Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 – October 15, celebrates the contributions to American society and culture of Americans with roots in Mexico, Central America, South America, the Spanish-speaking nations of the Caribbean, and Spain. Why start a month-long celebration in the middle of the month? September 15 is a significant date for many Latin American countries — it marks the date when five nations, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua, celebrate their independence from Spain. In addition, Mexico celebrates their independence on September 16, and Chile on September 18.
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting some recent notables by Latinx authors. The Library endeavors to represent the diverse perspectives that make up our community and world all year long, but during this time we spotlight some phenomenal Latinx authors. Enjoy!
Click on any book cover to go to the catalog and place a hold. Happy reading!
TRANSITIONAL CHAPTER BOOKS
Tag Team by Raul the Third.
Luchadores El Toro and La Oink Oink are the perfect tag team as they have fun cleaning up together.
13th Street and the Battle of the Bad Breath Bats by David Bowles; illustrated by Shane Clester.
Cousins Malia, Ivan, and Dante are visiting their aunt Lucy for the summer. On their way to Gulf City’s water park, they get lost on 13th Street, a strange world filled with dangerous beasts.
Freddie Ramos and the Meteorite by Jacqueline Jules
When Freddie and Mr. Vaslov see something fall from the sky, Freddie learns it could be a meteorite. He’s determined to find it!
Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol: The Haunted House Next Door
When supernatural things start happening in the house Andres and his parents just moved into, next-door-neighbor Desmond Cole, comes to the rescue.
CHAPTER BOOKS
Stella Diaz Has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
In this delightful series opener, Stella Díaz wants to be friends with the new boy in class, but sometimes she accidentally speaks Spanish instead of English and pronounces words wrong, which makes her turn roja.
Definitely Dominguita by Terry Catasús Jennings; illustrated by Fátima Anaya.
Longing to make a difference like the heroes in the classics she reads with her abuela, Dominguita follows the examples of Don Quixote to do good deeds for her neighbors.
Ghost Squad by Claribel A. Ortega
Casting a spell that accidentally awakens malicious spirits that wreak havoc throughout St. Augustine, Lucely and Syd team up with the latter’s grandmother and tabby cat to break the curse and save Lucely’s firefly spirits.
Unicorn Rescue Society and the Madre de Aguas of Cuba by Adam Gidwitz and Emma Otheguy ; illustrated by Hatem Aly.
Uchenna and Elliot travel to Cuba to rescue a mythical water serpent that protects the local water supply. Also try The Chupacabras of the Río Grande, from the series, Unicorn Rescue Society.
Cece Rios and the Desert of Souls by Kaela Rivera
Privately questioning her remote community’s superstitions about dangerous powerful spirits in their Devil’s Alley home, Cecelia Rios experiments with the forbidden art of brujería to rescue her kidnapped sister.
The Water Bears by Kim Baker
Newt Gomez has a thing with bears — last year he survived a bear attack, and this year, he finds an unusual bear statue that just might grant wishes.
Stef Soto Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
Embarrassed by her family’s taco truck and wishing that her father would take a “normal” job, Estefania becomes the truck’s unlikely champion when her family’s livelihood is threatened.
Paola Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor Kay Mejia
Science-loving Paola has always doubted her mother’s stories of the monstrous La Llorona until she and her best friends Dante and Emma organize a night of telescope stargazing.
FOR YOUNG TEENS
Santiago’s Road Home by Alexandra Diaz
Fleeing abusive relatives and extreme poverty in Mexico, young Santiago endures being detained by ICE while crossing the border into the United States.
Loteria by Karla Arenas Valenti
This magical realist adventure based on the Loteria card game follows Clara, a child whose fate is in the hands of both Life and Death, as she finds the courage and strength to shatter the game and choose her own path.
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
Nestor Lopez must use his ability to communicate with animals to save the inhabitants of his town when they are threatened by a witch that transforms into animals.
Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera
Lupe Wong needs an A in all her classes in order to meet her favorite pitcher, Fu Li Hernandez, who’s Chinese/Mexican just like her, but
Efrén Divided by Ernesto Cisneros
This moving, timely debut tells the story of 12 year old Efrén who must become an adult overnight when his mother is deported.
Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
A 9-year-old migrant, seeking refuge in Los Angeles from the Mexican cartel wars, learns to hold onto hope and love in a family detention center.
The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Hundreds of years later, Petra wakes to a 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. Petra alone now carries the stories of our past, and with them, any hope for our future.
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
Tinkerer extraordinaire and budding activist, Emilia struggles with ADHD and the varied expectations of her extended Cuban American family in this heartwarming story.