Looking for your next favorite book and want to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month? Here’s a list of 14 books.
As part of Hispanic Heritage Month, we took a look at the Latino-authored books that North Carolina’s independent bookstores are putting in the spotlight.
Read More: 6 Ways to Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in NC
This (non-comprehensive!) list of fiction and nonfiction titles explores culture, identity, family, and the spectrum of human emotion.
Epilogue Books, Chapel Hill
Epilogue Books in Chapel Hill is owned by Miranda and Jaime Sanchez, two people on a mission to create a community around good books and good food. Keep an eye on their site for a heads-up on their most popular books and the new arrivals.
“Las Madres” — Esmeralda Santiago
Five Puerto Rican women, “las Madres,” are bound together by friendship, family, and secrets. Santiago tells the story of these women through the lens of Luz, and her daughter Marysol.
“Vida” — Patricia Engel
“Vida” follows the story of Sabina, a young girl navigating her identity with her family, Colombian heritage, and her place in the U.S.
Bookmarks, Winston-Salem
Bookmarks, an almost 20-year-old literary non-profit turned bookstore and community gathering spot, is a staple of downtown Winston-Salem
Their shelves are lined with local, national, and international authors – making it a fun challenge to keep up with their “staff picks,” an ever growing list of favorites!
“Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir” — Erika Sánchez
In this collection of personal essays, Erika Sánchez writes about mental health, feminism, sexuality, and everything in between.
“Selena Didn’t Know Spanish Either: Poems” – Marisa Tirado
Marisa Tirado uses poetry to explore cultural identity, assimilation, and her identity within the Latinx diaspora.
“Olga Dies Dreaming” — Xochitl Gonzalez
Set in Brooklyn, N.Y., “Olga Dies Dreaming” analyzes the reality of the “American Dream” amidst political corruption and unbound capitalism.
“Gods of Jade and Shadow” — Silvia Moreno-Garcia
Moreno-Garcia puts a modern twist on ancient Mayan mythology in this historical fantasy about a woman on a dangerous and life-changing journey.
“The House on Mango Street” — Sandra Cisneros
Esperanza Cordero is a young girl growing up in Chicago. “The House on Mango Street” follows her as she finds herself and her vision of the future.
“Woman of Light” — Kali Fajardo-Anstine
This coming-of-age story follows the main character, Luz, as she uncovers the history of her family and the American West while facing the rising tension in her hometown.
“The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina” — Zoraida Córdova
Using magical realism, Córdova paints a picture of a family on a quest for the truth about their origins when the consequences of the past catch up with them.
The Urban Reader, Charlotte (with Latinx Publishing)
The Urban Reader is an online bookstore with its very own bookmobile! They specialize in books written by Black authors and are partnered with Latinx Publishing to recommend must-read titles during Hispanic Heritage Month.
“Drum Dream Girl” — Margarita Engle
Inspired by the true story of Millo Castro Zaldariagga, who changed the culture of Cuban music, “Drum Dream Girl” is about the power of music and dreaming.
“For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts” — Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodriquez
Rodriguez writes “a love letter to women of color” in this guide to decolonization, empowerment, and banding together.
“Candelaria” — Melissa Lozado-Olivia
Candelaria’s grandaughters are in trouble and she needs to save them. Lozado-Olivia writes a story of a family from three generations drawing from the past as they move through the present.
“Our Share of the Night” – Marian Enríquez
Enríquez combines the supernatural and horror in a story of grief, fatherly love, and Argentina’s military dictatorship.
Malaprop’s Bookstore, Asheville
Malaprop’s Bookstore has been a staple of Asheville since the early 80s. Their collection of carefully curated books and a wide variety of staff recommendations means you’ll never have to worry about your next read.
“Behind Crimmigation” — Felicia Arriaga
Arriaga analyzes the impact of North Carolina counties partnering with federal law enforcement to identify and deport undocumented immigrants.
Leah Sherrell Leah Sherrell is a multimedia reporter for Cardinal & Pine. A graduate of UNC-Wilmington, she's a resident of Kernersville with a background in video production and communication. Leah uses many forms of media to explore the multifaceted lifestyles and cultures present in North Carolina.
