From September 15 to October 15, we honor the history, diversity, and talent of the Hispanic and Latinx American communities. You can use this collection to choose texts that explore the literary contributions of Latinx and Hispanic authors.
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Romance, Gender / Feminism, Love / Sexuality, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1885
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Colonialism, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Education, Education, American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction
Publication year 1989
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, Romance, Classic Fiction
The Stories of Eva Luna is a collection of short fiction by best-selling Chilean author Isabel Allende. The collection—first published in Spanish in 1989 and in English in 1991—is a follow-up to Allende’s 1987 novel, Eva Luna. Eva is the narrator of the stories in the collection, which is structured as a frame story with the Prologue harkening back to Eva Luna.Isabel Allende is famed for her work in the genre of magical realism and... Read The Stories of Eva Luna Summary
Publication year 1955
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Creative Nonfiction, Action / Adventure
Gabriel García Márquez’s The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor was first published in Spain in 1970 under the title Relato de un naufrago (“story of a castaway”). The nonfiction work relates Luis Alejandro Velasco’s 10-day survival adrift on a raft in the Caribbean after being thrown overboard from his Colombian destroyer in rough seas. While there had been a censored, government-backed version of Velasco’s story that was publicized, the uncensored story was first published in... Read The Story of a Shipwrecked Sailor Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Flora/plants, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Fantasy, Mythology, Romance, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, LGBTQ, Depression / Suicide, Mental Illness, Grief / Death, Love / Sexuality, Psychology, Trauma / Abuse / Violence
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology
Tags Science / Nature, Psychology, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Health / Medicine
Publication year 2005
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Society: Education, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Family
Tags Poverty, Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Arts / Culture
The Tequila Worm, published in 2005 by Random House, (first edition) is a middle grade novel about a young Mexican American girl, Sofia, who comes from a family of storytellers. The tales Sofia hears strengthen her ties to her family and their traditions in the Texas barrio where they live. Though poor, the family does not struggle, finding riches in the practice of making Easter cascarones, (colored eggs) celebrating Dia de los Muertos, (Day of... Read The Tequila Worm Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Action / Adventure, Animals, Magical Realism, Children's Literature
Publication year 1929
Genre Novel, Fiction
Tags Education, Education, Latin American Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction
Mariano Azuela’s The Underdogs: A Novel of the Mexican Revolution first appeared in a newspaper serialization in 1915, was published in its complete form in 1920, and was first translated into English in 1929. The Underdogs is considered among the finest works of fiction to focus on the Mexican Revolution. The author served as a medic in the conflict, bringing authenticity and insight to the story. The book can be read as a critique of... Read The Underdogs Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Race / Racism, History: World, Biography
Publication year 1981
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Class, Society: Nation
Tags Historical Fiction, Latin American Literature, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Apathy, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Society: Politics & Government, Society: Immigration
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Holocaust, Class, History: World, History: The Americas, History: U.S., Immigration / Refugee, Military / War, Politics / Government, Social Justice, Music, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Race / Racism
Publication year 2010
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Romance
This Is How You Lose Her is a short story collection published in 2012 by the Dominican American author Junot Díaz, and his second story collection. The book is comprised of nine stories, most of which were originally published in The New Yorker magazine. Eight of the stories feature the same narrator, Yunior, who also appears as a character in Díaz’s other major works, Drown and The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. This Is... Read This Is How You Lose Her Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1924
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Realistic Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Touching Spirit Bear is a young adult fiction novel written by Ben Mikaelsen and originally published in 2002. It is a bildungsroman and adventure story and the first in a two-part series. Ben Mikaelsen was inspired by his own pet black bear, Buffy, to whom he dedicated the book; the novel also takes cultural inspiration from the Tlingit Tribe of Alaska. Touching Spirit Bear is the recipient of nine awards, including the Nevada Young Readers’... Read Touching Spirit Bear Summary
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Environment
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Fantasy, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2013
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Gender / Feminism, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Latin American Literature, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction