Hispanic Heritage Month began on September 15, and one of the best ways to celebrate is by recognizing Latinx creators and their work. For those who enjoy reading, here are my favorite books that center around Latinx stories. While this month may be a time for celebrating and uplifting diverse voices, these are great reads that you can add to your library at any time.
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Dear Haiti, Love Alaine By Maika and Maritza Moulite: This book, which was written by two Haitian sisters, is great if you love reading about powerful women. The book begins with Alaine and her mother, the host of a political talk show, getting into their own separate scandals. Alaine is almost expelled, so in an effort to save her, her family plans a “spring volunteer immersion project” where she will work with her aunt’s nonprofit for two months. While in Haiti, she learns more about voodoo and spirituality, as well as the role Haitian women played in the history of their country. Something I love about this book is the variety in the storytelling platforms. The book is written as if it is Alaine’s project journal, and each “chapter” is like another entry. There are also emails and handwritten letters included, and it is a unique and refreshing way of progressing a story.
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How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez: This beloved Dominican author’s debut novel tells the story of four sisters and their lives as immigrants to the United States due to their father’s involvement in a revolution against Rafael Trujillo’s dictatorship in the Dominican Republic in 1960. The book shows the struggles of assimilation and reaching the coveted American Dream all while facing the day-to-day pains of growing up. The story is told in reverse chronological order and alternates between the perspectives of each sister, beginning at the end with the third-oldest sister Yolanda returning to the Dominican Republic as an adult. I love stories that are told in unconventional ways, which makes this one of my favorite reads.
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In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez: Another one of Alvarez’s hit novels, this book is a fictionalized tale of the famous Mirabal sisters and their lives under the Trujillo rule. The Mirabal sisters are known in the Dominican Republic as revolutionaries for their involvement in the efforts to overthrow Rafael Trujillo, but unfortunately, three of the four sisters were assassinated for this. Similar to Alvarez’s first novel, it alternates between each of the four sisters’ points of view to tell their story. The book begins with Dedé Mirabal, the third-oldest and only surviving sister, preparing for an interview with a woman from the United States who wants to learn more about the four sisters’ lives. This story is tragic, but the way the readers get to know the dynamic personalities of each sister is extremely powerful. This book is one that will stick with me for such a long time, and it is one I constantly recommend.
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Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A. by Luis J. Rodriguez: This memoir is about Rodgriuez’s own experiences throughout his life in East L.A. He recounts stories of incidents he was involved in through his gang, his involvement in the East L.A. school walkouts, and his life after finding his passion for writing. Something I’ve made clear is how much I love stories told in unconventional ways, and this one is no different. Rodriguez’s tales are not necessarily told in chronological order, and it works well because it feels like he is showing the reader snapshots of his life. Something a reader should keep in mind is that there are a lot of mentions of gang violence throughout the memoir, but those who are okay with the subject matter will love his story of perseverance.
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The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat: This book is another powerful story that takes place during Rafael Trujillo’s control of the Dominican Republic, but it focuses on the persecution of Haitians in the country. The story’s protagonist is Amabelle Désir, a Haitian woman who works for a Dominican family as a servant. She is in love with a cane worker named Sebastien, and their plans to start a life together are interrupted after her boss runs over another Haitian man as he rushed home to aid his wife after their twins were born prematurely. Her boss, Señor Picó, idolizes Trujillo and shares the same violent prejudices as the dictator, and this causes him to refuse to take responsibility for killing the man. Eventually, this leads to tension between the Haitians and Dominican nationalists, and many Haitians are arrested or killed. Danticat writes so beautifully, with vivid imagery used to show Amabelle’s thoughts and feelings. This story highlights another grim and terrible reality that was faced during Trujillo’s reign, and it is truly eye-opening. However, there is a lot of racially charged language and incidents throughout the book, so those who would rather not read such depictions should keep that in mind.
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Dark Dude by Oscar Hijuelos: This book centers around Rico Fuentes and his struggles with his Latinx identity. He is blonde with green eyes and pale skin, and he stands out in his neighborhood of Harlem in the 1960s. Because of his appearance, he has a hard time fitting in with his peers, so he decides to move to Wisconsin with his mentor and his best friend. At first, it feels like he made the right decision, but he once again struggles to find exactly where he fits in due to his Latinx heritage. As the narrator, Rico’s tone feels young and fresh, which makes for an entertaining read. This is one of my favorite books because the internal struggle Rico faces as he tries to find his place is very real to me. In addition to that, I love the message that you can make your own definition of family. This book overall tells a great coming of age story for Latinx kids who don’t feel accepted in either of the cultures they belong to.
There are so many great Latinx stories out there waiting to be read, and I hope these suggestions help you get a jumpstart on discovering them.