Latina/o/x/e Heritage Month

The poems of Tato Laviera are complex and engaging; through his words, his spirit, his bilingualism, and his dual identity offer the reader poems that are a celebration of life and identity.

NOTE: English language print copy also available PS3554.I259 T48 2012

The reason why I chose this book is because it's not your typical love story book, there is also a little bit of comedy. Of course it has romantic parts in the book but again it is written from a man’s perspective, which is something that we do not see that often. In addition, the author admits he’s wrong doing. He tells us everything about how he lost her. One of the great things about this book is that it’s in Spanish mainly in English but he adds a little bit of Spanish in there too. Which I love the most about this book because I speak in Spanglish. I could relate to this book perfectly.
--Diana Aguero

I choose this book because it relates to my life since this is a book that talks about immigrants from Cuba and moved to Florida. However, the main character feels very Americanized by the culture and values of the United States. She became very close-minded about her Cubans roots and she reminded me of myself since I am an immigrant. But, I am different from her because I always embrace my Dominican roots.
--Maria Manon

A GOOD MORNING AMERICA BOOK CLUB PICK Shortlisted for the 2020 Women's Prize for Fiction, Angie Cruz's Dominicana is a vital portrait of the immigrant experience and the timeless coming-of-age story of a young woman finding her voice in the world Fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion never dreamed of moving to America, the way the girls she grew up with in the Dominican countryside did. But when Juan Ruiz proposes and promises to take her to New York City, she has to say yes. It doesn't matter that he is twice her age, that there is no love between them. Their marriage is an opportunity for her entire close-knit family to eventually immigrate. So on New Year's Day, 1965, Ana leaves behind everything she knows and becomes Ana Ruiz, a wife confined to a cold six-floor walk-up in Washington Heights. Lonely and miserable, Ana hatches a reckless plan to escape. But at the bus terminal, she is stopped by Cesar, Juan's free-spirited younger brother, who convinces her to stay. As the Dominican Republic slides into political turmoil, Juan returns to protect his family's assets, leaving Cesar to take care of Ana. Suddenly, Ana is free to take English lessons at a local church, lie on the beach at Coney Island, see a movie at Radio City Music Hall, go dancing with Cesar, and imagine the possibility of a different kind of life in America. When Juan returns, Ana must decide once again between her heart and her duty to her family.

These books are all very different but I chose them all for the same reason. These books are able to touch larger crowds and they serve as an eye opener to concerning issues. Each book tells the stories and the struggles of the Latine people for generations. It is extremely important for us as a community to be able to get our stories out into the world.
-- Ashley Pizarro

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * A coming-of-age classic, acclaimed by critics, beloved by readers of all ages, taught in schools and universities alike, and translated around the world--from the winner of the 2019 PEN/Nabokov Award for Achievement in International Literature. The House on Mango Street is the remarkable story of Esperanza Cordero, a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago, inventing for herself who and what she will become. Told in a series of vignettes-sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes deeply joyous-Sandra Cisneros' masterpiece is a classic story of childhood and self-discovery.

I decided to choose I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter because Latine Community parents believe that their daughter needs to be perfect and good! Cook, clean, wash everyone’s clothing and that is not what a Latina or Hispanic woman represents.
--Jennifer Vargas

As a Latina I personally feel this is a book that you must have read as a child or should read as an adult. The book is about the Mirabal sisters and if you are Dominican you know who they are. And if you are a feminist then you definitely know who they are. The book “In The Time Of The Butterflies” is an autobiography and considered to be an historical fiction novel about the sisters' journey in life during the dictatorship of Trujillo.
--Diana Aguero

INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER * Earthy, magical, and utterly charming, this tale of family life in turn-of-the-century Mexico blends poignant romance, bittersweet wit, and delicious recipes. This classic love story takes place on the De la Garza ranch, as the tyrannical owner, Mama Elena, chops onions at the kitchen table in her final days of pregnancy. While still in her mother's womb, her daughter to be weeps so violently she causes an early labor, and little Tita slips out amid the spices and fixings for noodle soup. This early encounter with food soon becomes a way of life, and Tita grows up to be a master chef, using cooking to express herself and sharing recipes with readers along the way.

I decided to choose The Poet X because she speaks about the experience that all Latina and Hispanic women went through when they were growing up and developing their body. She speaks about how scared and terrified we feel when we start developing parts of our body that everyone starts noticing. Also, the book has a little bit of everything you could possibly think of, a dysfunctional family, good and bad choices, and finding the courage to question everything you ever thought you wanted.
-- Jennifer Vargas

This novel-within-a-novel talks about two remarkable women, both of whom are swept along by machismo. In depicting their confrontation of the great scourges of their respective eras, Alvarez exposes the conflict between altruism and ambition. I feel like the story is important because it talks about current event issues that we are still dealing with today. Women are always underestimated and are always told that they cannot do what men do. But this story proves that women can do exactly what men do and may be better.
--Mathews Frank

This book tells a story about a girl named Sierra who lives in Brooklyn and is just trying to have a fun summer. But then she sees something that changes her life, and she tries to ignore it but somehow she gets stuck into it. She got stuck into a supernatural world that all ties up to her life. she ends up having to fight for her life by defeating supernatural creatures. I chose this book because I feel like this is a realistic but yet fiction book. It tells the story of a little girl who lives in Brooklyn New York in a rundown area where crime and poverty Is common. She is Afro Latina and she kind of deals with the same problems and the regular Hispanic teenagers would deal with today like Overprotective families, very serious traditions, and of course having older siblings who always try to control you. This book is just very relatable yet has a lot of fantasy to it.
--Mathews Frank

NOTE: Cuando era puertorriqueña audio book is also available for borrow. F128.9.P85 S2718 2005

I chose this book because it's basically the beautiful childhood of Negi, the author. As a kid she was raised in Puerto Rico with her family. However, as the eldest child she experienced all the problems in her parents relationship. After the accident the mother of the author decided to take her family to New York city to have a better life for her children. This story connects directly to my life because just like Negi I was in her shoes a few years ago when I had to come to the United States for a better life and better opportunities for my future.
--Maria Manon

I chose this book because it is a great collection of essays that center Latine Women who constantly fight against machismo culture in Latin America. I also love how it includes Black Latine people as lots of media don’t usually do that.
--Brandon Gonzalez