Azaliyah Molina

January 2022 Latinx Releases

 

On-Sale January 4th, 2022

 

PAULI MURRAY: THE LIFE OF A PIONEERING FEMINIST AND CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST | MIDDLE GRADE NON-FICTION

by Terry Catasús Jennings and Rosita Stevens-Holsey

This biography of Pauli Murray is a groundbreaking new nonfiction book intended for the middle grade audience written in verse.

Pauli Murray was a thorn in the side of white America demanding justice and equal treatment for all. She was a queer civil rights and women's rights activist before any movement advocated for either--the brilliant mind that, in 1944, conceptualized the arguments that would win Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka; and in 1964, the arguments that won women equality in the workplace.

Throughout her life, she fought for the oppressed, not only through changing laws, but by using her powerful prose to influence those who could affect change. She lived by her convictions and challenged authority to demand fairness and justice regardless of the personal consequences. Without seeking acknowledgment, glory, or financial gain for what she did, Pauli Murray fought in the trenches for many of the rights we take for granted. Her goal was human rights and the dignity of life for all.

 

SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND | YA SCIENCE-FICTION

by David Valdes

From lauded writer David Valdes, a sharp and funny YA novel that's Back to the Future with a twist, as a gay teen travels back to his parents' era to save a closeted classmate's life.

All Luis Gonzalez wants is to go to prom with his boyfriend, something his "progressive" school still doesn't allow. Not after what happened with Chaz Wilson. But that was ages ago, when Luis's parents were in high school; it would never happen today, right? He's determined to find a way to give his LGBTQ friends the respect they deserve (while also not risking his chance to be prom king, just saying...).

When a hit on the head knocks him back in time to 1985 and he meets the doomed young Chaz himself, Luis concocts a new plan-he's going to give this guy his first real kiss. Though it turns out a conservative school in the '80s isn't the safest place to be a gay kid. Especially with homophobes running the campus, including Gordo (aka Luis's estranged father). Luis is in over his head, trying not to make things worse-and hoping he makes it back to present day at all.

In a story that's fresh, intersectional, and wickedly funny, David Valdes introduces a big-mouthed, big-hearted queer character that readers won't soon forget.

 

OLGA DIES DREAMING | FICTION

by Xochitl Gonzalez

A blazing talent debuts with the tale of a status-driven wedding planner grappling with her social ambitions, absent mother, and Puerto Rican roots--all in the wake of Hurricane Maria

It's 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro "Prieto" Acevedo, are boldfaced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan's power brokers.

Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the 1 percent but she can't seem to find her own. . . until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets.

Olga and Prieto's mother, Blanca, a Young Lord turned radical, abandoned her children to advance a militant political cause, leaving them to be raised by their grandmother. Now, with the winds of hurricane season, Blanca has come barreling back into their lives.

Set against the backdrop of New York City in the months surrounding the most devastating hurricane in Puerto Rico's history, Xochitl Gonzalez'sOlga Dies Dreamingis a story that examines political corruption, familial strife, and the very notion of the American dream--all while asking what it really means to weather a storm.

 

VELORIO | FICTION

by Xavier Navarro Aquino

Set in the wake of Hurricane Maria, Xavier Navarro Aquino’s unforgettable debut novel follows a remarkable group of survivors searching for hope on an island torn apart by both natural disaster and human violence.

Camila is haunted by the death of her sister, Marisol, who was caught by a mudslide during the huracán. Unable to part with Marisol, Camila carries her through town, past the churchyard, and, eventually, to the supposed utopia of Memoria. 

Urayoán, the idealistic, yet troubled cult leader of Memoria, has a vision for this new society, one that in his eyes is peaceful and democratic. The paradise he preaches lures in the young, including Bayfish, a boy on the cusp of manhood, and Morivivi, a woman whose outward toughness belies an inner tenderness for her friends. But as the different members of Memoria navigate Urayoán’s fiery rise, they will need to confront his violent authoritarian impulses in order to find a way to reclaim their home.

Velorio—meaning “wake”—is a story of strength, resilience, and hope; a tale of peril and possibility buoyed by the deeply held belief in a people’s ability to unite against those corrupted by power. 

 

On-Sale January 11th, 2022

 

HIGH-RISK HOMOSEXUAL | MEMOIR

by Edgar Gomez

This witty memoir traces a touching and often hilarious spiralic path to embracing a gay, Latinx identity against a culture of machismo--from a cockfighting ring in Nicaragua to cities across the U.S.--and the bath houses, night clubs, and drag queens who help redefine pride.

I've always found the definition of machismo to be ironic, considering that pride is a word almost unanimously associated with queer people, the enemy of machistas. In particular, effeminate queer men represent a simultaneous rejection and embrace of masculinity . . . In a world desperate to erase us, queer Latinx men must find ways to hold onto pride for survival, but excessive male pride is often what we are battling, both in ourselves and in others.

A debut memoir about coming of age as a gay, Latinx man, High-Risk Homosexual opens in the ultimate anti-gay space: Edgar Gomez's uncle's cockfighting ring in Nicaragua, where he was sent at thirteen years old to become a man. Readers follow Gomez through the queer spaces where he learned to love being gay and Latinx, including Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, a drag queen convention in Los Angeles, and the doctor's office where he was diagnosed a "high-risk homosexual."

With vulnerability, humor, and quick-witted insights into racial, sexual, familial, and professional power dynamics, Gomez shares a hard-won path to taking pride in the parts of himself he was taught to keep hidden. His story is a scintillating, beautiful reminder of the importance of leaving space for joy.

 

WHO WAS THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE?: CESAR CHAVEZ | MIDDLE GRADE BIOGRAPHY

by Terry Blas; illustrated by Mar Julia 

Discover the story behind Cesar Chavez and the Delano Grape Strike in this moving graphic novel -- written by award-winning author Terry Blas and illustrated by Ignatz-nominated cartoonist Mar Julia.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic Novels: an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series!

Follow Cesar Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association, as they set out on a difficult 300-mile protest march in support of farm workers' rights. A story of hope, solidarity, and perseverance, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves in the life of the famous Latino American Civil Rights leader -- brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

 

On-Sale January 25th, 2022

 

VIOLETA | HISTORICAL FICTION

by Isabel Allende

This sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea tells the epic story of Violeta Del Valle, a woman whose life spans one hundred years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the twentieth century.

Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first girl in a family with five boisterous sons. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth.

Through her father's prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. Her family loses everything and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. There, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling.

She tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Her life is shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants, and ultimately not one, but two pandemics.

Through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination, and sense of humor carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, Isabel Allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.

 

STAR CHILD | MIDDLE GRADE BIOGRAPHY

by Ibi Zoboi

From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler.

Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler experienced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death.

 

TÍA FORTUNA'S NEW HOME | PICTURE BOOK

by Ruth Behar; illustrated by Devon Holzwarth

A poignant multicultural ode to family and what it means to create a home as one girl helps her Tía move away from her beloved Miami apartment.

When Estrella's Tía Fortuna has to say goodbye to her longtime Miami apartment building, The Seaway, to move to an assisted living community, Estrella spends the day with her. Tía explains the significance of her most important possessions from both her Cuban and Jewish culture, as they learn to say goodbye together and explore a new beginning for Tía.

A lyrical book about tradition, culture, and togetherness, Tía Fortuna's New Home explores Tía and Estrella's Sephardic Jewish and Cuban heritage. Through Tía's journey, Estrella will learn that as long as you have your family, home is truly where the heart is.

 

January 2022 Most Anticipated Books

 

STAR CHILD | MIDDLE GRADE BIOGRAPHY

by Ibi Zoboi

From the New York Times bestselling author and National Book Award finalist, a biography in verse and prose of science fiction visionary Octavia Butler.

Acclaimed novelist Ibi Zoboi illuminates the young life of the visionary storyteller Octavia E. Butler in poems and prose. Born into the Space Race, the Red Scare, and the dawning Civil Rights Movement, Butler experienced an American childhood that shaped her into the groundbreaking science-fiction storyteller whose novels continue to challenge and delight readers fifteen years after her death.

 

HIGH-RISK HOMOSEXUAL | MEMOIR

by Edgar Gomez

This witty memoir traces a touching and often hilarious spiralic path to embracing a gay, Latinx identity against a culture of machismo--from a cockfighting ring in Nicaragua to cities across the U.S.--and the bath houses, night clubs, and drag queens who help redefine pride.

I've always found the definition of machismo to be ironic, considering that pride is a word almost unanimously associated with queer people, the enemy of machistas. In particular, effeminate queer men represent a simultaneous rejection and embrace of masculinity . . . In a world desperate to erase us, queer Latinx men must find ways to hold onto pride for survival, but excessive male pride is often what we are battling, both in ourselves and in others.

A debut memoir about coming of age as a gay, Latinx man, High-Risk Homosexual opens in the ultimate anti-gay space: Edgar Gomez's uncle's cockfighting ring in Nicaragua, where he was sent at thirteen years old to become a man. Readers follow Gomez through the queer spaces where he learned to love being gay and Latinx, including Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, a drag queen convention in Los Angeles, and the doctor's office where he was diagnosed a "high-risk homosexual."

With vulnerability, humor, and quick-witted insights into racial, sexual, familial, and professional power dynamics, Gomez shares a hard-won path to taking pride in the parts of himself he was taught to keep hidden. His story is a scintillating, beautiful reminder of the importance of leaving space for joy.

 

SPIN ME RIGHT ROUND | YA SCIENCE-FICTION

by David Valdes

From lauded writer David Valdes, a sharp and funny YA novel that's Back to the Future with a twist, as a gay teen travels back to his parents' era to save a closeted classmate's life.

All Luis Gonzalez wants is to go to prom with his boyfriend, something his "progressive" school still doesn't allow. Not after what happened with Chaz Wilson. But that was ages ago, when Luis's parents were in high school; it would never happen today, right? He's determined to find a way to give his LGBTQ friends the respect they deserve (while also not risking his chance to be prom king, just saying...).

When a hit on the head knocks him back in time to 1985 and he meets the doomed young Chaz himself, Luis concocts a new plan-he's going to give this guy his first real kiss. Though it turns out a conservative school in the '80s isn't the safest place to be a gay kid. Especially with homophobes running the campus, including Gordo (aka Luis's estranged father). Luis is in over his head, trying not to make things worse-and hoping he makes it back to present day at all.

In a story that's fresh, intersectional, and wickedly funny, David Valdes introduces a big-mouthed, big-hearted queer character that readers won't soon forget.

 

VIOLETA | HISTORICAL FICTION

by Isabel Allende

This sweeping novel from the New York Times bestselling author of A Long Petal of the Sea tells the epic story of Violeta Del Valle, a woman whose life spans one hundred years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the twentieth century.

Violeta comes into the world on a stormy day in 1920, the first girl in a family with five boisterous sons. From the start, her life is marked by extraordinary events, for the ripples of the Great War are still being felt, even as the Spanish flu arrives on the shores of her South American homeland almost at the moment of her birth.

Through her father's prescience, the family will come through that crisis unscathed, only to face a new one as the Great Depression transforms the genteel city life she has known. Her family loses everything and is forced to retreat to a wild and beautiful but remote part of the country. There, she will come of age, and her first suitor will come calling.

She tells her story in the form of a letter to someone she loves above all others, recounting times of devastating heartbreak and passionate affairs, poverty and wealth, terrible loss and immense joy. Her life is shaped by some of the most important events of history: the fight for women's rights, the rise and fall of tyrants, and ultimately not one, but two pandemics.

Through the eyes of a woman whose unforgettable passion, determination, and sense of humor carry her through a lifetime of upheaval, Isabel Allende once more brings us an epic that is both fiercely inspiring and deeply emotional.

December 2021 Latinx Releases

 

ON-SALE DECEMBER 7TH, 2021

 

LIGHT FOR ALL | PICTURE BOOK

by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Raúl Colón

A lyrical and unifying picture book that "will inspire young readers" and "magnificently showcases the immigrant experience" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review) in America from Newbery Honoree Margarita Engle and award-winning illustrator Raúl Colón.

Discover the myriad contributions that all immigrants have made as they come to join family or start their own lives together in a new country they call home. Coming with their hopes, dreams, and determination, generations of immigrants have made the fabric of this country diverse, vivid, and welcoming.

This vibrant and timely celebration demonstrates the thousands of immigrants who built America and the importance of having acceptance and light for everyone.

 

BISA’S CARNAVAL | PICTURE BOOK

by Joana Pastro; illustrated by Carolina Coroa

Discover the sights and sounds of Brazil through the eyes of a young girl and her great-grandmother as they share in the excitement of Carnaval!

It's time for Carnaval and Clara cannot wait to celebrate her favorite holiday with family, but especially with her great-grandmother. Even if Bisa can't attend, Clara knows the Carnaval parade will still be special. Costumed lovingly by their bisa, everyone takes to the street for the annual parade. But even among all the colors, costumes, music, and dancing, something is missing . . . or is it someone?With lush, lyrical text and bright, colorful illustrations, this book takes readers to one of the most exciting holidays of the year and reminds us that no matter who or where you are, love is always worth celebrating.

 

DEATH UNDER THE PERSEIDS | MYSTERY

by Teresa Dovalpage

There's no such thing as a free cruise in Cuban American author Teresa Dovalpage's addictively clever new Havana mystery.

Cuban-born Mercedes Spivey and her American husband, Nolan, win a five-day cruise to Cuba. Although the circumstances surrounding the prize seem a little suspicious to Mercedes, Nolan's current unemployment and their need to spice up their marriage make the decision a no-brainer. Once aboard, Mercedes is surprised to see two people she met through her ex-boyfriend Lorenzo: former University of Havana professor Selfa Segarra and down-on-his-luck Spanish writer Javier Jurado. Even stranger: they also received a free cruise.

When Selfa disappears on their first day at sea, Mercedes and Javier begin to wonder if their presence on the cruise is more than coincidence. Mercedes confides her worries to her husband, but he convinces her that it's all in her head.

However, when Javier dies under mysterious circumstances after disembarking in Havana, and Nolan is nowhere to be found, Mercedes scrambles through the city looking for him, fearing her suspicions were correct all along.

 

ON-SALE DECEMBER 14, 2021

 

LET’S BE FRIENDS/SEAMOS AMIGOS | BILINGUAL PICTURE BOOK

by René Colato Laínez; illustrated by Nomar Perez

Hi! ¡Hola! A friendship story in English and Spanish! ¡Un cuento de amistad en inglés y español!

Hi. / Hola.
My name is Joe. / Mi nombre es José.
Let's paint. / Pintemos.

Two boys, an English speaker and a Spanish speaker, meet at school. They paint together and learn about colors. In the end, they declare, Let's be friends. / Seamos amigos.

Rene Colato Lainez, a teacher in a bilingual kindergarten classroom, has crafted an ingenious story that authentically and naturally uses conversation to introduce children to English and Spanish. The fun friendship story engages children, while simple words, short sentences, and a glossary reinforce learning.

Nomar Perez, illustrator of best-selling children's books as well as greeting cards, has a bright, bold, colorful, kid-pleasing style that invites readers to befriend the characters in this book.

Perfect for preschoolers, kindergarteners, and first and second graders who are learning to speak or read English and Spanish. A delightful reading experience for bilingual families.

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8 Best Books of 2021 According to Latinx in Publishing

It’s been an amazing year for books published by Latinx persons and we are so excited to share staff picks for our best of the year selections. Scroll on to read the full list and let us know on social what books are on your best of list this year.

FAT CHANCE, CHARLIE VEGA | YOUNG ADULT

by Crystal Maldonado

“Fat Chance, Charlie Vega is a love letter to every plus-sized Latina girl! Unafraid to approach the ways that society and even those closes to us can chip away at self-esteem, this book will remind every reader how deserving they are of love, especially from themselves.” - Carolina Ortiz, Writers Mentorship Program Co-Director, Latinx in Publishing

 

WILD TONGUES CAN’T BE TAMED | ANTHOLOGY

edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

“Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed edited by Saraciea Fennell. This Latinx anthology is filled with voices from all across the diaspora. From well-known authors like Elizabeth Acevedo and Ibi Zoboi to newcomers like myself and Cristina Arreola, I'm so excited for this incredible collection of essays and poetry to (finally!) be out in the world.”

- Zakiya N. Jamal, Communications Volunteer, Latinx in Publishing

 

RESISTENCIA: POEMS OF PROTEST AND REVOLUTION | POETRY

edited by Mark Eisner and Tina Escaja

“This collection of poetry serves as a fierce love letter to the resistance. With translated works placed adjacent to the original text, the reader is allowed to fully enjoy the beauty of language. These poems aren’t meant to lull us through hard times, but rather jerk us awake to the fights we continue to fight.” - Azaliyah Molina, Communications Intern, Latinx in Publishing

 

THE INHERITANCE OF ORQUÍDEA DIVINA | FANTASY

by Zoraida Córdova

“The Inheritance Of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida Córdova might be the most enchanting, spellbinding book I've read all year! (Puns intended.) Córdova is at the top of her game with this beautifully written story of an Ecuadorian American family with secrets that reverberate through generations.”  – Sophia Jimenez, Writers Mentorship Program Co-Director, Latinx in Publishing

 

THIS IS NOW| CONTEMPORARY FICTION

by Julia Amante

This is Now is about a workaholic doctor who returns home to her dysfunctional family to care for her ailing mother. This book is about second chances and learning to forgive yourself & others. – Maria Ferrer, Board Treasurer, Latinx in Publishing

 

ARISTOTLE AND DANTE DIVE INTO THE WATERS OF THE WORLD | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

In the first book, Ari and Dante realize they are in love. In this second book, their love blossoms as they enjoy an end-of-summer camping trip and the start of school. Love is beautiful yet hard with the pressures of a world that does not accept them and is filled with fear of the AIDS crisis. At times the warmth of their deep connections with their family and friends felt like un abrazo that helps get you through the day. As Ari says, if we’re lucky the universe will send us the people we need to survive.” - Stefanie Sanchez Von Borstel, Board Member & Fellowship Program Co-Director, Latinx in Publishing

 

FOR BROWN GIRLS WITH SHARP EDGES AND TENDER HEARTS: A LOVE LETTER TO WOMEN OF COLOR | SOCIAL SCIENCE: FEMINISM

by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez

This book is such an essential read for every brown person in our community. Prisca touches on so many tender topics like machismo, colorism, self-love and more. This book should be required reading." - Saraciea J. Fennell, Board Chair & Communications Co-Director, Latinx in Publishing

 

DREAMING OF YOU | FICTION

by Melissa Lozada-Oliva

This novel in verse is a roller coaster ride for those with the faint of heart. If you're easily crushed (or not; that's fine, too, but who are you??), you'll enjoy the company of this book that climbs in search of love, plummets to the depths of identity, and has fast turns so you feel alive with the truth of womanhood, the exploration of legacy and purpose as a twenty-something, and the certainty of death. A memorable read to add to your Central American list from this Guatemalan-Colombian American poet. - Andrea Morales, Communications Co-Director, Latinx in Publishing

 
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2021 National Book Award for Poetry Winner: Floaters by Martín Espada

The 72nd National Book Awards Ceremony was held on November 17, 2021. You can see what you missed here.

Martín Espada’s book Floaters won the National Book Award for Poetry. Espada is only the 3rd Latinx poet to win this award.

Espada is the author of over twenty novels which he published as a poet, essayist, and translator. He is also a highly decorated writer having won several awards such as the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize, the Shelley Memorial Award, the Robert Creeley Award. He has also been awarded several fellowships including a Guggenheim Fellowship. Espada was born in Brooklyn and now currently resides in Massachusetts where he is a professor of English at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst.

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Sala Sundays Chris Gonzalez

Latinx in Publishing (LxP) : What do you do?

Chris Gonzalez (CG): Right now I manage ebook production and distribution for Macmillan Publishers. But I'm also a fiction editor at the literary journal Barrelhouse and a writer myself.

LxP: How did you get started?

CG: I was the EIC of the college newspaper my junior year after holding several editor and writing roles—I loved the process of assembling the 20-page paper every week, from writing and editing to laying out each section and proofreading the whole thing. This led me down a path of trying to find a job in publishing, though I wasn't sure how close to the actual books I wanted to work, so I tried out a few internships. I held an editorial internship at Orbit Books and Yen Press, then the following summer I interned again with Hachette Book Group, in manufacturing and digital production, where I enjoyed the work a little more. What I loved most was how it seemed I could have this creative life that was separate from my office job. After the production internship, I got my full-time start at Macmillan doing ebook quality assurance. Been there for over 6 years.

LxP: What do you wish you knew before getting into the industry?

CG: How many people it truly takes to make a book. We talk a lot about editing, marketing, and publicity, which are all important.. But there are so many jobs in any given publishing house: bookmakers like production and managing editorial, audio, sales, subrights, contracts, ebooks, metadata management, business systems, IT, the mailroom and facilities, and the list goes on. There's this glitzy and glamorous side to industry, but it takes the hard, poorly-compensated labor of so many players to uphold it and keep the machine running.

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

CG: Currently reading Melissa Lozada-Olivia's Dreaming of You (Astra House) and Dave Housley's The Other Ones (Alan Squire Publishing).


Christopher Gonzalez is a queer Puerto Rican writer and the author of I'm Not Hungry but I Could Eat (SFWP 2021). He is a recipient of the 2021 Artist Fellowship in Fiction from the New York Foundation for the Arts, and his writing appears in the Nation, Catapult, Best Microfictions, and Best Small Fictions, among other journals. He currently serves as a fiction editor at Barrelhouse magazine, manages trade ebook production for Macmillan Publishers, and lives in Brooklyn, NY but mostly on Twitter @livesinpages.

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November 2021 Latinx Releases

 
 

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 2ND, 2021

 

FAT ANGIE: HOMECOMING | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by E. E. Charlton-Trujillo (Candlewick Press)

With unexpected internet fame, two people vying for her heart, an all-girl band, and coming to terms with her parents' failures, Angie comes home to herself in a rewarding finale.

After hitting the road with her friends last summer and taking the stage to sing her heart out in Columbus, Angie finally feels like she's figuring things out. And her next move? Finally asking Jamboree Memphis Jordan to be her girlfriend. Angie's got her speech ready on a set of flash cards, but her plans are complicated when her first love, KC Romance, comes cruising back into town. And when a video of Angie's Columbus performance goes viral, everything gets even more confusing. Kids at school are treating her with respect, she's being recognized in public, and her couldn't-be-bothered mother is . . . well, bothered is an understatement.

When she learns of an online music competition, Angie decides to start a band. With the help of her brother, Jamboree, and her town's resident washed-up rock star, Angie puts together a group and gets busy writing songs, because the competition deadline is only two weeks away. Between sorting out her feelings for Jamboree and KC, dealing with her newfound fame, and dodging an increasingly violent and volatile mother, singing seems like the only thing that Angie's really good at. Can her band of girl rockers actually win? More importantly, can Angie get it together before she loses all sense of herself yet again?

 

 WILD TONGUES CAN’T BE TAMED | ANTHOLOGY

edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a ground-breaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope.

In Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed, bestselling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These fifteen original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.

The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.

 

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 11TH, 2021

 

ONE BEE TOO MANY | PICTURE BOOK

by Andrés Pi Andreu; illustrated by Kim Amate (Dragonfruit)

A Charming Children's Book About Bees and Belonging (Ages 9-12)

In the tradition of timeless fables, children and adults alike will enjoy this poetic and elaborately illustrated story. A clever tale with a completely satisfying ending, One Bee Too Many explores delicate topics, including prejudice and tolerance.

A contemporary fable about tolerance and equality for kids. There is a great commotion in the beehive. The bees are cramped, they can't play games, and after many complex calculations, it seems there is one bee too many! Who was it? Was she eating their honey? Could they identify her buzz? And once they did, what would they do with her? An essential in any shelf of diversity and inclusion books for kids, this engaging story offers a profound lesson that is sure to stay with you long after reading it.

For fans of award-winning children's books. Touching on present day issues, One Bee Too Many is an essential kids book about racism, immigration, and discrimination. Featuring surreal and elaborate illustrations reminiscent of Catalan modernism, readers are sure to find new surprising details in every read. Originally published in Spanish, it has won prestigious awards such as the White Ravens List, Golden Medal of the Campoy-Ada Award, and USA National Children Literature Award.

If you're looking for fables children will enjoy, children's books on bullying, kid's books about equality, or picture books on kindness--or enjoyed the Strictly No Elephants book, Island Born, or The Big Umbrella--then your child will love One Bee Too Many.

 

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 15TH, 2021

 

NEW MEXICO CHRISTMAS STORY | PICTURE BOOK FICTION

By Rudolfo Anaya; Illustrated by El Moisés (Museum of New Mexico Press)

Acclaimed New Mexico author Rudolfo Anaya presents a northern New Mexico Christmas tale in this third volume from his Owl in a Straw Hat series featuring the loveable Ollie Tecolote and his Wisdom School classmates Uno the Unicorn, Jackie Jackalope, Bessie Beaver, Sally Skunk, Robbie Rabbit, and Ninja Raccoon. The story begins on Christmas Eve morning in Chimayó and the students play in the snow and decorate a Christmas tree for the classroom. They are looking forward to the evening's activities. Nana, their teacher, is making posole and chile colorado and has invited some special guests to join them for dinner. After that Nana says they'll walk to El Santuario to visit the Santo Niño and promises hot chocolate and biscochitos afterward! Along the way, they will act the parts of the shepherds in Los pastores, the Shepherds' Play, which is about shepherds visiting the newborn baby Jesus and bringing him gifts. At the end of their journey, they too will visit the Nativity and bring their own gifts on this magical night.

 

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 16TH, 2021

 

SHERLOCK DOM #4 | CHAPTER BOOK

by Terry Catasús Jennings; Illustrated by Fátima Anaya

Judy Moody meets the Diary of a Future President remake in this fourth story in a chapter book series featuring a young Cuban American girl who tries to find adventure based on the classic stories she read with her beloved abuela.

Dom is excited to join her friend, Steph, for a mini vacation. They are going to visit Steph's grandmother in Virginia, where Dom hopes they can continue to have a lot of fun adventures. As soon as they arrive, they find that Gran's neighbors have lost their goat! There are some mysterious footprints near the goat pen that lead to the marsh. Dom decides to use the methods of her favorite detective, Sherlock Holmes--observing the basics, using all her senses, and talking it through with her trusty friend--to try and bring the little goat back home.

 

WHEN WE WERE THEM | YOUNG ADULT FICTION

by Laura Taylor Namey (Atheneum Books for Young Readers)

From New York Times bestselling author Laura Taylor Namey comes an exquisitely crafted, heartrending novel about friendship and the bittersweetness of growing up and growing apart.

When they were fifteen, Willa, Luz, and Britton's friendship was everything.
When they were sixteen, they stood by each other no matter what.
When they were seventeen, they went through the worst.
And when they were eighteen, Willa ruined it all.

Now, it's the week of graduation, and Willa is left with only a memory box filled with symbols of the friendship she destroyed: A book of pranks. Corsages from a nightmarish homecoming. A greasy pizza menu. Greeting cards with words that mean the world... It's enough to make Willa wonder how anything could tear her, Luz, and Britton apart. But as Willa revisits the moments when she and her friends leaned on each other, she can't avoid the moments they leaned so hard their friendship began to crack.

As Willa tries to find a way back to Luz and Britton, she must confront the why of her betrayal, and answer a question she never saw coming: Who is she without them?

 

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 23RD, 2021

 

¡MAMBO MUCHO MAMBO! THE DANCE THAT CROSSED COLOR LINES | PICTURE BOOK

By Dean Robbins; Illustrated by Eric Velasquez (Candlewick Press)

New York City's desegregated Palladium Ballroom springs to life with a diverse 1940s cast in this jazzy picture-book tribute to the history of mambo and Latin jazz.

Millie danced to jazz in her Italian neighborhood. Pedro danced to Latin songs in his Puerto Rican neighborhood. It was the 1940s in New York City, and they were forbidden to dance together . . . until first a band and then a ballroom broke the rules. Machito and His Afro-Cubans hit the scene with a brand-new sound, blending jazz trumpets and saxophones with Latin maracas and congas creating Latin jazz, music for the head, the heart, and the hips. Then the Palladium Ballroom issued a bold challenge to segregation and threw open its doors to all. Illustrated with verve and told through real-life characters who feature in an afterword, ¡Mambo Mucho Mambo! portrays the power of music and dance to transcend racial, religious, and ethnic boundaries.

 

ON-SALE NOVEMBER 30TH, 2021

 

I HOP | BEGINNING READERS

by Joe Cepeda (Holiday House)

This Level C book about a boy and his grandma is perfect for kindergarten readers.

A boy hops around town on his pogo stick.
I get cheese.
I get bread
I get apples.
It's all for a picnic with Grandma Easy-to-read text and fun pictures

I Hop is a companion book to I See, Up, and I Dig, easy-to-read stories about a Latinx boy and his family.

I Like to Read: The award-winning I Like to Read series features guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas & Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own

 
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Sala Sundays with Caritza Berlioz

Latinx in Publishing (LxP): What do you do?

Caritza Berlioz (CB): I'm an Editorial Assistant at Teachers College Press. It's a University Press. I work supporting the Acquisitions Department, as well as acquiring and developmental editing manuscripts on subjects in education and social justice.

LxP: How did you get started?

CB: I used to intern at Valiant, a small comic book publishing company, and they brought me on full time as a licensing coordinator. I was in this role for a couple of years before I made the switch to editorial.

LxP: What do you wish you knew before getting into the industry?

CB: To know that your background and skills are valuable, and that you don’t have to have a linear route into the editorial field.

LxP: What book are you currently working on or reading?

CB: I’m currently developing a manuscript about centering and teaching Indigenous education. I’m currently reading El Olor de la Guayaba by Gabriel García Márquez in conversation with Plinio Apuleyo Mendoza.


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Caritza Berlioz is an Editorial Assistant at Teachers College Press and a recent graduate of the CUNY City College of New York MFA Creative Writing program with a concentration in fiction. She is a Honduran American, born and raised right outside of NYC in New Rochelle, NY.

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