Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Bibliophiles of the internet, my name’s Adriana
and today I'm here to to highlight five books I’m think about reading for Hispanic Heritage Month.
As you *should* know, Hispanic Heritage Month goes from September 15th to October 15th every year.
And you know me, I’m always thinking ahead.
So actually for the past few months, I’ve *been* thinking about what I want to read.
I made a similar video in 2017, and I’m going to continue this tradition of not only reading Hispanic books
between those dates, but actually reading Hispanic/Latinx books for the entirety of *both* months.
Because I certainly have enough choices.
So let’s talk about some of my options in the top five.
My top priority is “The Weight of Feathers” by Anna-Marie McLemore.
Within the last year I have read—and LOVED—two of her books.
For this same project last year I read “When the Moon Was Ours,” which was fantastic.
And a couple of months ago I read “Wild Beauty,” which was an absolute game-changer.
Her books, for me, just become forever faves.
This book is Anna-Marie McLemore's debut, and I *still* haven’t read it.
It’s #ownvoices magical realism about these star-crossed lovers who belong to rival families
who are both traveling performers with different acts.
The Palomas swim in mermaid expeditions and the Corbeaus are tight rope walkers.
All her life, Lace Paloma has been told that the Corbeaus deal in black magic
and that merely touching one of them would mean sure death.
But when disaster strikes the town where both families are performing,
it’s the son of her enemies who saves her life.
And the two of them begin to develop a passionate and dangerous relationship.
I cannot wait to finally read this one.
And an honorable mention also goes out to “Blanca y Roja,” Anna-Marie McLemore’s soon-to-be-released book
that I've also pre-ordered, because I am THAT confident that I’m going to love every book she writes.
Another book I hope to get to is “Certain Dark Things” by Silvia Moreno-Garcia,
which is a book about Mexican vampires.
The story revolves around two characters, Atl and Domingo.
Atl is descended from Aztec blood-drinkers, and she’s chosen Domingo, a trash picker, to drink from next.
And that sort of...doesn't go as planned.
She’s also trying to get as far away from South America as she can,
to outrun a rival narco-vampire clan who are in hot pursuit.
There's also a cop named Ana, who follows a trail of corpses right into the middle of vampire gang wars.
I don't really feel like I need to say anything else.
Then I’m *dying* to read “The Air You Breathe” by Frances de Pontes Peebles.
This is #ownvoices *** Latinx historical fiction set in 1930’s Brazil,
about two girls who are connected through a legacy of music.
It’s like a life-long character study about Dores, who works in the kitchens on a sugar plantation,
and Graça, who is the spoiled daughter of a wealthy sugar baron, and how their paths cross.
One of them has an amazing singing voice and the other has a talent for composing the music and lyrics.
So music becomes a shared passion and the basis for an incredible partnership,
maybe even a rivalry, that keeps drawing them together and pulling them apart over the course of their lives.
And it’s, like, *super* obvious that they’re ***
and that they have the kind of relationship that forever shapes their lives.
Just from the synopsis, there are SO many parallels I could draw between this and “The Gods of Tango,”
one of my ultimate favorite stand-out books from 2017, but also just in *life*.
I actually made a spoiler-free review video just gushing about how it’s this amazing #ownvoices historical fiction book
about a trans violinist named Dante who leaves behind his life to pursue tango music in Argentina,
and he falls in love with a *** vocalist, and it is just...everything we deserve.
And I’m definitely getting those same vibes from this, and I just hope that it also makes me feel all the things.
Then you *know* I pre-ordered the audiobook of “Pride” by Ibi Zoboi,
read by the one, the only Elizabeth Acevedo, which is set to release on September 18th.
This book is described as a “Pride & Prejudice remix,” and honestly, that *alone* is enough.
I want to say it’s #ownvoices, but I’m not entirely sure.
But either way the main character, Zuri, is Afro-Latinx,
and as her neighborhood becomes more and more gentrified, it starts to become a place she doesn’t recognize.
Soon the wealthy Darcy family moves in across the street,
and Zuri wants nothing to do with their two teenage sons,
and she especially can’t stand the arrogant and judgmental Darius.
However, the two are forced to find common ground
while Zuri fights to find a place in her neighborhood’s rapidly changing landscape.
I’m ready. I’ve *been* ready.
I can’t wait for Elizabeth Acevedo’s narration to burrow Ibi Zoboi’s words deep into my soul,
because I *know* that’s how it’s gonna pan out.
Then I would very much like to continue reading “Dodge City” by Josh Trujillo and Cara McGee.
This is an #ownvoices sports comic about a dodge ball team called The Jazz Pandas,
who are indisputably the worst team in the league fighting their way to the top after their captain
abruptly turns over her captainship to the newest Jazz Panda, Tomás.
I will defend and recommend this comic to the ends of the universe.
The main character is Latinx, pretty much all the supporting characters are POC,
there’s *** girls who show their affection on the page, there’s a fat deaf character who could possibly be ***,
there’s really great conflict on and off the court.
Really, what else could you want?
I really love the first two issues I read and I can’t wait to continue on with #3 and #4 before the trade comes out.
So those are just five things I’d like to read during Hispanic Heritage month,
but rest assured I have lots of other choices from both favorite and new-to-me authors on my shelves.
If you have any more recommendations for Hispanic/Latinx reads I could look into,
preferably #ownvoices books, I would love to hear about them in the comments.
But that's everything I had for this TBR sampler today. Thank you so much for watching this video.
I really hope that you enjoyed it, and I will catch YOU on the flip-side of the page.
¡Adiós!
[♫ snazzy end screen music ♫]