Chicanx Literature

Covering texts written by American authors of Mexican descent, this collection includes titles such as Erika L. Sanchez's YA best seller I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and modern classics like The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros.

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Femininity

Tags Historical Fiction, WWII / World War II, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Military / War, French Literature, History: World


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Identity: Masculinity, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, American Revolution, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1987

Genre Essay / Speech, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Identity: Gender

Tags Sociology, Latin American Literature, Education, Education


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Mental Illness

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter is Erika L. Sánchez’s debut novel. Published in 2017, the book is a young adult coming-of-age story set in contemporary Chicago. It is told from the perspective of 15-year-old Julia Reyes as she navigates her grief and struggles with mental health, familial relationships, and cultural expectations after her older sister Olga’s unexpected death. The book has won several awards, including the Thomas Rivera Mexican American Children’s Book Award... Read I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter Summary


Publication year 1977

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Politics & Government, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, American Literature


Publication year 2012

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Colonialism, Society: Immigration, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Immigration / Refugee


Publication year 2022

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Relationships: Family, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Self Help, Politics / Government, Psychology, Sociology, Relationships


Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age

Tags Action / Adventure, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Immigration / Refugee, Modern Classic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Travel Literature

Into the Beautiful North is an adventure story that parallels the plot of the Hollywood movie, The Magnificent Seven. Set in the village of Tres Camarones in Sinaloa, Mexico, the novel’s protagonist, nineteen-year-old Nayeli, notices that there are no men left in the village – they have all gone north for more opportunities and a better life. Fearing that the village will be taken over by bandidos, and with no real law enforcement or men... Read Into the Beautiful North Summary


Publication year 1995

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Society: Immigration, Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags Poetry: Dramatic Poem, Immigration / Refugee


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Children's Literature, Realistic Fiction, Action / Adventure, Arts / Culture


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction, Arts / Culture

Danny Lopez arrives in National City, a suburb just south of San Diego. The area’s proximity to the border makes it heavily Hispanic. Danny has come to spend the summer with his father’s family while his mother and sister are in San Francisco with his mother’s new boyfriend.From the start, it’s clear Danny does not fit in. He is from a beach community in northern San Diego County,where he plays baseball and attends Leucadia Prep... Read Mexican WhiteBoy Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Graphic Memoir , Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Language, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Immigration

Tags Children's Literature, Humor, Biography


Publication year 2015

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Natural World: Environment, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos

Tags Prose poetry


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Immigration / Refugee, Gender / Feminism, Race / Racism, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2010

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Aging

Tags Grief / Death


Publication year 1985

Genre Poem, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Natural World: Food

Tags Lyric Poem, Narrative / Epic Poem, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Food, Poverty, American Literature


Publication year 1991

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Relationships: Marriage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Fantasy, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Love / Sexuality, History: European, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, History: World

Outlander, published by Random House in 1991, is the first in a highly successful romantic novel series written by Diana Gabaldon, a #1 New York Times bestselling author. The series was adapted into a historical drama television series in 2014.Other works by this author include Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, Dragonfly in Amber, and An Echo in the Bone.Plot SummaryTold from the perspective of 27-year-old Englishwoman Claire Beauchamp, Outlander begins in 1945... Read Outlander Summary


Publication year 1959

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship

Tags Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction, Education, Education, Latin American Literature

Pocho is a 1959 novel by José Antonio Villarreal. Often considered the first Chicano novel, it was a critical success and an important landmark in American literature. This guide refers to the 1989 Anchor Books edition.Plot SummaryPocho is a bildungsroman, telling the coming-of-age story of young Richard Rubio. However, the story starts before his birth with the tale of how his father, Juan Manuel Rubio, first came to America. A soldier who fought alongside Pancho... Read Pocho Summary


Publication year 1998

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Animals, History: World, Historical Fiction

Riding Freedom, written by Pam Muñoz Ryan, was originally published in 1998 and won several awards, including the 2000 California Young Reader Medal. This fictionalized biography of the real Charlotte Parkhurst, better known as One-eyed Charley, tells the story of the first female to vote in the United States. She became a famous stagecoach driver and a property owner. How she accomplished these things before women were granted suffrage is detailed in this fast-paced narrative... Read Riding Freedom Summary


Publication year 1991

Genre Poem, Fiction

Tags Narrative / Epic Poem, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Class, Education, American Literature