YA Books to Celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month

by Daniel Jose Older

Marisol, who vanished without a trace during the Cuban Revolution, suddenly appears to her nephew Ramón. Living in modern-day New Jersey, Ramón is surprised to be visited by the spirit of his aunt. Her appearance leads him to embark upon an investigation into his ancestor's history, but he is unaware of the forces that are urging him on.

by Elizabeth Acevedo

Sixteen-year-olds Yahaira Rios, in New York City, and Camino Rios, in the Dominican Republic, are devastated to hear of their dad’s death in a plane crash, but they are even more surprised to learn of each other's existence in the wake of their devastating loss. With alternating perspectives told in verse, the two sisters grapple with grief, forgiveness, and love. 

by Aiden Thomas

Yadriel, a trans boy, is determined to prove his gender to his family and establish himself as a brujo. When he attempts to summon a ghost, he accidentally brings back the ghost of his school’s resident bad boy Julian. When it’s clear Julian isn’t leaving, Yadriel agrees to help him. As they begin working together, Yadriel realizes that he might not want Julian to leave so soon. 

by Tehlor Kay Mejia and Anna-Marie McLemore 

Ex-best friends Lita Perez and Chicky Quintanilla don’t look like the typical winners of the Miss Meteor pageant, but that’s not the only reason that Lita joins the contest or that Chicky helps her. This collaboration between two talented writers is about forgiving the past, believing in yourself, and knowing your worth.

by Zoraida Cordova

The third and final book in the Brooklyn Brujas series follows Rose Mortiz, the youngest of three sisters. Rose is discovering her new powers, and adjusting (alongside her sisters Alex and Lula) to the return of their amnesiac father. On the night of her Death Day party, Rose learns that her dad has been lying about his memory loss. As she goes to him, the two are ambushed and transported to the fairytale world of Adas that is hidden in the Caribbean. There, Rose must work with a group to save Adas, as well as work to repair her family.

by Laura Taylor Namey

Lila Reyes had a plan for her future, that included taking over her Abuelita’s bakery, moving in with her best friend, and being together with her boyfriend forever. When her plans dramatically change, her parents decide to send her to stay with family friends in Winchester, England for a summer. It’s there she meets teashop clerk Orion Maxwell, who decides to be her personal tour guide. Soon, Lila finds that her plans for the future might be changing more than she could have ever imagined.

by Jenny Torres Sanchez

Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña are aware of the dangers that exist in their town, but they have each other and a close community. They make the hard choice to leave that community, however, when it becomes clear that their town is too dangerous for them. They begin the dangerous journey from Guatemala through Mexico, with the aim of getting to the United States border. In order to do so they must cross La Bestia, a perilous train system that will hopefully bring them to a better life.

by Yamile Saied Méndez

Growing up in Rosario, Argentina, Camilla Hassan has lived a double life. At home she abides by her parents' expectations for her, and watches as her brother and other men in her life gain prominence within the futbol community. On the field, however, she’s La Furia, and a rising futbolista in her own right. When her team qualifies for a South American tournament, her dreams of getting a scholarship to play in the United States seem more plausible. Her parents don’t know about her team, however, and to further complicate things, the boy Camilla loved is back in town. Camilla must balance all of her secrets and ambitions in order to live the life she wants. 

by Mark Oshiro

Xochital is destined to travel the desert alone, sharing her village’s stories with the winds. She wants one thing, which is to share her life with someone else. She thinks she gets that in the form of Emilia, the daughter of the town’s murderous mayor. They might be perfectly-suited for each other, but the only way to find out is to see if they can survive the nightmarish terrors that plague the desert after the sun sets. 

by Lilliam Rivera

In this retelling of the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, Eury is a girl who moves to the Bronx from Puerto Rico. She’s haunted, both by losing all of her possessions in Hurricane Maria, but also by an actual evil spirit named Ato. She becomes more hopeful about her future when she meets Pheus, a charming bachata-singer. Pheus expected to spend the summer with his friends on the beach, but meeting Eury changes all of his plans. Some dangers are too powerful for even the strongest love, however, and they must fight for their lives and their relationship.