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 1981
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race
Tags Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Education, Education, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2015
Genre Memoir in Verse, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Identity: Language, Society: War
Tags History: World, Latin American Literature, Cold War, Children's Literature, Arts / Culture, Biography
Publication year 1987
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Romance, Latin American Literature, Classic Fiction
First published in Spanish in 1987, Eva Luna is a novel written by celebrated Chilean writer Isabel Allende and later translated into English by Margaret Sayers Peden the following year. The story is set in an unnamed South American country believed to be an amalgamation of Chile and Venezuela. The eponymous Eva Luna narrates the epic story of her life against a backdrop inspired by the sociopolitical changes in South America from the mid-1940s to... Read Eva Luna Summary
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Family
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Sports, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Marriage, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Magical Realism, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Mothers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Natural World: Environment
Tags Psychological Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Magical Realism, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Identity: Sexuality, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Flora/plants, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Free verse, American Literature, Love / Sexuality, Science / Nature, LGBTQ
Publication year 1618
Genre Play, Fiction
Tags Classic Fiction, Education, Education, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Fuenteovejuna (or Fuente Ovejuna) by Lope de Vega, first published in 1619, takes place and is based on true events that occurred in Spain in 1476. The play opens in Amalgro, where Commander Don Fernán Gómez de Guzmán is meeting with Grand Master Don Rodrigo Téllez Girón to push him to back King Alfonso, rather than Ferdinand and Isabella, in the battle for Spain and take Ciudad Real. Guzmánpledges his soldiers and tells Girón that... Read Fuenteovejuna Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Equality, Relationships: Family, Identity: Femininity
Tags Romance, Sports, Race / Racism, Gender / Feminism, Class, Latin American Literature, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family
Tags LGBTQ, Addiction / Substance Abuse, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Gabi, A Girl in Pieces (2014) is a young adult fiction novel by Southern Californian writer Isabel Quintero. It is a bildungsroman following Gabi’s transition to adulthood, her evolution as a writer, and her growing acceptance of herself. Gabi, A Girl in Pieces is Quintero’s first novel and earned various awards for young adult readers, including the California Book Award (2015 Gold Medal) and the William C. Morris Award for YA Debut Novel. This summary... Read Gabi, a Girl in Pieces Summary
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Children's Literature, Education, Education, Realistic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, History: World
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 2000
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Education, Education, Sociology, History: World, Social Justice, Politics / Government
Harvest of Empire: A History of Latinos in America (first published in 2000 and revised in 2011) is a work of historical nonfiction authored by Juan Gonzalez. It provides a comprehensive account of the intersection of Latin American history with US history in the context of ongoing US debates surrounding immigration, which have involved propaganda, mythologizing, and stereotyping, resulting in much fear, anxiety, and anger. Gonzalez seeks to reveal the hidden story behind these stereotypes... Read Harvest Of Empire Summary
Publication year 2017
Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, Modern Classic Fiction, Magical Realism, LGBTQ
Her Body and Other Parties is a short story collection published in October of 2017 by debut author Carmen Maria Machado. The collection, which moves between the genres of fantasy, horror, and satire, was shortlisted for the 2017 National Book Award Fiction Prize and the International Dylan Thomas Prize. It won the 2018 Lambda Literary Award for Lesbian Fiction, the Shirley Jackson Award, the National Book Critics Circle's John Leonard Prize, and the Bard Fiction... Read Her Body and Other Parties Summary
Publication year 1984
Genre Poem, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism
Tags Lyric Poem, Latin American Literature
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Society: Immigration
Tags Gender / Feminism, Historical Fiction, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 1991
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Siblings, Identity: Race, Society: Immigration, Relationships: Family
Tags Historical Fiction, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Classic Fiction
How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents is Julia Alvarez’s debut novel and was influenced by her experiences as a young girl living in the Dominican Republic. While the novel’s Garcia girls were born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to New York, Alvarez was born in New York and immigrated to the Dominican Republic. Like other Alvarez novels, this book explores the tensions and difficulties that immigrants experience throughout their lives. It also provides... Read How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents Summary
Publication year 2001
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Joy, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Identity: Language, Natural World: Food, Relationships: Family, Society: Community