Tag Archives: Hispanic/Latino

MG – Halfway to Somewhere

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Pimienta, Jose. Halfway to Somewhere. Random House Children’s, 2025. 978-0-593-56945-0. 256 p. $13.99. Grades 6-8.

Ave is feeling stuck. They had to move with their mom and younger brother from their home in Mexico to Kentucky for her new job at the university. But only half of the family is here. Ave’s dad and older sister are staying in Mexico, and Ave keeps asking when they will be joining the rest of them in the US. They find out that this separation is going to be permanent, since their parents are getting a divorce. So now Ave needs to learn a new language, transition to a new middle school, and grapple with the break up of the family. As Ave begins exploring their new home and making other bilingual friends, they slowly begin to reconcile the differences in their new home versus the old and try to find the beauty of both.

THOUGHTS: A great middle grade graphic novel with beautiful illustrations. The setting really comes across with juxtaposition of the Mexican desert to the hills of Kentucky. The amount of background in many of the panels brings this story to life along with the art for each of the characters. I easily could see this becoming one of those animated graphic novels. Ave’s story is also an interesting one to read about. Transitioning to a new home, new language, and even new family structure is hard. Pimienta does a great job discussing hard topics about what it means to assimilate and how that is different for many people. I also liked that although Ave is nonbinary, this is mostly accepted as an everyday thing and doesn’t focus on any outside negative impacts, only an interlude of some family friction. Overall, Halfway to Somewhere is a great addition to any middle grade collection!

Graphic Novel
Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes To Bat For Latinos

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Alonso, Nathalie. Call Me Roberto! Roberto Clemente Goes To Bat For Latinos. Illustrated by Ruby Gutierrez. Astra Books for Young Readers, 2024, 979-8-888-59075-1. $17.99. 32p. Grades 2-4.

Roberto Clemente loved the game of baseball almost as much as his home country of Puerto Rico. At the age of nineteen, he was pulled up to the Majors. While he sat on the bench most of his time in Montreal, when he got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates, he finally got his chance to shine. While he made an impact almost immediately, the rest of the team and the fans did not easily accept a Black man from Puerto Rico that still spoke Spanish. Through perseverance, Clemente continued to show his worth while facing racism day in and day out.

THOUGHTS: This nonfiction picture book does a great job of showing readers the highs of his career but also the lows. Seeing the illustration of Clemente sitting inside what is depicted as a jail cell because he was Black and could not go golfing or to the beach like the white players on his team really did a great job of showing, not just telling. There are some Spanish words mixed into the text as well as beautiful illustrations.

Picture Book
921

Elem. – I am La Chiva! The Colorful Bus of the Andes

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Hernandez, Karol. I am La Chiva! The Colorful Bus of the Andes. Illustrated by Lorena Alvarez Gomez. Dial Books for Young Readers, 2024. 978-0-593-52920-1. $18.99. 40 p. Grades PK-2.

In this rhyming book, a colorful bus helps to take people from the Andes mountains to the market to sell their goods. On the way to town, the bus bumps along full of treats, animals, music, and song, but suddenly the bus gets a flat tire. Everyone helps to repair the bus, so they can make it to the square. Each person sets up their stall and sells their goods and when the day is done, the bus gets a new tire and safely takes everyone back home through the beautiful mountains. 

THOUGHTS: Young readers will enjoy the rhyming and the fun, bright illustrations. In the back is a glossary with translations for the Spanish words used in the story. The author’s note provides context for the story and inspiration. Recommended for ages 3-7. 

Picture Book

MG – Salsa Magic

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Marrero, Letisha. Salsa Magic. Levine Querido, 2023. 978-1-646-14260-6. $18.99. 273 p. Grades 4-8.

Thirteen year old Maya has been having vivid dreams about a goddess in white calling to her from the ocean. The dreams seem so real, but she is not sure what it means nor does she have time to think about it. Between school, soccer, and helping out at her family’s cafe, there is little time left for pondering strange dreams. Maya’s focus is on her soccer season and her developing feelings for her teammate Kayla… until a mysterious guest arrives at the restaurant. It is her Titi (Aunt) Yaya! Maya has never met Yaya because of her long-standing feud with Maya’s abuela, her sister. But the most shocking part is that Titi Yaya looks exactly like the woman from her dreams! Even though Titi Yaya ends up staying in the apartment above the restaurant, her grandmother forbids Maya from talking to her. Maya feels a strong connection to Titi Yaya and breaks her abuela’s rules. Titi Yaya teaches her about ancient santeria magic. She tells Maya that she has been chosen by the Yoruban goddess of water and that she must follow this calling. Maya knows if she is to answer this calling alongside Titi Yaya, she must convince her abuela to drop the feud. 

THOUGHTS: Marrero’s coming of age story tells a heartwarming tale of a multigenerational family made richer by interwoven depictions of Caribbean, Puerto Rican, and Mexican mythology and cultural traditions. This would be a solid purchase for middle grade libraries.

Realistic Fiction

Elem. – Spanish is the Language of My Family

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Genhart, Michael. Spanish is the Language of My Family. Illustrated by John Parra. Neal Porter Books. 978-0-823-45004-6. 36 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

When Manolo’s school holds a Spanish-language spelling bee, he is the first in his class to sign up because Spanish is the language of his family. He already knows how to spell some Spanish words, but he turns to his Abuela for help preparing. They review the list of words together, and as she quizzes him, Abuela also shares stories about how school was a very different place when she attended as a little girl. She describes how students were not allowed to speak Spanish and how they were sent home, spanked, or had their mouths washed out with soap if teachers heard them speaking the language. Her stories inspire Manolo to study even harder, and on the day of the contest, his whole family is in the audience to cheer him on. He takes a deep breath and spells his first word correctly. More and more correct spellings follow, until only he and one classmate remain on the stage. His final word, “respeto” reminds him of the respect he has for his family’s language, and he spells the word correctly. Backmatter includes the letters and sounds of the Spanish alphabet. Also included is a note from the author that describes the inspiration for this story; information about the National Spanish Spelling Bee; a history of the prohibition of Spanish in schools during long periods of American history; and background information about El Dia de Los Ninos, or Children’s Day. This title was simultaneously published in Spanish as El espanol es la lengua de mi familia. 

THOUGHTS: This intergenerational story celebrates being bilingual as a strength and a source of family pride. Short sentences and vibrant acrylic illustrations will hold students’ attention, making this title a good choice for a read-aloud, particularly at the end of April when Children’s Day is celebrated. 

Picture Book

Elem. – Papá’s Magical Water-jug Clock

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Trejo, Jesus. Papá’s Magical Water-jug Clock. Illustrated by Eliza Kinkz. Minerva, 2023.  978-1-662-65104-5. 44 p. $18.99. Grades K-3. 

It’s Saturday morning, and Jesús can’t wait to spend the day helping his father with their family landscaping and gardening business. Jesús loves mowing and trimming trees, but he’s most excited to spend the whole day with his Papá. As he fills Papá’s big, orange water jug, Papá explains that the jug is also a magical clock. It tells them how much work is left to do, and when the jug is empty, it’s time to go home. Papá puts Jesús in charge of the jug, and Jesús takes the responsibility very seriously. However, he also drinks liberal amounts of the water, splashes some on his face, and shares cup after cup with thirsty-looking cats, dogs, and peacocks. By the time Jesús and Papá reach the third job site, the jug is empty. Father and son take the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart conversation about the balance of work and play and the importance of completing an honest day’s work. Reader’s will be charmed by Jesús’s nonstop energy and heart, and they’ll relate to the big feelings he exhibits throughout the story. Vibrant mixed-media illustrations reflect the lighthearted tone of the words and perfectly balance the text. 

THOUGHTS: This title will be a charming addition to English and Spanish picture book collections. It realistically depicts the loving relationship between father and son while maintaining a lighthearted and mischievous vibe and celebrating a hard-working male role model. 

Picture Book

MG – The Last Cuentista

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Higuera, Donna Barba. The Last Cuentista. Levine Querido, 978-1-646-14089-3. 320 p. $17.99. Grades 5-9.

In the year 2061, a comet has been knocked off course and is hurtling to planet Earth. While the majority of earth’s citizens will die as the comet collides with the planet, a small group of citizens are selected to travel to space and prepare to make a new home on planet Sagan. Petra, her brother Javier, and her scientist parents make the cut, but her beloved grandmother Lita does not. Petra and her grandmother have a special relationship, strengthened by the cuentos, or stories, that Lita tells her. Petra lives for these moments with her grandmother and vows that she will remember every single one of her grandmother’s cuentos so she always has a piece of her to share with others. After boarding the ship that takes them away from Earth, Petra and her family are frozen for 380 years inside stasis pods until they reach Sagan. While frozen, each person receives a brain download that inputs all kinds of knowledge so they are fully educated and ready to colonize a new planet when they arrive at their destination. Hundreds of years later, as Petra is taken out of her stasis, she realizes very quickly that she is the only one that remembers anything about Earth – and the plan for colonization has changed. A group called The Collective has taken over the ship and has plans to erase everything relating to Earth and its human inhabitants. According to them, the humans of Earth have made a lot of mistakes, and they do not intend on repeating (or remembering) those mistakes on their new planet. Petra realizes that if she wants Earth’s cuentos to live on, she must fight The Collective from the inside.

THOUGHTS: This book has received a slew of awards, including this year’s Newbery Medal. The Mexican-American main character is a strong female hero that readers will root for. It is a beautiful story filled with loss and hope, which makes it a perfect cuento. A must-purchase for middle grade libraries.

Science Fiction            Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD

Elem. – Chunky

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Mercado, Yehudi. Chunky. Katherine Tegan Books, 2021. 978-1-713-75878-5. 199 p. $21.99. Grades 3-6. 

When Hudi was younger he had some health issues which caused him to have his one lung removed. As he gets older, his parents are worried about his health and want him to lose weight and stay healthy, so they set him up with a variety of different sports. These end in Hudi getting injured most of the time. Hudi has a great imagination along with an awesome sense of humor, which help him through most of his sports injuries and endear him to his doctors. Hudi has an imaginary friend that he names Chunky who is his cheerleader throughout the book as Hudi goes through all of these activities.

THOUGHTS: The illustrations are bright and colorful, and the addition of the Spanish is a wonderful addition. There is an author’s note that delves more into the book and explains how some of this book is based on the author’s experiences growing up as a Mexican Jewish child. This is a lovely addition to any middle school collection.

Graphic Novel            Mary McEndree, Lehigh Valley Regional Charter Academy

Hudi Mercado doesn’t quite know where he fits in. He is the only Mexican Jewish kid in his neighborhood and, since Hudi suffered a serious medical condition as a child, his parents are always concerned about his health. Or more specifically, his weight. Hudi’s parents push him to try a variety of sports like tennis, soccer, and swimming. Somehow, most of these endeavors end with a trip to the hospital. To help cope, Hudi invents Chunky, an imaginary mascot who is Hudi’s biggest fan. Together, the two of them love drawing and making jokes. With Chunky, Hudi is able to deal with all the demands coming his way from his parents. However, when his dad loses his job and things at home become even more tense, Hudi starts to forget himself and his imaginary cheerleader.

THOUGHTS: Inspired by the author’s childhood, this graphic novel is perfect for middle grade readers who are fans of Jerry Craft. Readers will relate to Hudi’s struggles and laugh alongside him as he finds his place in his world. Expect book 2 two early this summer.

Graphic Novel          Danielle Corrao, Manheim Central SD

MG – ¡¡Manu!!

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Fernandez, Kelly. ¡¡Manu!! Graphix, 2021. 978-1-338-26419-7. $24.99. 192 p. Grades 4-7.

Manu is a young girl who was given over by her family at a young age to live at a convent that is known for raising girls who have magical powers. The headmistress of the school believes Manu has very strong powers that could be used to help many, but Manu just wants to have fun with her magic. Fun often turns into mischief as Manu has trouble controlling her incredibly powerful magic. One of her pranks goes seriously wrong, and her friend, Josefina, wishes for Manu’s powers to disappear. They do disappear, and the girls attempt a dangerous spell to have Manu’s powers restored. Will Manu be able to control her magic before it destroys the people Manu loves?  

THOUGHTS: This graphic novel would be a great read for kids who love fantasy and stories about magic. There is an underlying theme of Manu figuring out who she is and if her friendship with Josephina is more than just friendship.  

Graphic Novel          Krista Fitzpatrick, Abington SD

Elem. – A Thousand White Butterflies

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Betancourt-Perez, Jessica. A Thousand White Butterflies. Charlesbridge. 978-1-580-89577-4. 32 p. $16.99. Grades K-3. 

Isabella has just moved to the United States from Colombia. She’s about to begin school, but an unexpected blizzard cancels her first day. She feels trapped by all the unfamiliar snow, and she misses her friends and her Papa who is still in Colombia. While looking out the window, Isabella sees a girl slip and fall into the snow outside. She bundles into her puffy coat and boots and hurries outside to see if the girl is alright. The pair end up spending the afternoon making snow angels, snowballs, and a snowman. Despite the language barrier, they laugh and play and make the most out of their surprise meeting and unexpected day off from school. Two Author’s Notes describe how the co-authors met and the real-life inspiration behind this book. Additionally, a “More Info” section defines “immigrants” as people who leave their original country to live permanently in a new place. It also includes a brief history of immigration to the United States. Lastly, a glossary defines each Spanish word or phrase used in the story. 

THOUGHTS: Hope, resilience, and friendship are central themes in this immigration story, as is the idea that children are able to make connections with each other despite language and cultural differences. These ideas will make good talking points during morning meetings or when welcoming a new student into a classroom. Share this title with guidance counselors and ESOL teachers. 

Picture Book          Anne Bozievich, Southern York County SD