To draw from the previous question, this story has been resonating with so many who are seeing themselves and their experiences through the Montoyas, how does that make you feel, and will you continue to connect with readers, who don't necessarily see themselves in mainstream stories, through your writing?

ZC: It’s the most incredible feeling, really. I mean, my debut novel, The Vicious Deep, had side characters that were part Ecuadorian. Because of previous rejections I thought that’s all I could sneak into a book, the way you sneak veggies into a little kid’s meal. But then I wrote the Brooklyn Brujas which is my love letter to the urban fantasy I read as a teen and follows three sister Brujas. I wrote romance novels with Latina protagonists. Middle grade with Ecuadorian families. So, yes, I got over my fear and I’ve been writing this ever since. Maybe readers are finding me now because Atria has done an incredible job at making me visible, but I’ve been here for almost a decade, and will continue to write the stories I love. 

TG: Orquídea's story is one of many: infidelity, loneliness, abandonment, cruelty but also one of strength, resilience, courage, love. What is your advice to the women who read The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina? 

ZC: I don’t like to give advice because I’m a disaster! But I can say that we are worth it. Whatever “it” is, we are worth it. We are worth dignity and love and safety. 

TG: I have to ask, how did you come up with the character names? Is there a particular story behind them? I thought they were clever but also so interesting. 

Reymundo – King of the world/earth.

Marimar – My favorite telenovela, OBVIOUSLY. But I explain it a bit more poetically in the book.

Rhiannon – My favorite Fleetwood Mac song, but it also means queen or goddess which echoes Rey.

Orquídea – In the short story that inspired the book, her name was Rosa Montoya. But as I got to know her backstory more, I felt like Orquídea fit more. A flower that can grow on trees or “air plants.” She is always looking for roots.

ZC: Most of the names are family names, like Bolívar and Gastón, but others have different origins.

TG: The family tree! I kept going back to look at it. How was that process and how did you keep up with all of the different characters? Did the tree come first, the story or did you build along the way? I find that to be so metaphorical to the blissful chaos that is being a part of a big family. 

ZC: Oh man, that’s a challenge. I use the app Scapple (from the makes of Scrivener) and make a tree as I write to keep track of everyone. Sometimes characters just appear because they’re needed and so loud (like the twins).  

TG: Being that this is a magical book of wishes, what is your wish for our LatinX community?

ZC: My wish is for us to learn our histories and preserve them. My wish if for us to have more than one story and more empathy. We have a lot of work to do. 

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Zoraida Córdova is the acclaimed author of more than a dozen novels and short stories, including the Brooklyn Brujas series, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge: A Crash of Fate, and The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina. In addition to writing novels, she serves on the board of We Need Diverse Books, is the coeditor of the bestselling anthology Vampires Never Get Old, and is the cohost of the writing podcast Deadline City. She writes romance novels as Zoey Castile. Zoraida was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, and calls New York City home. When she’s not working, she’s roaming the world in search of magical stories. For more information, visit her at ZoraidaCordova.com.

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Tiffany Gonzalez earned a Bachelors of Arts in Journalism and Media Studies and obtained her Masters in Communication and Media from Rutgers University – NB. She has worked in the Publishing industry for over 4 years. She currently works for Astra Publishing House as the Marketing and Publicity Coordinator for Astra House. She’s excited to start working with underrepresented stories and bringing them to the hands of all readers. You can follow her on Instagram @wandering_tiff_ or visit her website at wanderingtiff.com

Sala Sundays with Gabriela M. Taboas Zayas

Latinx in Publishing (LxP): What do you do?

Gabriela M. Taboas Zayas (GTZ): I am responsible for editing the licensed and brands titles for Penguin Workshop such as Bluey, Mighty Express, Little Engine That Could, and more.

LxP: How did you get started?

GTZ: After completing my MFA, I started a summer editorial internship at Tor Books in Macmillan, then began as an administrative assistant for Licensing, Brands, and Media at Scholastic. After almost two years there, I was hired at Penguin Workshop in 2020 to work on their licensed titles.

LxP: What do you wish you knew before getting into the industry?

GTZ: Good question! That there is more to the industry than just editors—and that there is more than one kind of editor! Publishing has many layers that create a book. There are agents, designers, copyediting, marketing, publicity, production, administrative assistants, metadata, and more! Each and every position is important to helping a book be the very best it can be.

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

GTZ: I’m currently reading The Left-Handed Booksellers of London by Garth Nix, Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, and Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. Basically my entire to-read pile, jaja!

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Gabriela M. Taboas Zayas was born and raised in Puerto Rico and is currently an Assistant Editor for Licensing and Brands at Penguin Workshop. She moved to New York City in 2016 to complete an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults in the New School University. She spends her free time writing Young Adult stories about brujas, monsters, and cursed mermaids.

October 2021 Latinx Releases

ON-SALE OCTOBER 1ST, 2021

THE WITCH OWL PARLIAMENT: CLOCKWORK CURANDERA #1 | YOUNG ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL

by David Bowles; Illustrated by Raúl the Third (Lee & Low/Tu Books)

Discover a graphic novel unlike any other--a brilliant steampunk reimagining of Frankenstein set in colonial Mexico.

In the Republic of Santander, non-Christian magic is frowned upon, if not outright prohibited. But when Cristina Franco, an apprentice shaman, is killed by witch owls, her brother Enrique cannot let her go. With forbidden alchemy and engineering, Enrique brings her back to life: part human, part machine. Though her very existence is an abomination to Santander's citizens, Cristina vows to use her new abilities to protect her country from attack.

With help from a handsome skinwalker named Mateo, Cristina and Enrique track down the witch owl coven and uncover a sinister plot to bring Santander under the rule of the Witch Owl Parliament, whose legendary cruelty would dismantle the country's hard-won freedoms. At the same time, Indigenous folks and immigrants are disappearing from Santander--including Enrique's beloved, Gaspar. Could the attacks and the disappearances be related? As the witch owls attack more trains and more refugees go missing, the trio must uncover the witch owls' origins to understand their weakness.

Energetic illustrations by Pura Belpré Award winner Raúl the Third bring to life the words of award-winning author and poet David Bowles. Don't miss this amazing first volume of the Clockwork Curandera trilogy!

ON-SALE OCTOBER 5TH, 2021

EVERYTHING WITHIN AND IN BETWEEN | YOUNG ADULT CONTEMPORARY

by Nikki Barthelmess (HarperCollins/Harper)

Color Me In meets I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter in Everything Within and In Between, a deeply honest coming-of-age story about reclaiming a heritage buried under assimilation, the bonds within families, and defining who you are for yourself.

For Ri Fernández's entire life, she's been told, "We live in America and we speak English." Raised by her strict Mexican grandma, Ri has never been allowed to learn Spanish.

What's more, her grandma has pulled Ri away from the community where they once belonged. In its place, Ri has grown up trying to fit in among her best friend's world of mansions and country clubs in an attempt try to live out her grandmother's version of the "American Dream."

In her heart, Ri has always believed that her mother, who disappeared when Ri was young, would accept her exactly how she is and not try to turn her into someone she's never wanted to be. So when Ri finds a long-hidden letter from her mom begging for a visit, she decides to reclaim what Grandma kept from her: her heritage and her mom.

But nothing goes as planned. Her mom isn't who Ri imagined she would be and finding her doesn't make Ri's struggle to navigate the interweaving threads of her mixed heritage any less complicated. Nobody has any idea of who Ri really is--not even Ri herself. 

Everything Within and In Between is a powerful new young adult novel about one young woman's journey to rediscover her roots and redefine herself from acclaimed author Nikki Barthelmess.

IN THE SPIRIT OF A DREAM: 13 STORIES OF AMERICAN IMMIGRANTS OF COLOR | PAPERBACK BIOGRAPHY

by Aida Salazar; Illustrated by various artists (Scholastic/Orchard Books)

Celebratory, triumphant, and inspiring, In the Spirit of a Dream is a tribute to American immigrants of color, written in poems and illustrated by 14 first- and second-generation immigrant artists.

In the spirit of a dream, many immigrants of color set out across continents, oceans, and borders, travelling to the United States in pursuit of opportunity. This book is a celebration of 13 American immigrants of color, from world-famous to local heroes, politicians, surgeons, athletes, activists and more. The biographies included feature engineer and astronaut Anousheh Ansari; Paralympic athlete and entrepreneur Alejandro Albor; surgeon Ayub Khan Ommaya; jazz musician Candido Camero; dancer Conceiçao Damasceno; Sriracha inventor and businessman David Tran; basketball player Dikembe Mutombo; author Edwidge Danticat; politician Ilhan Omar; comic artist Jim Lee; environmental activist Juana Guttierez; cellist Yo-Yo Ma, and the Undocupoets, a group of undocumented poets. These stories are told in poems by Aida Salazar and artwork by Alina Chau, Bianca Diaz, Dion MBD, Fahmida Azim, Gaby D'Alessandro, Jose Ramirez, Ken Daley, Nicole Xu, Paulo D. Campos, Rahele Jomepour Bell, Tracy Guiteau, Vanessa Flores, and Yasmin Imamura.

MIOSOTIS FLORES NEVER FORGETS | MIDDLE GRADE CONTEMPORARY

by Hilda Eunice Burgos (Lee & Low/Tu Books)

Perfect for fans of Meg Medina and Barbara O'Connor, this heartfelt novel about family, pets, and other things we hold close is one that you'll never forget.

Miosotis Flores is excited about three things: fostering rescue dogs, goofy horror movies, and her sister Amarilis's upcoming wedding. School? Not on that list. But her papi cares about school more than anything else, so they strike a deal: If Miosotis improves her grades in two classes, she can adopt a dog of her own in the summer.

Miosotis dives into her schoolwork, and into nurturing a fearful little pup called Freckles. Could he become her forever dog? At the same time, she notices Amarilis behaving strangely--wearing thick clothes in springtime, dropping her friends in favor of her fiancé, even avoiding Miosotis and the rest of their family.

When she finally discovers her sister's secret, Miosotis faces some difficult choices. What do you do if someone is in danger, but doesn't want your help? When should you ask for support, and when should you try to handle things on your own? And what ultimately matters most--what Miosotis wants, or what's right for the ones she loves?

TINY DANCER | YOUNG ADULT GRAPHIC NOVEL

by Siena Cherson Siegel; Illustrated by Mark Siegel (S&S/Atheneum)

A teenage ballet dancer struggles to find her next step, and her place in the world, in this exquisite graphic memoir--a follow-up to the Sibert Honor-winning To Dance.

All her life, Siena has dreamed of being a ballerina. Her love of movement and dedication to the craft earned her a spot at the School of American Ballet, with hopes of becoming a member of George Balanchine's world-famous New York City Ballet company. Siena has worked hard for many years to be a professional ballet dancer, but injury and doubt are starting to take their toll.

Maybe it's time to look beyond the world of dance--but Siena's whole identity has been shaped by ballet. When you have spent your entire life working toward something, how do you figure out what comes next? And how do you figure out who you are without the thing that defined you? This is a moving and beautifully drawn memoir of a dancer struggling to find her next step--and a young woman finding her true footing in the world.

LUPE WONG NO BAILA (LUPE WONG WON’T DANCE SPANISH EDITION) | MIDDLE GRADE FICTION

by Donna Barba Higuera (Levine Querido)

My gym shorts burrow into my butt crack like a frightened groundhog.

Don't you want to read a book that starts like that

Lupe Wong is going to be the first female pitcher in the Major Leagues.

She's also championed causes her whole young life. Some worthy...like expanding the options for race on school tests beyond just a few bubbles. And some not so much...like complaining to the BBC about the length between Doctor Who seasons.

Lupe needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who's Chinacan/Mexinese just like her. So when the horror that is square dancing rears its head in gym? Obviously she's not gonna let that slide.

Not since Millicent Min, Girl Genius has a debut novel introduced a character so memorably, with such humor and emotional insight. Even square dancing fans will agree...

ON-SALE OCTOBER 12TH, 2021

¡VAMOS! LET’S CROSS THE BRIDGE | PICTURE BOOK

by Raúl the Third (HMH/Versify)

Little Lobo and Bernabé are back in this joyful story about coming together and celebrating community, a lively follow-up to ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat, by Pura Belpré Medal-winning illustrator Raúl the Third.

People are always crossing the bridge for work, to visit family, or for play. Some going this way; others going that way. Back and forth they go. With friends on foot and in bicycles, in cars and trucks, the bridge is an incredibly busy place with many different types of vehicles.

Little Lobo and his dog Bernabé have a new truck and they are using it to carry party supplies over the bridge with their pals El Toro and La Oink Oink. The line is long and everyone on the bridge is stuck. How will they pass the time? Eventually everyone comes together for an epic party on the bridge between two different countries. Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go gets Mexican American makeover in this joyful story about coming together.

THE LAST CUENTISTA | MIDDLE GRADE NOVEL

by Donna Barba Higuera (Levine Querido)

Había una vez . . .

There lived a girl named Petra Peña, who wanted nothing more than to be a storyteller, like her abuelita.

But Petra's world is ending. Earth has been destroyed by a comet, and only a few hundred scientists and their children - among them Petra and her family - have been chosen to journey to a new planet. They are the ones who must carry on the human race.

Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to this new planet - and the discovery that she is the only person who remembers Earth. A sinister Collective has taken over the ship during its journey, bent on erasing the sins of humanity's past. They have systematically purged the memories of all aboard - or purged them altogether.

Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future. Can she make them live again?

Pura Belpré Honor-winning author Donna Barba Higuera presents us with a brilliant journey through the stars, to the very heart of what makes us human.

CERTAIN DARK THINGS | FANTASY, HORROR

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Macmillan/Nightfire)

From Silvia Moreno-Garcia, the New York Times bestselling author of Mexican Gothic, comes Certain Dark Things, a pulse-pounding neo-noir that reimagines vampire lore.

Welcome to Mexico City, an oasis in a sea of vampires. Domingo, a lonely garbage-collecting street kid, is just trying to survive its heavily policed streets when a jaded vampire on the run swoops into his life. Atl, the descendant of Aztec blood drinkers, is smart, beautiful, and dangerous. Domingo is mesmerized.

Atl needs to quickly escape the city, far from the rival narco-vampire clan relentlessly pursuing her. Her plan doesn't include Domingo, but little by little, Atl finds herself warming up to the scrappy young man and his undeniable charm. As the trail of corpses stretches behind her, local cops and crime bosses both start closing in.

Vampires, humans, cops, and criminals collide in the dark streets of Mexico City. Do Atl and Domingo even stand a chance of making it out alive? Or will the city devour them all?

MI CASA IS MY HOME | PICTURE BOOK

by Laurenne Sala; Illustrated by Zara González Hoang

Lucia invites you to visit her bustling casa and meet an intergenerational array of loved ones in a charming Spanglish celebration of family life.

Este es el baño . . . It's where I shave my barba con Abuelo.

Bienvenidos to Lucía's home. Lucía lives in her casa with her big, loud, beautiful familia, and she's going to show you around! From la puerta, where Abuela likes to wave to the neighbors and wait for packages from Puerto Rico or Spain, to la cocina, where Lucía watches her Mamá turn empty pots into soups and arroces, to el patio, where Lucia and her cousins (and her cousin's cousins!) put on magic shows, Lucía loves her busy and cozy casa. With warmth and joy, author Laurenne Sala and illustrator Zara González Hoang celebrate home in this bilingual picture book that feels like an abrazo from your most favorite people, your familia.

ON-SALE OCTOBER 15TH, 2021

THIS FIERCE BLOOD | ADULT FICTION, LITERARY

by Malia Márquez (Acre Books)

A multicultural saga, This Fierce Blood follows three generations of women in the Sylte family.

In rural late-nineteenth-century New England, Wilhelmina Sylte is a settler starting a family with her Norwegian immigrant husband. When she forms an inexplicable connection with a mountain lion and her cubs living near their farm, Mina grapples with divided loyalties and the mysterious bond she shares with the animals.

In 1927 in southern Colorado, Josepa is accused of witchcraft by a local priest for using the healing practices passed down from her Native mother. Fighting for her family's reputation and way of life, Sepa finds strength in worldly and otherworldly sources.

When Magdalena, an ecologist, inherits her great-grandmother Wilhelmina's Vermont property, she and her astrophysicist husband decide to turn the old farm into a summer science camp for teens. As Magda struggles with both personal and professional responsibilities, the boundary between science and myth begins to blur.

Rich in historical and cultural detail, This Fierce Blood combines magical realism with themes of maternal ancestral inheritance, and also explores the ways Hispano/Indigenous traditions both conflicted and wove together, shaping the distinctive character of the American Southwest. Readers of Téa Obreht and Ruth Ozeki will find much to admire in this debut novel.

ON-SALE OCTOBER 19TH, 2021

CONCEALED | MIDDLE GRADE CONTEMPORARY

by Christina Diaz Gonzalez (Scholastic Press)

What if you had no name, no past, and no home?

Award-winning author Christina Diaz Gonzalez has created a twisty, action-packed story about a life on the run.

Ivette. Joanna. And now: Katrina

Whatever her name is, it won't last long. Katrina doesn't know any of the details about her past, but she does know that she and her parents are part of the Witness Protection Program. Whenever her parents say they have to move on and start over, she takes on a new identity. A new name, a new hair color, a new story.

Until their location leaks and her parents disappear. Forced to embark on a dangerous rescue mission, Katrina and her new friend Parker set out to save her parents -- and find out the truth about her secret past and the people that want her family dead.

But every new discovery reveals that Katrina's entire life has been built around secrets covered up with lies and that her parents were actually the ones keeping the biggest secret of all. Katrina must now decide if learning the whole truth is worth the price of losing everything she has ever believed about herself and her family.

SCI-FU: IT TAKES 2 | MIDDLE GRADE GRAPHIC NOVEL

by Yehudi Mercado (Oni Press)

The highly anticipated sequel to SCI-FU is jam-packed with all kinds of hip-hop, sci-fi, and kung-fu goodness!

Wax, aspiring DJ and sci-fu master-in-training, made it back safely from the alien robot planet of Discopia, where he defeated the Five Deadly Dangers and became the rightful king of Discopia. He doesn't want the crown, though. He just wants things to go back to normal. Wax and his crew thought the robot trouble was behind them, but strange creatures have been showing up in Brooklyn, and Wax is determined to take care of them once and for all. Little does he know, there's a new villain in Discopia, and she'll do anything to take the crown from Wax. Wax starts to worry he doesn't have what it takes to protect his family, friends, and all of Brooklyn from the new threats. Wax will need to kick his hip-hop and sci-fu training into high gear--and learn to rely on his family and friends for help--if he's going to have a shot at saving his neighborhood.

From legendary cartoonist Yehudi Mercado comes the much-anticipated followup to his hit Sci-Fu: Kick it Off. With a second volume jam-packed with all kinds of hip-hop, sci-fi, and kung-fu goodness, Sci-Fu: It Takes 2 spins the perfect track of friends working together to protect their home.

THEY’RE SO FLAMBOYANT | PICTURE BOOK

by Michael Genahart; Illustrated by Tony Neal (Magination Press)

flam·boy·ant – a person (or bird!) who tends to attract attention because of their confidence, exuberance, and stylishness

This fun and funny bird's-eye tome to individuality, community, and harmony follows the reactions of a neighborhood full of birds when a “flamboyance” of flamingos moves in. Each band of birds—a gaggle of geese, a dole of doves, a charm of finches, a brood of chickens, a scream of swifts, and an unkindness of ravens—all have their feathers ruffled and express their apprehension about the new and different arrivals. Bright pink colors, long legs, how dare they! Even a watch of nightingales patrols after dark. When the band of jays decides it is time to settle down the neighborhood, the pride of peacocks takes the lead, with support from a waddle of penguins, a venue of vultures, a mob of emus, and a gulp of cormorants. Finally, they all land at the flamingos’ welcome party only to realize that they had all been birdbrained. Their new neighbors are actually quite charming, and not so scary and different after all. Includes a note from the author on helping children to learn about acceptance, avoid stereotyping, and model welcoming behavior.

SHEEP COUNT FLOWERS | PICTURE BOOK

by Micaela Chirif; Illustrated by Amanda Mijangos (Levine Querido)

If people count sheep to fall asleep, then.
what do sheep count?

Flowers, says this beautifully fanciful dream of a book. Sunflowers, roses, geraniums, jasmine. And there's lots of OTHER things you probably don't know about sheep.Sheep have neither pajamas nor pillows nor slippers. They tell bedtime stories about rhinoceroses and airplanes. They ONLY fly when they're sleeping, like butterflies circling the sun. In fact, there are sheep that sparkle in the dark like stars and fireflies.

Or are there?

Look closer at the light-as-a-laugh paintings by Amanda Mijangos, and you just might start wondering if all those adventurers are children in sheep's clothing!

ON-SALE OCTOBER 26TH, 2021

I’LL HOLD YOUR HAND | PICTURE BOOK

by Maggie C. Rudd; Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri (Macmillan/FSG BFYR)

This sweet picture book celebrates the unbreakable bond of a parent's support for a child though life's milestones, from learning to walk to the first day of school and all the highs and lows in between.

From the night you arrive to your first night away,
from learning to crawl to healing a broken heart,
and for all the highs and lows in between. . .
through every season, every challenge, and every joy, you are loved.

With sweet, lyrical text and stunning art,I'll Hold Your Handcelebrates the unbreakable bond of family, and all the ways our actions can say "I love you" louder than words.

NEVERFORGOTTEN | MIDDLE GRADE CONTEMPORARY

by Alejandra Algorta; Illustrated by Iván Rickenmann (Levine Querido)

Fabio flies through the streets of Bogotá on his bicycle, the children of his neighborhood trailing behind him. It is there that life feels right--where the world of adults, and their lies, fades away. But then one day, he simply forgets. Forgets how to ride his bicycle. And Fabio will never be the same again.

From Colombia comes a special debut talent, Alejandra Algorta, and a first novel of discovery and heartbreak. Algorta's distinct and poetic prose has been translated by award-winning author Aida Salazar, and presented in English and Spanish.

ON-SALE OCTOBER 31ST, 2021

JOSEFINAS HABICHUELAS: LAS HABICHUELAS DE JOSEFINA | PICTURE BOOK

by Jasminne Mendez; Illustrated by Flor de Vita (Arte Público/Piñata Books)

Like all kids, Josefina loves to eat sweets. She loves warm chocolate chip cookies right out of the oven, cupcakes and candy! One night, while eating a piece of flan, Mami asks her to consider giving up sweets for Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. "That's impossible!" Josefina says. When Mami promises to teach her how to make her favorite dessert, habichuelas con dulce, she agrees to give it a try. Josefina can't wait to end her fast and eat the delicious sweet cream beans, her family's traditional Easter dessert. While she and her mom, tias and abuela prepare the dish, they dance to merengue music and tell stories about life back in the Dominican Republic. The kitchen fills with the aromatic smells of cinnamon and sugar, but it's the feelings of love and happiness Josefina will never forget. On Easter, when the family eats her special dessert, the girl's grandmother says it's the best she has ever tasted! This heart-warming, bilingual picture book for children shares a universal story about food, music and family stories, while focusing on a cultural tradition specific to the Dominican Republic. The recipe for this special dessert is included in both English and Spanish!

'Martita, I Remember You,' Ni de Aquí, Ni de Allá, & Latinas Traveling

How many of your parents encourage you to travel the world solo, as a Latina or Latinx individual? Barely anyone raises their hands. How often have you seen fictional works reflect back to you the experience of leisurely traveling and being seen as other? 

         Acclaimed author Sandra Cisneros takes these shared experiences and writes a new bilingual book where you’ll be sure to find a piece of yourself. In Martita, I Remember You / Martita, Te Recuerdo, Sandra uses her life’s travels and stories, as well as those of the many women she encounters, as a source of inspiration. This story mostly takes place in Paris, a destination that exists for many purely in an imaginative, mythical realm where romance and aesthetic photos reign. However, for the characters in the book, they are just trying to find their place in this world and find clarity on who they are. 

          Most travel stories usually feature a white male protagonist, who typically lives in opulence and never truly contends with his identity throughout his travels. This is not the case for the characters in Martita, I Remember You / Martita, Te Recuerdo. Throughout the virtual conversation between Sandra Cisneros, Liliana Valenzuela, and  Rigoberto González I listened to this past Tuesday, September 23rd, hosted by The Center For Fiction, something Rigoberto said landed with me: “The immigrant is always away from home and looking for their home.” Therefore, the immigrant travels to far off places to build or find a new life; sometimes they find it, and other times they do not. However, that intention is what changes the course of their story forever. 

          Like Sandra says, “ What else are you going to do with stories that break your heart, except write about them, especially if the people who gave you them are not writers.” Taking action towards what you desire and need will not only give you clarity, but to the rest of those who watch your journey. To bring the stories we’d like to see out in the world to fruition, and listen to the stories of those who mirror our own experiences is a brave affirmation of self. If that sounds like what you are about, I’d encourage you to grab a copy of Sandra Cisneros’ new work, Martita, I Remember You / Martita, Te Recuerdo and hold space for the clarity we find on our often-chaotic journeys towards home.

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Alondra Vargas-Soto is a creative and Boricua from Brooklyn, New York. They have received their BA in English: Creative Writing and Music: Vocal from Hunter College. Alo loves writing poetry and can usually be found bailando, practicing yoga, or exploring the world around them. Connect with them on Instagram @corriente_alo.

Sala Sundays with Desiree Rodriguez

Latinx in Publishing (LxP): What do you do?

Desiree Rodriguez (DR): I'm an editor with Oni Press, editing single issue and graphic novel titles. I also worked on Lion Forge's Catalyst Prime imprint previously managing and editing the line. I also write short stories - both prose and comics - currently.

LxP: How did you get started?

DR: I started off as an assistant at Lion Forge under Joe Illidge for the Catalyst Prime imprint about five years ago. Before that I wrote for comic and media websites writing articles and essays. The essay that got me my job was for Nerds of Color titled: Being Latinx in Comics.

LxP: What do you wish you knew before getting into the industry?

DR: How to talk to people, networking is a really important skill to have along with being able to articulate yourself in a meaningful way. You have to be able to put yourself out there in social situations to connect with creators and readers alike. Speaking on panels was very new to me and I know I rambled far too much when I first began my career.

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

DR: I'm working on a couple graphic novels that haven't been announced yet but one is with the ChooseCo company, and another is with Jarrett Melendez. For reading, I just finished Faraway Wanderers by Priest and started two new books C.B. Lee’s A Clash of Steel and Bethany C. Morrow’s So Many Beginnings.

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Desiree Rodriguez is an Eisner award winning editor, writer and journalist having written stories for DC Comics and Power and Magic Press, and Haunt Publishing and essays for sites such as Women Write About Comics and Nerds of Color. Desiree is currently an Editor at Oni Press.

Sala Sundays with Carla Benton

Latinx in Publishing (LxP): What do you do?

Carla Benton (CB): I’m a senior production editor for St. Martin’s Publishing Group at Macmillan. I’m also a freelance book copy editor and proofreader.

LxP: How did you get started?

CB: While at NYU, I landed an internship in Putnam’s copyediting department at Penguin. My first FT job was also at Penguin in managing editorial at Berkley.

LxP: What do you wish you knew before getting into the industry?

CB: Most reading—and writing—heavy concentrations will similarly set you up to get started in this field, so choose something primarily because it truly interests you!

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

CB: I’m currently working on Before You Say Anything: The Untold Stories and Failproof Strategies of a Very Discreet Speechwriter by Victoria Wellman.

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Carla Benton is currently a senior production editor at Macmillan, as well as a freelance copy editor and proofreader, and has worked in this particular corner of the industry since 2008. She is Peruvian American and Chicago has been her home base since 2016.

School-Themed Picture Books for the New School Year

Summer break has come to an end and back-to-school sales are popping up as a new school year begins. Here is a roundup of school-themed books to help you and your little ones ease into the first weeks of classes.

¡Vámonos! Let's Go!

By Rene Colato Lainez; Illustrated by Joe Cepeda

Published by Holiday House

From their window on the bus, a girl and a boy see a fire truck that goes woo-ooo-ooo, also known as a camión de bomberos--uuuah uuuah uuuah. They see a train, an ambulance and an airplane too! With this rollicking adaptation of "The Wheels on the Bus," young people can sing out the names of their favorite vehicles and the sounds they make -- in both English and Spanish.

Separate Is Never Equal: Sylvia Mendez and Her Family’s Fight for Desegregation 

By Duncan Tonatiuh

Published by Abrams Books for Young Readers

When her family moved to the town of Westminster, California, young Sylvia Mendez was excited about enrolling in her neighborhood school. But she and her brothers were turned away and told they had to attend the Mexican school instead. Sylvia could not understand why—she was an American citizen who spoke perfect English. Why were the children of Mexican families forced to attend a separate school? Unable to get a satisfactory answer from the school board, the Mendez family decided to take matters into its own hands and organize a lawsuit.

In the end, the Mendez family’s efforts helped bring an end to segregated schooling in California in 1947, seven years before the landmark Supreme Court ruling in Brown v. Board of Education ended segregation in schools across America. 

Using his signature illustration style and incorporating his interviews with Sylvia Mendez, as well as information from court files and news accounts, award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh tells the inspiring story of the Mendez family’s fight for justice and equality.

Twins vs. Triplets: Back-to-School Blitz 

By Jennifer Torres; Illustrated by Vanessa Flores
Published by Harper Collins

David Suárez gets stuck in the middle of a prank war when the neighborhood twins and triplets compete to rule the school. This is the first book of this hilarious, highly illustrated early chapter book series.

David can’t wait to go back to school and get far away from his trickster neighbors. But he’s in for a surprise when a set of equally prank-loving triplets move onto his block—and into his class!

Now the twins and triplets are battling for control of the playground and David is stuck in the middle. Can he end the prank war before recess gets cancelled for the whole year?

El día en que descubres quién eres (Spanish Edition) 

By Jacqueline Woodson; Illustrated by Rafael López; Translated by Teresa Mlawer
Published by Nancy Paulsen Books

A veces, cuando por fin damos el paso, suceden cosas increíbles.

Habrá veces en que entres a un lugar

y no veas a nadie como tú. 

Hay muchas razones por las que uno se puede sentir diferente.

Quizá sea por tu apariencia o por la forma en que hablas o de dónde vienes. A lo mejor es por lo que comes o por algún motivo similar. Sea cual sea la razón, no es fácil dar ese paso de entrar a un lugar donde no conoces a nadie; pero de alguna forma lo haces. 

El lírico texto de Jacqueline Woodson y el deslumbrante arte de Rafael López se combinan para celebrar el valor que se requiere para hacernos un lugar en un mundo diferente al nuestro. Y nos mueven a pensar en que si damos el paso y compartimos nuestra historia, es casi seguro que otros se interesen por conocernos mejor.

Ruddy Lopez lives in Inglewood, California, and attended California State University, Long Beach. She obtained a BA in English Literature and English Education and is a Fellow of the Los Angeles Review of Books Publishing Workshop. She is an educator who is transitioning to editing and publishing. In her spare time, Ruddy enjoys reading, writing poetry, and exploring what her city has to offer.

Sala Sundays with Brigid Martin

Latinx in Publishing (LxP): What do you do?

Brigid Martin (BM): Hi everyone, I’m Brigid, the current mass-market sales associate manager at Scholastic, a magical and wonderful place filled with nostalgia and good people. I know that sales isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when you think of publishing, but it is such a great department to be in. Being in sales gives you the opportunity to see the entire journey of a book from the moment it gets to acquisitions to when you are selling it into an account. The thing I enjoy most about my job is that I get the exciting privilege to talk about, promote and amplify upcoming titles to a select list of buyers that I call upon. My accounts as of right now include BJs, airport chains, military bases, and B2C accounts. Developing relationships with these buyers is such a key part of this experience and it’s honestly the best part. My job essentially feels like I’m in a nonstop book club where I am describing all of the cool plot lines to people, except with more excel grids and reporting.

LxP: How did you get started?

BM: I originally went to college in the hopes of becoming a music teacher one day, but wound up having an existential crisis at 20 when I realized I didn’t exactly have the personality to make a good teacher. Those kids would have eaten me alive! I confided in a friend who was older than me who happened to be working in publishing at the time and went to her with the question “what should I be doing with my life?”. She recommended I switch to a publishing path since I loved books and I could still be in the field of education, but just in a different way! I took her advice, switched my major to English and never looked back. After my senior year, I applied to a ton of unpaid internships (boo!), got a bunch of rejections because I had no idea how to interview. After many many rejections, I eventually got a sales internship at Perseus Books because I was fortunate enough to be interviewed there by some lovely folks that were accepting of my social awkwardness. After the internship, I got hired full-time a few months later. I probably would have stayed there forever if the company didn’t get sold.

LxP: What do you wish you knew before getting into the industry?

BM: I really wish I knew the importance of having mentors before entering into the workforce. If it weren’t for the mentors I’ve acquired along the way since starting my career, I would not be where I am right now. Finding a mentor that can help guide you and give you advice on your weaknesses is key to becoming a better you! Publishing can be a rocky industry and you may end up getting knocked down a few times (I know I certainly have!), but if you have the right mentors, they can help you stay on course. For me, my biggest struggle was getting hired. I would go on dozens of interviews and get rejected by every single one. I was genuinely terrible at interviewing. I used to ask all the wrong questions and say all the wrong things because I didn’t know how to own my successes. It took a mentor to tell me that the only person who can advocate for you is you. That really stuck with me because I always struggled with celebrating my “wins” and never took credit for my accomplishments. Once I started adjusting the way I framed information, I was able to land more opportunities.

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

BM: Right now I’m reading A Wizards Guide to Defensive Baking by T. Kingfisher. It’s a hilarious book about a young wizard whose magic only works on bread and it’s been bringing me a ton of joy. Prior to that, I actually just finished reading an advanced copy of Witchlings by Claribel Ortega (pubbing Feb 2022), which I highly highly recommend. It’s an action-packed magical adventure filled with quirky friendships, well-named toads, and overcoming challenges. I’m really hoping it becomes the next big thing in kids lit and I promise I’m not just saying that because I work at Scholastic.

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Brigid Martin is a New York-based writer and publishing professional with a deep love of ghosts and all things spooky. It has been a goal and passion of hers to work in an industry that promotes educational and diverse content for children and can happily say that working at Scholastic has proven to deliver just that--and more! As a member of Scholastic's Trade DEIB Advisory Committee, Latinx in Publishing, SCBWI and the Children’s Media Association, Brigid is always eager to learn and grow in the hopes of making positive change in children's publishing. Outside of work, Brigid considers herself to be a serial hobbyist. When she isn't using industrial machinery at her local maker space or reading an excessive amount of books, you can find her crocheting her way out of a giant pile of yarn on Long Island. Brigid holds a B.A. in English and Music from Stony Brook University as well as an M.S. in Strategic Marketing Communications from Fordham University.

An Emotional Understanding of ‘Once Upon a Quinceañera’ by Monica Gomez-Hira

Once Upon a Quinceañera by Monica Gomez-Hira is a debut novel that follows a young girl’s struggles to understand the importance of family and forgiveness. Taking place in the summer heat of Miami Florida, we are introduced to a young woman named Carmen Aguliar who struggles with her reputation, relationships, and deciding the next steps for her future.

Image from HarperCollins website.

Carmen wants one thing and that is to finish her summer internship with Dreams Comes True, a party planning business that produces happily ever afters, to earn her high school diploma. Three months and then she is free and her family can stop labeling her as a cautionary tale. But what she wasn’t prepared for was the return of her former freshman hook up, Mauro Reyes, and her spoiled cousin, Ariana, the destroyer of her quince, whose quinceañera she has to plan. Carmen seemingly has no escape from the two people she dislikes the most, but it is only three months, and she can do anything for three months.

Carmen does everything she can to make the summer as tolerable as possible. She goes to quinceañera practice, where she watches her crush Alex fall for her cousin and is dance partners with Mauro. Summer is not turning out to be the dream come true she hopes it would be; it becomes increasingly strenuous as she battles with her growing feelings for Mauro and struggles to forgive him and her family. Carmen carries her hurt and insecurities close to her like a shield, which makes navigating her life difficult and lonely at times.

Once Upon a Quinceañera reminds readers that the longer we hold on to our hurt, the harder it is to make and maintain relationships we desire — even if those relationships aren’t perfect and require some work. When people hurt us, how do we continue to live a life that allows us to be authentic and vulnerable, even when it’s hard? Gomez-Hira does a wonderful job of describing how relationships, both familial and romantic, can be extremely difficult to manage, especially for younger adults who are learning who they are. 

What stood out to me was the clear message of accepting that people are going to let you down and are not perfect, but loving them despite that can create stronger relationships. This story is a powerful reminder of working through our anger and to allow yourself time to grieve the disappointments people give us, but to continue to love. This is a wonderful book about love, family, and learning how to deal with emotions to better oneself. 

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Tereza Lopez (she/her) is a recent graduate from Clark University with a double major in English and history. She will be attending Clark University again in the fall for a master's in communications. When she is not studying, you can find her obsessively reading or taking care of her new kitten.

Causas, Cultura, y Baile: Lupe Wong no baila por Donna Barba Higuera

¡Jonrón! La autora Donna Barba Higuera ha sacado la pelota de béisbol fuera del estadio (al estilo literario), con su libro infantil ¡Lupe Wong no baila! Protagonizada por Guadalupe Wong, una estudiante de séptimo grado y Mexicana-china (o China-mexicana), la joven hará todo lo posible para involucrar a todos en lo que ella cree que es correcto, como ponerle fin a la música country, square dancing en particular, en su clase de educación física. Este es un libro de ficción contemporánea que ofrece conversaciones difíciles entre los personajes, junto con un humor memorable y necesario.

Desde un principio, los lectores se enteraran de que Lupe debe obtener excelentes calificaciones en todas sus clases para que le presenten a su lanzador favorito, Fu Li Hernández, que resulta ser mitad mexicano y mitad chino como ella. Lupe lo es todo, desde una activista hasta una atleta competitiva, excepto una bailarina. Mientras la profesora Solden pisa fuerte y aplaude al ritmo de la canción de country, "Cotton Eyed-Joe", Lupe dice que es igual de incomodo como la vez que su mamá insistió en enseñarle a todos sus amigos a bailar la Macarena en su fiesta de cumpleaños. La historia ofrece una descripción gráfica de las reacciones de los estudiantes al baile de la profesora Solden, poniendo la cereza al pastel para complementar esta introducción tan chistosa. Lupe comenta como su boca y la boca de los demás se abren en estado de shock cuando la profesora Solden les dice “¡bienvenidos al plan de estudios de este trimestre!". Lupe nunca había asociado el interior de un gimnasio con tanto horror.

Imagen del editorial.

Lupe acepta el desafío de baile de la major manera que ella cree posible—encontrando formas de deshacerse de él. Con la historia narrada en primera persona, Higuera transporta a los lectores a muchas travesuras posibles en la secundaria. Claro, un estreno estelar no es posible sin los brillantes personajes secundarios, Gordon Schnelly; Andalucía (Andy) Washington; Niles Foster; Paolo Wong; la abuela Wong; Abuela Salgado; Papa Wong; la madre de Lupe; y la profesora Solden.

Mientras Lupe descubre el oscuro origen de la canción "Cotton-Eyed Joe", también debe manejar los "peligros mortales de los pasillos” de su escuela del que su hermano mayor, Paolo, le advirtió, con la amenaza humorística de regresarla al zoológico donde sus padres la encontraron. Lupe empieza a tener más nervios cuando Paolo afirma que la escuela secundaria Issaquah solo permite la norma de “chico-invita-a-bailar-a-una-chica” en el baile, y esto solo fortalece el objetivo de Lupe de ponerle fin a la tradición. Este es uno de esos libros no comunes que presenta las (posibles) perspectivas de los niños sobre un baile de una manera muy auténtica. Higuera no solo presenta a una joven de secundaria que no quiere ni tiene ritmo, sino que también presenta a un hermano mayor al que graciosamente no le gusta la idea de invitar a bailar a una chica. Lupe es un personaje joven muy franco y valiente, que está dispuesto a hablar en contra de cualquier cosa que considere injusta, sirviendo como un ejemplo fuerte.

Entre los momentos más notables está cuando Lupe le pregunta a su madre: ¿Quién implementó square dancing en educación física? Su madre le responde que tuvo que hacerlo cuando ella tenia la edad de Lupe. Lupe no se queda con los brazos cruzados e investiga más. Este momento es una joya que refleja cómo la sociedad ha sido condicionada a seguir varias tradiciones sin cuestionarlas por mucho tiempo, e Higuera ofrece maravillosamente un ángulo diferente de square dancing, con el que se identificaran todos los que alguna vez cuestionaron una norma social.

Gordon Schnelly es un catalizador excelente, y muy necesario, en la vida de Lupe. Desde el punto de vista de Lupe, es un chico geek que cecea, piensa con humor que el hecho de que su abuela tenga novio es un desastre y, de hecho, espera con ansias para bailar al ritmo de square dancing. Los eventos que se desarrollan durante la rutina del baile cambian el carácter de Lupe y su relación con todos.

Disponible en inglés como Lupe Wong Won’t Dance. Credito: Yvonne Tapia

Lupe demuestra su conexión con su multicultura de diferentes maneras, ya que hay agradables referencias culturales mexicanas y chinas; chicharrones, una mención del Día de Los Muertos, conchas y más. Lupe menciona que su baño se parece a un restaurante azteca, mientras su madre lleva un calendario maya para ayudar a conservar su cultura mexicana. Lupe extraña a su padre, quien falleció hace años, y le explica a los lectores que hay una versión china del Día de los Muertos, llamado Qingming. Su abuela paterna, la abuela Wong, lleva a su familia al cementerio para quemar cosas que representan lo que ella cree que el padre de Lupe necesitará en el más allá. Esto se relaciona con la aspiración de Lupe de conocer a Fu Li Hernández, porque él le recuerda a la emoción que su padre tenia por el béisbol.

Tanto la abuela Salgado como la abuela Wong esperan mucho de Lupe, con el objetivo bien intencionado de ayudar a mantener viva la herencia mexicana y china de Lupe. Los lectores disfrutarán de entretenidas travesuras en la cena familiar entre los abuelos paternos y abuelos maternos. For ejemplo, Abuela Salgado afirma, “Pozole es mágico. Curará cualquier enfermedad o problema que tengas”. Más aun, los fanáticos del béisbol disfrutarán de algo de acción deportiva mientras Lupe continúa practicando sus habilidades deportivas.

Lupe Wong no baila ofrece una voz que representa a cualquiera que sienta que las cosas son injustas en su infancia (o que alguna vez se sintieron así). Es una lectura muy recomendada y necesaria para todas las escuelas y bibliotecas. Este libro mantendrá a estudiantes leyendo vorazmente, solo para querer más una vez que hayan pasado a la última página. También se le ha otorgado merecidamente el premio Libro de Honor Pura Belpré 2021. Lupe Wong no baila los entretendrá a todos.

Para obtener más actualizaciones sobre sus trabajos recientes, sigan a la autora Donna Barba Higuera en:

Twitter: @dbhiguera

Instagram: @donnabarbahiguera

Pagina web: https://www.dbhiguera.com/

Pueden usar el hashtag #lupewongnobaila, y también pueden comunicarse con la autora Donna Barba Higuera para visitas escolares, visitas a clubs de lectura y más a través de su sitio web. Happy reading!

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Yvonne Tapia is a Mexican-American professional from East Harlem, New York. She earned a BA in Media Studies and Psychology from Hunter College. Additionally, she has worked in the educational and media fields through various outlets. With a long-term enthusiasm for children’s media, she has been involved at Housing Works Bookstore and Latinx in Publishing. She currently works on the Marketing and Publicity team at Levine Querido. Yvonne is excited about the power of storytelling, and to engage content awareness in underrepresented communities.