Hispanic & Latinx American Literature

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