An unforgettable young adult debut novel-in-verse that redefines what it means to make it, touching on themes of mental illness, sexual assault, food insecurity and gentrification, in the Nuyorican literary tradition of Nicholasa Mohr and the work of contemporary writer Elizabeth Acevedo.
Sarai is a first-generation Puerto Rican eighth grader who can see with clarity the truth, pain, and beauty of the world both inside and outside her Bushwick apartment. Together with her older sister Estrella, she navigates the strain of family traumas and the systemic pressures of toxic masculinity and housing insecurity in a rapidly gentrifying Brooklyn. Sarai questions the society around her, her Boricua identity, and the life she lives with determination and an open heart, learning to celebrate herself in a way that she has been denied.
When We Make It is a love letter to girls who were taught to believe they would not make it at all. The verse is evocative and insightful, and readers are sure to be swept into Sarai's world and rooting for her long after they close the book.
CW//: homophobia, transphobia, blood, death, misgendering, dead naming (implied), mention of physical abuse, abandonment, loss of parent
Cemetery Boys is an Own Voices story about Yadriel, a young trans teenager, who wants to become a brujo. Because his family and the other brujx firmly hold on to their traditions, Yadriel is denied as a brujo and thus takes it upon himself to prove them wrong, but when he accidentally summons the ghost of Julian Diaz and not his cousin, proving himself becomes far more difficult than he originally thought.
This book and these characters tore my soul apart and stitched it back together. I absolutely loved this story and not just because this is a Latinx book filled with Latinx characters and traditions, but because it shows just how difficult it can be to want to be seen and accepted for who you are.
The main character, Yadriel, is trans and gay and his family doesn't fully accept him. As much as I hate to say it, homophobia and transphobia are hugely embedded in the Latinx community. It's something that the older generations, and some of the newer, have a difficult time wanting to understand and that's something that we see with Yadriel and his family. They're so set on the old ways that they don't even consider the possibility that he can exist as himself. Later on in the story, we get to see his family realize how much they've hurt Yadriel and we even see his father outwardly and vocally support him, which is such an important moment for so many reasons. I think Thomas does a wonderful job showing that it's possible to appreciate tradition and still allow room for change and differing experiences.
Not only do we see this development with Yadriel's family, but we also see it with Yadriel. A lot of the story really delves into his own inner turmoil with accepting himself and wanting the people he cares for to accept him as well, but that's not something that's explicitly clear at first. It's explored the deeper we dive into the story.
I absolutely loved all the characters. Maritza is by far my favorite. She's witty and funny and super supportive of Yadriel. She's the type of person I would have wanted to be friends with in high school. Also her comebacks had me ROLLING. Her relationship with Yadriel is absolutely top tier. Not only do we get los primos who always get in trouble together, we also get a super loving and supportive relationship. I would die for these two.
AND DONT EVEN GET ME STARTED ON JULIAN DIAZ. This boy, I freakin' swear. He's a soccer dude. That's all you need to know and you'll know. This boy constantly gets into trouble and has anger problems, but he's funny, supportive, and protective. He acts like he doesn't give a shit about anything, but he's definitely ride-or-die for those he cares about and we get to see all these pieces of him throughout the story. Not only is this boy a joker, but he's smooth af. I mean...
"¿Me dejas robarte un beso?" he said softly, in the most agonizingly beautiful Colombian accent Yadriel had ever heard. It was pure and melodic, like a song.
Ch. 20, p. 274
This boy had me rooting for him. I just wanted a HEA for him and Yadriel, spoiler, they get one. You'll just have to read to find out how.
Another thing I really liked about this book is that each character introduced also has something they're dealing with, be it an abusive household, the loss of a parent, homelessness, differing values and morals, the need to be accepted, etc., and I think Thomas does a really good job showing that what we see and think we know isn't always the truth. I also think recognizing that these issues exist is important, especially for young readers who may be experiencing similar situations. Representation will always matter.
In terms of representation, Latinx culture was heavily embedded in everything, which I absolutely LOVED. It felt like being with my own friends and family and I love that people who are unfamiliar with these traditions get to see a piece of it. I also loved that Spanish was incorporated into the dialogue. For people who are unfamiliar with the language, I could see how not having the english translations could make things a little difficult to understand since some meanings could be lost in translation, but that's what Google is for. I think this was a really great example that shows what being bilingual is like and how much our language means to us.
I also appreciate that there were a lot of LGBTQ+ Latinx characters. In the words of Julian, "Queer folks are like wolves...we travel in packs." I loved that Thomas showed there's no one way to be gay, everyone has their own experience, and there will always be people in your corner who will love you, support you, and appreciate you despite.
In terms of the writing and the plot, this book was fairly fast-paced. It took place over the course of a few days approaching Dia de Muertos. I don't think there were any areas that dragged on. If anything, I wanted more interactions between characters, especially Julian and his friends and then Julian and Yadriel. I really hope Thomas continues with this world and these characters because I NEED MORE. As for the storyline, I absolutely LOVED it. Those twists were so good and basically the worst thing you could think that could happen happened, which made me feel so many things all at once. I was relieved but angry and ngl, I cried a few tears, but in my opinion, what happened needed to happen. I ended up guessing part of the major twist toward the end, which just goes to show how great Thomas's foreshadowing was throughout the book. Major plot points were only predictable if you knew what you were looking for. I, for one, really enjoy guessing what's going to happen next so I really enjoyed this aspect. All the major events in the story also made sense and were pretty much resolved. There wasn't anything that stuck out too much.
Overall, I really enjoyed everything about this book, especially the characters. I would 100% die for them and I will definitely be reading everything Aiden Thomas publishes ever. Read this book.
A NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL ADAPTATION OF THE BESTSELLING BOOK! Juliet Milagros Palante is leaving the Bronx and headed to Portland, Oregon. She just came out to her family and isn’t sure if her mom will ever speak to her again. But don’t worry, Juliet has something kinda resembling a plan that’ll help her figure out what it means to be Puerto Rican, lesbian and out. See, she’s going to intern with Harlowe Brisbane - her favorite feminist author, someone’s who’s the last work on feminism, self-love and lots of of ther things that will help Juliet find her ever elusive epiphany. There’s just one problem - Harlowe’s white, not from the Bronx and doesn’t have the answers. Okay, maybe that’s more than one problem but Juliet never said it was a perfect plan... Critically-acclaimed writer Gabby Rivera adapts her bestselling novel alongside artist Celia Moscote in an unforgettable queer coming-of-age story exploring race, idenrity and what it means to be true to your amazing self. even when the rest of the world doesn’t understand.
Acclaimed author Lilliam Rivera and artist Steph C. reimagine one of DC's greatest Green Lanterns, Jessica Cruz, to tell a story about immigration, family, and overcoming fear to inspire hope.
Jessica Cruz has done everything right. She's a dedicated student, popular among her classmates, and has a loving family that has done everything they can to give her a better life in the United States. While Jessica is a part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, allowing her to go to school and live in the U.S., her parents are undocumented. Jessica usually worries for her parents, but her fears and anxiety escalate as a mayoral candidate with a strong anti-immigration stance runs for office.
As the xenophobia in Coast City increases, Jessica begins to debate whether it's worth renewing her status to stay in the U.S., or if her family would be safer and better off moving back to Mexico. And despite her attempts to lean on her friends and family, she finds herself constantly visited by visions of Aztec gods, one pulling her towards hope and the other towards anger.
But when her father is detained by I.C.E., Jessica finds herself being pulled into an abyss of fear. With her father gone and feeling helpless, Jessica must find her way out of her fears and ultimately become a voice for her community.
For Ri Fernández’s entire life, she’s been told, “We live in America and we speak English.” Raised by her strict Mexican grandma, Ri has never been allowed to learn Spanish. What’s more, her grandma has always pushed Ri away from the neighborhood they call home and toward her best friend’s world of mansions and country clubs in the hopes that it’ll bring Ri closer to achieving the “American Dream.”
In her most private thoughts, Ri has always believed that her mother, who disappeared when she was young, would accept her exactly how she is. So when Ri finds a secret unanswered letter from her mom begging for a visit, Ri decides to reclaim what her grandma kept from her: a language and a mother. But nothing goes as planned. Her mom isn’t who Ri imagined she would be. And Ri’s struggling to navigate the different interweaving threads of her mixed heritage that make her who she is. Nobody has any idea of who Ri really is—not even Ri, herself.
Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed is a collection unlike any other in the young adult market now
In Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, writers from across the Latinx diaspora interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about this rich and diverse community. From immigration to sexuality, music to language, and more, these personal essays and poems are essential additions to the cultural conversation, sure to inspire hope and spark dialogue.
The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.
In Cazadora, the follow-up to Lobizona, Romina Garber continues to weave Argentine folklore and real-world issues into a haunting, fantastical, and romantic story that will reunite readers with Manu and her friends as they continue to fight for a better future.
