November Most Anticipated Reads

WILD TONGUES CAN’T BE TAMED | ANTHOLOGY

edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a ground-breaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope.

In Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed, bestselling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These fifteen original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.

The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.

WHEN WE WERE THEM | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by Laura Taylor Namey (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

From New York Times bestselling author Laura Taylor Namey comes an exquisitely crafted, heartrending novel about friendship and the bittersweetness of growing up and growing apart.

When they were fifteen, Willa, Luz, and Britton's friendship was everything.
When they were sixteen, they stood by each other no matter what.
When they were seventeen, they went through the worst.
And when they were eighteen, Willa ruined it all.

Now, it's the week of graduation, and Willa is left with only a memory box filled with symbols of the friendship she destroyed: A book of pranks. Corsages from a nightmarish homecoming. A greasy pizza menu. Greeting cards with words that mean the world... It's enough to make Willa wonder how anything could tear her, Luz, and Britton apart. But as Willa revisits the moments when she and her friends leaned on each other, she can't avoid the moments they leaned so hard their friendship began to crack.

As Willa tries to find a way back to Luz and Britton, she must confront the why of her betrayal, and answer a question she never saw coming: Who is she without them?

FAT ANGIE: HOMECOMING | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by E. E. Charlton-Trujillo (Candlewick Press)

With unexpected internet fame, two people vying for her heart, an all-girl band, and coming to terms with her parents' failures, Angie comes home to herself in a rewarding finale.

After hitting the road with her friends last summer and taking the stage to sing her heart out in Columbus, Angie finally feels like she's figuring things out. And her next move? Finally asking Jamboree Memphis Jordan to be her girlfriend. Angie's got her speech ready on a set of flash cards, but her plans are complicated when her first love, KC Romance, comes cruising back into town. And when a video of Angie's Columbus performance goes viral, everything gets even more confusing. Kids at school are treating her with respect, she's being recognized in public, and her couldn't-be-bothered mother is . . . well, bothered is an understatement.

When she learns of an online music competition, Angie decides to start a band. With the help of her brother, Jamboree, and her town's resident washed-up rock star, Angie puts together a group and gets busy writing songs, because the competition deadline is only two weeks away. Between sorting out her feelings for Jamboree and KC, dealing with her newfound fame, and dodging an increasingly violent and volatile mother, singing seems like the only thing that Angie's really good at. Can her band of girl rockers actually win? More importantly, can Angie get it together before she loses all sense of herself yet again?

Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is Out Today!

Saraciea J. Fennell is a Black Honduran writer and the founder of The Bronx is Reading. She is also a book publicist who has worked with many award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors. Fennell sits on the board for Latinx in Publishing as well as on the Advisory Board of People of Color in Publishing. She lives in the Bronx with her family and dog, Oreo.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Saraciea about her newly released anthology, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, which features 15 distinct voices from the Latinx diaspora. This anthology is the perfect mix of well-established writers and up-and-coming voices, and perfectly captures the diversity of the Latinx diaspora community.

Illianna Gonzalez-Soto (IGS): Saraciea! It’s pub day and your anthology, WILD TONGUES CAN’T BE TAMED, is out now! How are you feeling now that the anthology is out into the hands of readers?

Saraciea Fennell (SF): I’m buzzing with so much excitement. It’s been amazing to see the response from reviewers, bloggers, and social media influencers. Now I’m pumped to see what readers and my family and friends will think of the collection, plus I so can’t wait to talk to readers to see which pieces resonate with them and why.

IGS: Tell readers what this anthology is unleashing? The title itself is a statement that refuses to be ignored. How did the work of Gloria Anzaldúa influence this anthology for you?

 SF: This anthology is about to shake things up for the latinx canon! Anzaldúa’s book Borderlands was groundbreaking in its own right and I see Wild Tongues in the same vein. I think really just writers like Anzaldúa having the audacity to unapologetically write their truths and subvert stereotypes in our community is the greatest influence for this book.

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IGS: How does the word “diaspora” resonate with you and why was it important to you to make sure these15 voices from the diaspora were heard when there exist 33 Latin American countries? I can only imagine that your process for selecting these specific writers was difficult, if only for the simple but hard fact that many voices —Central & South American voices, Black Latinx voices especially—are often noticeably absent from the literary conversation.

SF: The word diaspora automatically disrupts what someone thinks when it’s next to the word Latinx. You kind of know right from the beginning that this collection is going to feature a diverse group of contributors. It was extremely hard to narrow down the list of contributors, but I wanted to make sure there was space for underrepresented voices that never receive the space they deserve, while also balancing it out with well known writers like Meg Medina, Ibi Zoboi, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, and Naima Coster. I wanted this anthology to be accessible to young people, but also to crossover to the adult space and I think it accomplishes that. Do these 15 voices cover the full latin american experience? Absolutely not, but it’s a start, and who knows, maybe one day I’ll be able to do a follow-up to this anthology and include more voices from the diaspora.

 IGS: Is there a reason that nonfiction was the genre through which you chose to funnel this anthology? Was nonfiction the best way you were able to make the discussion of Latinidad and its stereotypes more visible?

SF: There is a ton of fiction that features our community (granted there are still experiences yet to be told in fiction, especially when it comes to Central American representation), and I felt that it would be more impactful to have this be nonfiction because there’s nothing like it on the market - sure there’s nonfiction featuring specific experiences from specific countries, but nothing featuring a wide-range of writers from the diaspora. There’s also something about nonfiction and its ability to connect with readers in a direct and personal way that you don’t really get with fiction, so I hope that readers of Wild Tongues feel a deeper connection to this body of work because it’s our real life experiences and that tends to offer up validation in ways that fiction just can’t.

 IGS: Did you feel pressure to make sure that the identities reflected in the anthology were represented as accurately as possible? If so, how did that pressure create tension with your own identity as a Garifuna and as a Black Honduran?

SF: Honestly, I didn’t really feel pressure because this is a nonfiction anthology and everyone’s lived experiences are always going to vary, and I think that’s the most beautiful thing about this collection. As for me and my identities, I’m still learning about my ancestry and I felt that was important to note in my essay.

“I don’t want anyone reading this anthology to think that the experiences reflected when it comes to identity and culture is the end all be all because it isn’t, instead I want folks to know that the diaspora is vast and shapes people in our community in different ways. ”

I did feel pressure to make sure the Spanish dialects and languages were as accurate as possible though!

 IGS: How did you approach writing your essay, “Half in, Half out?” In the 4th annual Bronx Book Festival interview, you talk about how this piece was a moment in your life where identity and culture were beginning to take shape, and how knowing your roots helped you to begin to dictate your own identity. I’m wondering if writing this piece came naturally for you and how you went about exploring the topics of identity, ancestry, and culture?

 SF: Writing Half In, Half Out came naturally to me, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t challenging! It took me some time to sift through my memories from childhood and to focus on what I wanted to include in the essay and what I wanted to leave out. There are so many countless examples of experiences that I could’ve included, but ultimately decided not to. I wanted to focus on the moments where society forced me to figure out my identity and culture, because otherwise the world was going to swallow me up whole and I would just be lost not knowing where I really came from and etc.

 IGS: How does your essay align with other works you have written, and are currently working on writing? What can we expect to see from you next?

 SF: My essay touches on a lot of things I tend to feature in my writing: siblings, hair, colorism and anti-Blackness, and that sense of finding one's place in the world. I’m currently hoping to have upcoming projects featuring an adult essay collection, and eventually my debut YA novel, the future is looking very exciting!

IGS: Picture your ideal literary scene: what stories do you imagine flooding the minds and homes of readers around the world and how can authors and publishers do the work to ensure that more stories like those are published?

 SF: For me it’s not necessarily the ideal literary scene but instead representation of underrepresented people/characters that come from where I come from. Where are the Hondurans in literature? Where is the character that reflects what it’s like to be a Black Honduran growing up in Brooklyn, the Bronx, elsewhere? Where is the Latinx person who is queer and Jewish and etc.

“There are so many untold stories from our community and that’s what I want to see flooding the minds and homes of readers. I’m so tired of reading about the same Latinx experiences, we need and deserve variety. ”

IGS: What resources can you point readers to so that we can find more literature like this revolutionary anthology? If there are outside authors or works from those within this anthology that we all should add to our TBRs, drop those recommendations here!

 SF: I’m always looking for resources myself, so I would recommend of course Latinx in Publishing, We Need Diverse Books, and places like Goodreads, you’d be surprised at the diverse listicles on there, I know I certainly was, ha! You should definitely go and follow all of the contributors in this anthology and read their work, and for the others who don’t have books out yet, invest in their career by following them on social media and championing them when recommending new voices to discover.

 IGS: Do you have final advice for the next generation of Latinx and BIPOC writers and readers who will see themselves reflected in WILD TONGUES, but who are still struggling to reconcile their identities within Latinx and white spaces?

 SF: Such a great question! I encourage the next generation of writers to be kind to themselves. It’s hard navigating the world, but especially as a person of color. Trying to make it in the publishing industry is no different, stay as true to yourself as you can and set boundaries, step away when you need to and build community so you have folks to lean on to ask for advice and to help you find a way forward as you navigate these spaces.

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Visit TheBronxisReading.com and follow Saraciea online @sj_fennell & @thebxisreading.

Stay connected to the contributors in the anthology:

Mark Oshiro: https://www.markoshiro.com/

Naima Coster: https://www.naimacoster.com/

Natasha Diaz: https://natashaerikadiaz.com/about/

Meg Medina: https://megmedina.com/

Julian Randall: https://juliandavidrandall.com/

Ibi Zoboi: https://www.ibizoboi.net/

Cristina Arreola: https://www.cristinaarreola.com/

Khalil Haywood: https://twitter.com/DamnPOPS

Zakiya N. Jamal: https://zakiyanjamal.com/

Lilliam Rivera: https://www.lilliamrivera.com/

Jasminne Mendez: https://www.jasminnemendez.com/

Ingrid Rojas Contreras: https://www.ingridrojascontreras.com/

Janel Martinez: https://www.janelmartinez.com/

Elizabeth Acevedo: http://www.acevedowrites.com/

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Illianna Gonzalez-Soto lives in San Diego, CA with her dog Fluffers and her ever-growing #tbr pile. You can follow her on Twitter (@Annalilli15) and Instagram (@librosconillianna).

November 2021 Latinx Releases

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 2ND, 2021

FAT ANGIE: HOMECOMING | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by E. E. Charlton-Trujillo (Candlewick Press)

With unexpected internet fame, two people vying for her heart, an all-girl band, and coming to terms with her parents' failures, Angie comes home to herself in a rewarding finale.

After hitting the road with her friends last summer and taking the stage to sing her heart out in Columbus, Angie finally feels like she's figuring things out. And her next move? Finally asking Jamboree Memphis Jordan to be her girlfriend. Angie's got her speech ready on a set of flash cards, but her plans are complicated when her first love, KC Romance, comes cruising back into town. And when a video of Angie's Columbus performance goes viral, everything gets even more confusing. Kids at school are treating her with respect, she's being recognized in public, and her couldn't-be-bothered mother is . . . well, bothered is an understatement.

When she learns of an online music competition, Angie decides to start a band. With the help of her brother, Jamboree, and her town's resident washed-up rock star, Angie puts together a group and gets busy writing songs, because the competition deadline is only two weeks away. Between sorting out her feelings for Jamboree and KC, dealing with her newfound fame, and dodging an increasingly violent and volatile mother, singing seems like the only thing that Angie's really good at. Can her band of girl rockers actually win? More importantly, can Angie get it together before she loses all sense of herself yet again?

 WILD TONGUES CAN’T BE TAMED | ANTHOLOGY

edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a ground-breaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope.

In Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed, bestselling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These fifteen original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.

The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 11TH, 2021

ONE BEE TOO MANY | PICTURE BOOK

by Andrés Pi Andreu; illustrated by Kim Amate (Dragonfruit)

A Charming Children's Book About Bees and Belonging (Ages 9-12)

In the tradition of timeless fables, children and adults alike will enjoy this poetic and elaborately illustrated story. A clever tale with a completely satisfying ending, One Bee Too Many explores delicate topics, including prejudice and tolerance.

A contemporary fable about tolerance and equality for kids. There is a great commotion in the beehive. The bees are cramped, they can't play games, and after many complex calculations, it seems there is one bee too many! Who was it? Was she eating their honey? Could they identify her buzz? And once they did, what would they do with her? An essential in any shelf of diversity and inclusion books for kids, this engaging story offers a profound lesson that is sure to stay with you long after reading it.

For fans of award-winning children's books. Touching on present day issues, One Bee Too Many is an essential kids book about racism, immigration, and discrimination. Featuring surreal and elaborate illustrations reminiscent of Catalan modernism, readers are sure to find new surprising details in every read. Originally published in Spanish, it has won prestigious awards such as the White Ravens List, Golden Medal of the Campoy-Ada Award, and USA National Children Literature Award.

If you're looking for fables children will enjoy, children's books on bullying, kid's books about equality, or picture books on kindness--or enjoyed the Strictly No Elephants book, Island Born, or The Big Umbrella--then your child will love One Bee Too Many.

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 15TH, 2021

NEW MEXICO CHRISTMAS STORY | PICTURE BOOK FICTION

By Rudolfo Anaya; Illustrated by El Moisés (Museum of New Mexico Press)

Acclaimed New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya presents a northern New Mexico Christmas tale in this third volume from his Owl in a Straw Hat series featuring the loveable Ollie Tecolote and his Wisdom School classmates Uno the Unicorn, Jackie Jackalope, Bessie Beaver, Sally Skunk, Robbie Rabbit, and Ninja Raccoon. The story begins on Christmas Eve morning in Chimayó and the students play in the snow and decorate a Christmas tree for the classroom. They are looking forward to the evening's activities. Nana, their teacher, is making posole and chile colorado and has invited some special guests to join them for dinner. After that Nana says they'll walk to El Santuario to visit the Santo Niño and promises hot chocolate and biscochitos afterward! Along the way, they will act the parts of the shepherds in Los pastores, the Shepherds' Play, which is about shepherds visiting the newborn baby Jesus and bringing him gifts. At the end of their journey, they too will visit the Nativity and bring their own gifts on this magical night.

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 16TH, 2021

SHERLOCK DOM #4 | CHAPTER BOOK

by Terry Catasús Jennings; Illustrated by Fátima Anaya

Judy Moody meets the Diary of a Future President remake in this fourth story in a chapter book series featuring a young Cuban American girl who tries to find adventure based on the classic stories she read with her beloved abuela.

Dom is excited to join her friend, Steph, for a mini vacation. They are going to visit Steph's grandmother in Virginia, where Dom hopes they can continue to have a lot of fun adventures. As soon as they arrive, they find that Gran's neighbors have lost their goat! There are some mysterious footprints near the goat pen that lead to the marsh. Dom decides to use the methods of her favorite detective, Sherlock Holmes--observing the basics, using all her senses, and talking it through with her trusty friend--to try and bring the little goat back home.

WHEN WE WERE THEM | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by Laura Taylor Namey (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

From New York Times bestselling author Laura Taylor Namey comes an exquisitely crafted, heartrending novel about friendship and the bittersweetness of growing up and growing apart.

When they were fifteen, Willa, Luz, and Britton's friendship was everything.
When they were sixteen, they stood by each other no matter what.
When they were seventeen, they went through the worst.
And when they were eighteen, Willa ruined it all.

Now, it's the week of graduation, and Willa is left with only a memory box filled with symbols of the friendship she destroyed: A book of pranks. Corsages from a nightmarish homecoming. A greasy pizza menu. Greeting cards with words that mean the world... It's enough to make Willa wonder how anything could tear her, Luz, and Britton apart. But as Willa revisits the moments when she and her friends leaned on each other, she can't avoid the moments they leaned so hard their friendship began to crack.

As Willa tries to find a way back to Luz and Britton, she must confront the why of her betrayal, and answer a question she never saw coming: Who is she without them?

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 23RD, 2021

¡MAMBO MUCHO MAMBO! THE DANCE THAT CROSSED COLOR LINES | PICTURE BOOK

By Dean Robbins; Illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Candlewick Press)

New York City's desegregated Palladium Ballroom springs to life with a diverse 1940s cast in this jazzy picture-book tribute to the history of mambo and Latin jazz.

Millie danced to jazz in her Italian neighborhood. Pedro danced to Latin songs in his Puerto Rican neighborhood. It was the 1940s in New York City, and they were forbidden to dance together . . . until first a band and then a ballroom broke the rules. Machito and His Afro-Cubans hit the scene with a brand-new sound, blending jazz trumpets and saxophones with Latin maracas and congas creating Latin jazz, music for the head, the heart, and the hips. Then the Palladium Ballroom issued a bold challenge to segregation and threw open its doors to all. Illustrated with verve and told through real-life characters who feature in an afterword, ¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! portrays the power of music and dance to transcend racial, religious, and ethnic boundaries.

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 30TH, 2021

I HOP | BEGINNING READERS

by Joe Cepeda (Holiday House)

This Level C book about a boy and his grandma is perfect for kindergarten readers.

A boy hops around town on his pogo stick.
I get cheese.
I get bread
I get apples.
It's all for a picnic with Grandma Easy-to-read text and fun pictures

I Hop is a companion book to I See, Up, and I Dig, easy-to-read stories about a Latinx boy and his family.

I Like to Read: The award-winning I Like to Read series features guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas & Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own

Latinx in Publishing's 2021 Holiday Gift Guide

From children’s literature to adult, there are so many special books to purchase this holiday season for your love one. Below is a curated collection of some of our favorite books published this year by Latinx authors and illustrators!

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Carolina Ortiz is an associate editor at HarperCollins Children’s. She works on a variety of projects but specializes in middle grade, young adult, and graphic novels. Before her time at HarperCollins, she worked as a marketing and publicity associate at an independent press. With a special place in her heart for Latinx and queer stories, Carolina is excitingly building a list that reflects the diverse world around us and that would allow readers to feel seen in the books they read—a feeling that she rarely experienced in her childhood. Find her on Twitter at @pushthepanorama.

Sala Sundays with Caritza Berlioz

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

Caritza Berlioz (CB): I'm an Editorial Assistant at Teachers College Press. It's a University Press. I work supporting the Acquisitions Department, as well as acquiring and developmental editing manuscripts on subjects in education and social justice.

LxP: How did you get started?

CB: I used to intern at Valiant, a small comic book publishing company, and they brought me on full time as a licensing coordinator. I was in this role for a couple of years before I made the switch to editorial.

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

CB: To know that your background and skills are valuable, and that you don’t have to have a linear route into the editorial field.

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

CB: I’m currently developing a manuscript about centering and teaching Indigenous education. I’m currently reading El Olor de la Guayaba by Gabriel García Márquez in conversation with Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza.

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Caritza Berlioz is an Editorial Assistant at Teachers College Press and a recent graduate of the CUNY City College of New York MFA Creative Writing program with a concentration in fiction. She is a Honduran American, born and raised right outside of NYC in New Rochelle, NY.

October Most Anticipated Reads

Grab your fuzzy blanket, some hot apple cider, and crawl into your favorite book nook with our most anticipated reads for October! 🍂

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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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

Sala Sundays with Carina Licon

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

Carina Licon (CL): I am an Editorial Assistant at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers.

LxP: How did you get started?

CL: I always knew I wanted to work with books in some capacity. I thought that would be studying them as a professor until I realized academia wasn't really for me. A year after graduating, I put my head down and focused on breaking into the industry. I interned at St. Martin's Press for one year and Writers House for one semester before landing the job I have now. The remote option from these companies is why I'm here today!

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

CL: I wish I knew that breaking into the industry would be a marathon and not a race. I was in a slump for an entire year post-graduation working a job I wasn't happy at, completely unrelated to publishing. I was very hard on myself and really had to convince myself to try applying at all. When I finally snagged an internship, I was happy but also put pressure on myself to have a full-time job by a specific date. I would remind myself to just take it day by day, keep making valuable connections, and understand that so much of it is just timing... for the right role, right imprint, etc.

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

CL: I am really trying to actively build my editorial skills by being well-read so am reading both buzzy and infamous backlist books! I just finished The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill and am starting May the Best Man Win by Zr Ellor. I am also wishing on a star every day for an ARC of I Kissed Sara Wheeler by Casey McQuinston.

---

Carina Licon was born and raised in El Paso, TX and is currently an Editorial Assistant at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. Carina began her publishing career as an intern with both St. Martin’s Press and Writers House before taking on a temporary Editorial Assistant position at MTV Books. Living in Austin, TX for now, Carina enjoys supporting local restaurants, listening to movie podcasts, and spending time with her very intimidating 8-pound guard dog. Follow her on Twitter @liconcarina!

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. 

---

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.

---

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!

---

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!