1. Blanca & Roja by Anna-Marie McLemore
Of course I had to mention Anna-Marie McLemore’s book since she’s my favorite author. Anna-Marie’s newest book, Blanca & Roja, released Tuesday, October 9th (cue all of my happy screaming). Anna-Marie’s writing is so beautiful, and for the most part, her books center around queer Latinx characters. As she tweeted October 2nd about Blanca & Roja: “in which I talk bluntly abt [sic] brown girls & our bodies.” If you like beautiful, honest magical realism I recommend checking out Anna-Marie McLemore’s books, and her newest book, this week. You can read the Goodreads summary here.
2. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Admittedly, I started this book last year, but I’ve yet to finish it. This has nothing to do with the book itself and everything to do with the fact that my reading habits are hard to track. If you like it when authors make you cry, or if you like trying to challenge books that are supposedly guaranteed to make you cry, Adam Silvera is known in the YA world for writing that will most likely make you sob at some point in the book. This book is a dual POV that takes place in an alternate present day centered around the notion: What if everyone knows on the day they’re going to die that they’re going to die that day? Adam’s books are great if you like a little romance, a little sci-fi, and when books make you feel a lot of emotions. If you want to check out Adam Silvera but want something happier, Adam and Becky Albertalli co-wrote a book, What If It’s Us, that’s also released Tuesday, October 9th! You can check out the Goodreads summary for They Both Die at the End here and the summary for What If It’s Us here.
3. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez
This book has been on my TBR for awhile. Admittedly, I don’t know too much about Sánchez, and this is her only YA book released, so if you’re in the mood for a new read that doesn’t require getting sucked down into a rabbit hole of adding a bunch more other books to your TBR(because we’ve all been in both of these positions) this might be the one for you. I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is a contemporary YA book, and you can read the Goodreads summary for it here.
4. America, Vol. 1: The Life and Times of America Chavez by Gabby Rivera and Joe Quinones
When I heard about this comic coming out, I absolutely freaked out. Sign me up for a Latinx superhero! I actually have both volumes of America even though I’ve yet to finish the first one. Like with Adam’s book, my not finishing the book has nothing to do with the story. It just has to do with me being in the process of finding ways to enjoy reading when my major requires so much of it already. If you love reading comics or watching Marvel’s films and TV shows and are curious about Marvel comics themselves, why not check out this really cool comic about a Latinx superhero? You can read the Goodreads summary here.
5. 90 Miles to Havana by Enrique Flores-Galbis
Yes, this is another book I started but never finished. I checked out the audiobook version from the library and it was due before I finished, but I hope to finish this book before the end of the year! Growing up in Miami in a Cuban-American family, I’m interested in and have some knowledge of Cuban culture and history. If you’re interested in historical fiction or you want a perspective on Cuban-American relations and how these might reflect on a child immigrant, I recommend this book. You can read the Goodreads summary for this book here.