Latin American Voices

Latin American Voices

A curated booklist by your favorite SPL librarians!


Latin American Voices


Fiction | Nonfiction | Movies | Music


Fiction

Afterlife Afterlife by Julia Alvarez

A humorous and hopeful novel about love, loss, and sisterhood by Dominican-American author, Julia Alvarez. Revisiting the Vega sisters from her beloved novel, How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accent, we now find the four siblings as older women wrestling with new life challenges and shifting relationship dynamics, but still maintaining their charm and heart.

American Delirium American Delirium by Betina González

From award-winning Argentinian novelist Betina González comes an unsettling and surprising tale of American madness. When a small, Midwestern city is plagued by a set of strange occurrences, the lives of a taxidermist, a museum worker, and a young girl intersect with shocking results. Kirkus declares American Delirium “an uncategorizable novel that manages to be both zany and profound.”

Cantoras Cantoras by Carolina De Robertis

It’s the early 1930s and the Uruguayan government has declared homosexuality to be illegal. Living under the threat of punishment for defying the law, a group of five queer women singers attempt to carve out a path of freedom by living their lives authentically and courageously, in this complex, lyrical novel.

The Five Wounds The Five Wounds by Kirstin Valdez Quade

In her critically acclaimed debut novel, Kirstin Valdez Quade, recipient of National Book Foundation’s "5 Under 35" award, writes a complex and compelling character-driven story about five generations of the Padilla family coming together in their small, New Mexican hometown during the first year of life for their newest family member.

Dominicana Dominicana by Angie Cruz

In the 1960s Dominican Republic, 15-year-old Ana agrees to wed a man twice her age on the promise of starting a new life in New York City. Life in America isn’t what she expected it to be, but when Ana’s husband leaves her under the supervision of his brother to return to the Dominican Republic, she’s granted the freedom to experience New York on her own terms, and there’s no turning back.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova

An intricate and captivating story woven with magical realism and building mystery about a family of Ecuadorian-American immigrants after the death of their matriarch. Author Zoraida Córdova, who was born in Ecuador, is a board member of We Need Diverse Books and cohost of the writing podcast Deadline City.

L.A. Weather L.A. Weather by María Amparo Escandón

Heartwarming and engaging, the Alvarado family is faced with the choice to band together or dig life up by the roots when Keila shocks her husband and grown daughters by calling for a divorce. Told with wit and charm, best-selling Mexican-American author, Escandón, writes a winning family drama that could rival a telenovela.

Mundo Cruel Mundo Cruel by Luis Negrón

A Lambda Literary Award-winner for Gay Fiction, this collection of nine thought-provoking short stories speaks to the experiences of gay men in Puerto Rico, and the overall human condition. “Exploring the sometimes hilarious and sometimes heartbreaking nature of survival in a decidedly cruel world” Mundo Cruel reveals the “intimate world of a small community” joined by its “transgressive sexuality” (Publisher).

Olga Dies Dreaming Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez

A New York Times bestseller and International Latino Book Award Finalist. Olga, a wedding planner for the rich and powerful of New York City, and her new love, Matteo, weather the unraveling of long held family secrets when Olga’s mother blows into town in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Velvet Was the Night Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Moreno-Garcia, bestselling author of Mexican Gothic, writes a riveting and suspenseful story in 1970s Mexico City about “daydreaming secretary” Maite and “eccentric thug” Elvis, whose lives collide when they both go in search of Maite’s missing neighbor, a women who led a secret life as a student radical.

Woman of Light Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine

Following five generations of an Indigenous Chicano family in the 1930s American West, this national bestseller centers on Luz Lopez, a teenage tea leaf reader in Denver who has to survive on her own after a White mob runs her brother out of town for being in an interracial relationship.

2666 2666 by Roberto Bolaño

This haunting, critically acclaimed novel is perceived as the highest achievement of late award-winning Chilean writer, Roberto Bolaño’s career. Broken into five parts, it circles around the strange disappearance of a German author combined with the ongoing, unsolved rapes and murders of women on the Mexican-American border.

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Nonfiction

A Cup of Water Under My Bed A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernández

In her award-winning memoir, queer Colombian-Cuban-American writer, Daisy Hernández, details her personal coming-of-age tale, from English-language classes, to acts of rebellion against the women who raised her, and coming out as bisexual. Juxtaposing life lessons to the wisdom she was raised with, Hernández writes with unique insight about the intersection of sexuality, immigration, race, and class issues.

American Chica: Two worlds, One Childhood American Chica: Two worlds, One Childhood by Marie Arana

An award-winning New York Time Notable Book, American Chica details the unique, bilingual, bicultural, and biracial life of Peruvian-American journalist, Marie Arana, in her own words. Born to a free-spirited, White, American mother and a conservative Peruvian father, Arana carves her own path apart from her parent's differing influences.

Crying in the Bathroom Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez

Erika Sánchez, the New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter, strikes gold again in this equally hilarious and touching memoir. In Crying in the Bathroom, Sánchez bring her lovable outsider perspective to topics like sex, White feminism, depression, and more.

Illegally Yours Illegally Yours by Rafael Agustin

When teenage Rafael Agustin (award-winning writer for TV series Jane the Virgin) got his driver’s license at 16, he discovered his parents had been hiding his immigration status from him his whole life. Though the truth seemed to unravel him at the time, Agustin is able to revisit this revelation and more with unforgettable humor and insight in this candid memoir.

In the Country We Love: My Family Divided In the Country We Love: My Family Divided by Diane Guerrero

Diane Guerrero, known for her television roles in Orange is the New Black and Jane the Virgin, was only a teenager when her family was deported to Colombia without her. Despite the heartbreak in her early youth, Guerrero carved a name for herself in Hollywood, and is using her platform to address the inequities of America's immigration policies.

In the Dream House In the Dream House by Carmen Maria Machado

A Lambda Literary Award-winner for nonfiction, this gripping memoir about author Carmen Maria Machado’s volatile relationship with an abusive woman adresses the nuances of abuse and trauma in queer and interracial relationships.

Ordinary Girls Ordinary Girls by Jaquira Díaz

An award-winning, “must-read” book of 2019, Ordinary Girls shares Puerto Rican writer Jaquira Díaz’s life as a queer, biracial woman who grew up with a mentally ill parent struggling with addiction. This extrodiniary memior also delves into Díaz's experiences with depression, drug abuse, and violence, and her country’s history of colonialism.

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Movies

The Book of Life The Book of Life directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez

A beautiful animated movie for all ages honoring Mexican culture that follows the journey of young Manolo as he adventures into unknown worlds to face his greatest fear and follow the longings of his heart.

City of God City of God co-directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund

Inspired by Paulo Lins' critically acclaimed novel, City of God depicts the moving and powerful true story about life and redemption in Rio de Janeiro's notoriously neighborhood, “City of God.”

Like Water for Chocolate Like Water for Chocolate directed by Alfonso Arau

Based on the best-selling novel by Laura Esquivel, this richly romantic love story follows the bittersweet tale of a young woman who falls in love with a man forced to marry her sister.

The Mole Agent The Mole Agent directed by Maite Alberdi

An award-winning Chilean film about a private detective who plants a mole in a nursing home he suspects of committing elder abuse.

Roma Roma directed by Alfonso Cuarón

An Academy Award nominated drama in 1970s Mexico City recreating the childhood of director Alfonso Cuarón, who, along with his siblings, was left in the care of an Indigenous domestic worker after being abandoned by his father.

Selena Selena directed by Gregory Nava

A Golden Globe-winning film about the life and tragic death of celebrated, Grammy Award-winning Mexican-American singer, Selena.

Sin Nombre Sin Nombre by Cary Joji Fukunaga

An award-winning adventure thriller about a young Honduran woman’s epic journey across the Latin American countryside into the United States alongside her father and uncle.

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Music

Abraxas Abraxas by Santana

The second studio album by Latin rock band Santana, including hits like Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, Oye Como Va, and Se a Cabo, which was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall.

¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones? ¿Dónde Están Los Ladrones? by Shakira

The Grammy nominated fourth studio album by Colombian singer and songwriter Shakira is a winning blend of Latin American pop and rock with notable tracks like Ciega, Sordomud, Tú, and No Creo.

The Essential Gloria Estefan The Essential Gloria Estefan by Gloria Estefan

The seventh compilation album by legendary Cuban-American singer, Gloria Estefan, featuring chart-topping greats like Rhythm Is Gonna Get You, Get on Your Feet, and Live for Loving You.

Libertad 548 Libertad 548 by Pitbull

The 11th studio album by Cuban-American rapper and vocalist, Pitbull, features guest appearances by multiple artists, including Becky G, Flo Rida, and Ludacris, and singles like No Lo Trates, Get Ready, and Tell Me Again.

Revelación Revelación by Selena Gomez

The fourth extended play (EP) album by Mexican-American artist, Selena Gomez featuring notable Latin Pop tracks like De Una Vez, Baila Conmigo, and Selfish Love.

Selena Selena by Selena

A collector's adition compilation album of late, celebrated Mexican-American Latin Pop artist, and “Queen of Tejano” music showcasing beloved tracks like Dreaming of You, I Could Fall in Love, and Tú, Solo Tú.

X100pre X100pre by Bad Bunny

The debut album by Puerto Rican rapper and Grammy-winner, Bad Bunny, ranks #41 on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Albums of All Time; has guest appearances by Drake, Diplo, and El Alfa; and features hits like Estamos Bien, Mia, and Solo de Mí.

3.0 3.0 by Marc Anthony

The ninth Spanish album by Puerto Rican-American Grammy-winner and top-selling tropical salsa artist of all time, Marc Anthony, featuring hit singles Vivir Mi Vida and Cambio de Piel.

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