5 YA Favorites for Hispanic Heritage Month
Partnered with:
The New York Public Library
Special thanks to the New York Public Library and to the article’s writer Gwen Glazer for sharing. See the original article here.
To celebrate a month of tribute to Hispanic Americans, we’ve compiled a list of our five favorite young adult books written by Hispanic* authors, whose protagonists are shaping how teens see identity, race, and growing up.
-
Gabi, a Girl in Pieces
A clutch-it-to-your-chest-you-love-it-so-much kind of book. Mexican-American Gabi, a blossoming poet, is trying to make her way in a difficult world, with a father addicted to meth and weight issues, teen pregnancy, sexuality, and much more on her mind.
-
Death, Dickinson, and the Demented Life of Frenchie Garcia
Frenchie lives just down the street from the grave of Emily Dickinson. As she investigates the suicide of the guy she had a crush on, she retraces the steps of their last night together and tries to make sense of death.
-
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass
Piddy, a high school sophomore in Queens, doesn’t even know Yaqui Delgado, but the aggressive bully is ruining her life.
-
A Thunderous Whisper
Historical fiction at its best: A Basque girl and a Jewish German boy meet just before the bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War.
-
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe
This coming-of-age story — about two boys’ growing friendship, finding an identity, and accepting your family’s past and unlocking your own future — won a well-deserved array of awards.
*We’re using this definition of “Hispanic”— someone who speaks Spanish.