Uni High Reads

Happy Latinx Heritage Month! If you’re looking for a book about Latinx characters by a Latinx author to read this month, we’d love to recommend a few. From science fiction to realistic fiction to historical fiction, fantasy to romance, and poetry to prose, Latinx authors are (and have been) putting out amazing work in every genre and style you can imagine.

Here’s the titles and their current availability– almost all are available from the Uni Library!

Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo Ac37cl (on reserve)

The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo ac37po

What if It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera AL146wh

Labyrinth Lost by Zaraida Córdova C8123la

Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas Available from CPL

Jazz Owls by Margarita Engle En35ja

Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland Available from CPL/UFL

Shadowshaper by Daniel Jose Older Ol17s

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz Coming to Uni soon! and Available from CPL/UFL

Photographic : the life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero 770.92 Q458ph

Juliet Takes a Breath by Gabby Rivera R5243ju

They Both Die at the End by Adam SIlvera SI394t

Here’s a couple of our favorites:

Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas is an excellent romance-ish novel with some unique elements. Part-Cuban Isabella Fields has a passion for cooking, and isn’t going to let anything stand in they way of winning the internship of her dreams. Not even Diego, no matter how cute he may be. But what if her dreams don’t match the reality of being a chef? This was a really good, cute read, and the amazingly detailed cooking scenes make the book very vivid (and educational!)

Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz also has a teenage female protagonist who knows what her dreams are– but Lana Torres dreams about being chased up a mountain by fire-breathing dragons! Ever since the first Puerto Rican dragons emerged from the island itself, Lana has wanted nothing but to be the Runner for Puerto Rico’s Blazewrath team, and it’s not too much of a spoiler to say that she gets her wish. Like Isabella, though, Lana soon finds her dreams were a lot simpler than reality. Set in a fresh fantasy world where only a few have magical abilities, but ‘Regulars’ know all about them, this novel is the perfect thing for Harry Potter fans who find themselves less into Harry Potter after, well, you know. If you liked Quidditch, you’ll love Blazewrath! I (Charlie) just finished this one this week (got it this week too, which says good things about it), and will have a more in-depth review up early next week.