2020 LATINO BOOKS OF THE YEAR
LAS COMADRES AND FRIENDS
NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB
2020 BOOKS OF THE YEAR
Las Comadres and Friends National Latino Book Club is pleased to announce the inauguration of our annual Books of the Year List. It's an exciting list populated with debut and award winning authors, celebrities, and Poet Laureates. Books come from traditional publishing houses, small presses, university presses and some are independently published.
For years, Latino voices have struggled to be heard, to be counted. Well, Las Comadres & Friends book club has listened, and we want to make sure all Latino authors are counted. It is our goal to produce an annual Books of the Year list with as many books by Latino authors as possible. Books on this list include those selected as Books of the Month, Conversations with Books (both in italics), and our Summer Reading List selections. We are also happy to note that many of these books are available in Spanish, and digital and audio formats.
Authors can submit their books for next year’s list by clicking here.
For more information
about Las Comadres & Friends book club, visit us at www.latinolit.com.
2020 BOOKS OF THE YEAR
We have separated the
books by genres for reader convenience.
ANTHOLOGIES / SHORT STORIES
And We Came Outside and Saw the Stars Again:
Writers from Around the World on the COVID-19 Pandemic, Editor Ilan Stavans,
Restless Books
Cockfight by Maria Fernanda Ampuero, The Feminist
Press @ CUNY
Come On In: 15 Stories About Immigration and
Finding Home, edited by Adi Alsaid, various authors, Inkyard Press
LatinNEXT, The Breakbeat Poets, Vol 4, edited by
Felicia Rose Chavez, Jose Olivarez and Willie Perdomo, Haymarket Books
Lockdown: Stories of Crime, Terror, and Hope
During a Pandemic by various authors, Polis Books
Noiryorican: Short Fiction by Richie Narvaez,
Down & Out Books
The World Doesn't Work That Way, But It Could by
Yxta Maya Murray, University of Nevada Press
Tiny Nightmares: Very Short Stories of Horror,
Editors Lincoln Michel & Nadxieli Nieto, Black Balloon Publishing
Vampires Never Get Old by Zoraida Cordova &
Natalie C. Parker, Imprint
When the Virus Came Calling: COVID-19 Strikes America, edited by Thelma T. Reyna, Golden Foothills Press
BIOGRAPHIES
Chicana Activists of Colorado: Powerful Women,
Paper Dolls and Their Stories by Deborah Martinez Martinez, PhD., Vanishing
Horizons LLC
Dwayne Johnson: The Rock: Through the Lens: His
Life, His Movies, His World by Hiram Garcia, St. Martin's Press
Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices
Redefining Latino Identity by Paola Ramos, Vintage Books
God-Level Knowledge Darts: Life Lessons from the
Bronx by Desus Nice & The Kid Mero, Random House
Macho Time: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of
Hector Camacho by Christian Giudice, Hamilcar Publications
Nopales: Journey Through La Frontera by Cesar
Cabrera, Independently Published
What Would Frida Do?: A Guide to Living Boldly
by Arianna Davis, Seal Press
BUSINESS LEADERSHIP / SELF- HELP
Lessons from the Len Master: Business and Life
Lessons Learned by a Grateful Son by Ron Zayas, Post Hill Press
Read This for Inspiration: Simple Sparks to
Ignite Your Life by Ashley Perez, Clarkson Potter
Right/Wrong: How Technology Transforms Our
Ethics by Juan Enriquez, The MIT Press
The 5 Disciplines of Inclusive Leaders: Unleashing
the Power of All of Us by Andes Tapia & Alina Polonskaia, Berrett-Koehler
Publishers
The Actor: How to Live an Authentic Life by Don
Miguel Ruiz & Barbara Emrys, Urano
The Real Toltec Prophecies: How the Aztec
Calendar Predicted Modern-Day Events and Reveals a Pathway to a New Era of
Humankind by Sergio Magana, Hay House UK
When Strong Women Speak, Strong Women Listen:
Inspired Words of Wisdom for Women on Life, Love, Happiness and Success by
Adriana Fuentes Diaz, Caliente Press
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
13th Street: The Shocking Shark Showdown by
David Bowles, Harper Collins
Arena y Trinos: Abecedario del Rio / Sand and
Song: The ABCs of the River by Alma Flor Ada, Piňata Books
A Girl Named Rosita: The Story of Rita Moreno: Actor, Singer, Dancer,
Trailblazer! by Anika Aldamuy Denise, Harper Collins (also available in
Spanish)
A Way with Wild Things by Larissa Theule, Bloomsbury
s
A World Together by Sonia Manzano, National
Geographic Kids
Already a Butterfly: A Meditation Story by Julia
Alvarez, Henry Holt and Co.
Becoming Kid Quixote: A True Story of Belonging In America by Sarah
Sierra, Harper Collins
Bronxshapes by Alex Rivera, Kokila
Bronxtones by Alex Rivera, Kokila
Digging for Words: Jose Alberto Gutierrez and
the Library He Built by Angela Burke Kunkel, Schwartz & Wade
Dreams from Many Rivers: A Hispanic History of
the United States Told in Poems by Margarita Engle, Henry Holt & Co.
Eunice and Kate by Mariana Llanos, Penny Candy
Books
Evelyn Del Rey is Moving Away by Meg Medina,
Candlewick Press
Feathered Serpent and the Five Suns: A Mesoamerican
Creation Myth by Duncan Tonatiuh, Abrams Books for Young Readers
Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez,
Clarion Books
Find Your Calm: A Mindful Approach To Relieve
Anxiety And Grow Your Bravery by Gabi Garcia, Skinned Knee Publishing
Feliz New Year, Ava Gabriela! by Alexandra
Alessandri, Albert Whitman
& Co.
Freedom, We Sing by Amyra Leon, Flying Eye Books
How to Fold a Taco by Naibe Reynoso, Con Todo
Press
I Have a Secret/Tengo un Secreto by Maritere
Rodriguez Bellas, 1010 Publishing
La Divina Catrina / Oh, Divine Catrina by Aracely
De Alvarado, Piňata Books
Lia & Luis: Who Has More? by Ana Crespo
Charlesbridge
LillyBelle: A Damsel NOT in Distress by Joana
Pastro, Boyds Mills Press
Lord Help Me: Inspiring Prayers for Every Day by
Emme Muňiz, Crown Books for Young Readers
Luci Soars by Lulu Delacre, Philomel Books
Luna Luminosa ¿Donde Estas? / Luminous Moon,
Where Are You? by Aracely De Alvarado, Piňata Books
Me and Mama by Cozbi Cabrera, Denene Millner
Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
My Big Family by Yanitzia Canetti, Reycraft
Books
On These Magic Shores by Yamile Saied Mendez,
Lee & Low / Tu Books
Our Subway Baby by Peter Mercurio, Dial Books
Selena, Reina de la Musica Tejana by Silvia
Lopez, Little Bee Books
Sleeping with the Light On by David Unger,
Groundwood Books
Student Ambassador: The Missing Dragon (Student
Ambassador (1)) by Ryan Estrada, Iron Circus Comics
The Day Saida Arrived by Susana Gomez Redondo,
Blue Dot Kids Press
The Friend I Need: Being Kind & Caring to
Myself by Gabi Garcia, Skinned Knee Publishing
The Hero of Cinco de Mayo / El Heroe del Cinco
de Mayo: Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin by José Angel Gutiérrez, Piňata Books
The Legend of the Coqui by Georgina Lazaro,
Reycraft Books
The Little Box by Judy Goldman, Reycraft
Books
The Shy Kitten's Valentine Day by Andrea Posner-Sanchez,
Golden Books
Tiny Travelers - Puerto
Rico by Steven Wolfe Periera & Susie Jaramillo, Encantos
Todos Al Rodeo!
A Vaquero Alphabet Book by Dr. Ma. Alma González Pérez, Del Alma
Publications
Vincent Ventura and the Diabolical Duendes by
Xavier Garza, Piňata Books
Where is Chichen Itza? by Paula K. Manzanero,
Penguin Workshop
COOKBOOKS & CRAFTS
Chiquis Keto: The 21-Day Starter Kit for Taco,
Tortilla, and Tequila Lovers by Chiquis Rivera with Sarah Koudouzian, Atria
Books
La Vida Verde: Plant-Based Mexican cooking with
Authentic Flavor by Jocelyn Ramirez, Page Street Publishing
Oaxaca, Home Cooking
from the Heart of Mexico by Bricia Lopez & Javier Cabral, Harry N. Abrams
The Chilean Kitchen: 75 Seasonal Recipes for
Stews, Breads, Salads, Cocktails, Desserts, and More by Pilar Hernandez,
Skyhorse
The Wicked Baker: Cakes and Treats to Die For by Helena Garcia,
Quadrille Publishing
World Food: Mexico City: Heritage Recipes for
Classic Home Cooking by James Oseland, Ten Speed Press
Mending Life: A Handbook for Repairing Clothes
and Hearts by Nina Montenegro and Sonya Montenegro, Sasquatch Books
FICTION
A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende,
Penguin Random House
Afterlife by Julia
Alvarez, Algonquin Books
Aphasia by Mauro Javier Cardenas, Farrar, Straus
and Giroux
Cross-Hairs by Catherine Hernandez, Atria Books
Dominicana by Angie
Cruz, Flatiron Books
Fiebre Tropical by Juliana Delgado Lopera, Feminist
Press @ CUNY
Hurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor, New
Directions
I'm Staying Here by Marco Balzano, Other Press
It's Wood, It's Stone by Gabriella Burnham, One
World
Jubilee by Jennifer Givhan, Blackstone
Publishing
Little Eyes by Samanta Schweblin, Riverhead
Books
LiveWire: Fugitive by
Vita Ayala, Valiant Entertainment
Living Color: Angie Rubio Stories by Donna
Miscolta, Jaded Ibis Press
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia
Marquez, Vintage
Mala Vida by Marc Fernandez, Arcade Crimewise
Ordesa by Manuel Vilas, Riverhead Books
Prime Deceptions by Valerie Valdes, Harper
Voyager
Remember Me: A Spanish Civil War Model by Mario Escobar,
Thomas Nelson
Remember My Face: A Willie Cuesta Mystery by John
Lantigua, Arte Publico Press
River of Love by Aimee
Medina Carr, Homebound Publications
The Archer by Paulo Coelho, Knopf
The Dark Library by Cyrille Martinez, Coach
House Books
The Daughter’s Tale by Armando Lucas Correa,
Simon & Schuster
The Empress by Laura Martinez-Belli, Amazon
Crossing
The Happily Ever After Playlist by Abby Jimenez,
Forever
The Hollow Ones (Blackwood Tapes Book) by
Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan, Grand Central Publishing
The Last Great Road Bum by Hector Tobar, MCD
Illustrated
The Last Train to Key West by Chanel Cleeton,
Berkley
The Lost Book of Adana Moreau by Michael Zapata,
Hanover Square Press
The Murmur of Bees by
Sofia Segovia, Amazon Publishing
The Number on My Father's Arm/ El Numero en el
Brazo de Papa by Rodolfo Alvarado,
Piňata Books
The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas by Joaquim
Maria Machado de Assis, Penguin Classics
The Resurrection of
Fulgencio Ramirez by Rudy Ruiz , Blackstone Publishing
The Shape of Courage by John David Ferrer, John
David Publishing
The Sacret Roots of Ofelia Rosas by Christina
Montoya, Independently Published
The Taste of Sugar by Marisel
Vera, Liveright (Imprint of WW Norton & Co.)
The Vanished Birds by Simon Jimenez, Del
Rey
Where
Light Comes and Goes by Sandra Cavallo Miller, University of Nevada Press
Where We Come From, Oscar Casares, Vintage -
Penguin Random House
FICTION – MIDDLE GRADE
Beyond the Break by Heather Buchta, Penguin
Workshop
Concrete Kids by Amyra Leon, Penguin Workshop
Curse of the Night Witch by Alex Aster,
Sourcebook Young Readers
Diamond City (City of Steel and Diamond) by
Francesca Flores, Wednesday Books
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo
Cartaya, Penguin Random House Young Readers
Efren Divided by Ernesto Cisneros, Quill Tree
Books
Ghost Squad by,Claribel Ortega, Scholastic
Press
Imaginary Borders by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez,
Penguin Workshop
Julieta and the Diamond Enigma by Luisana Duarte
Armendáriz, Lee & Low / Tu Books
Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar, Scholastic
Press
Letters from Cuba by Ruth Behar, Nancy Paulsen
Books
Lupe Wong Won't Dance by Donna Barba Higuera,
Levine Querido
Maňana Land by Pam Munoz Ryan, Scholastic
Muse Squad:
The Cassandra Curse by Chantel Acevedo, Balzer + Bray
Paolo Santiago and the River of Tears by Tehlor
Kay Mejia, Rick Riordan Presents
Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos
Hernandez, Rick Riordan Presents
Santiago's Road Home by Alexandra Diaz, Simon
& Schuster
The Dream Weaver by Reina Luz Alegre, Simon
& Schuster Books for Young Readers
The Fresh New Face of Griselda by Jeniffer
Torres, Little Brown Book for Young Readers
The Hidden Caverns of Dourados by Maria Cecilia
Di Passos , Independently Published
The Maps of Memory: Return to Butterfly Hill
(The Butterfly Hill Series) by Marjorie Agosin, Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
The Shadow Crosser (A Storm Runner Novel) by
J.C. Cervantes, Rick Riordan Presents
The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adriana
Cuevas, Farrar, Straus and Giroux
The Tower of Nero (Trials of Apollo) by Rick
Riordan, Disney Hyperion
The Unicorn Rescue Society: The Madre de Aguas
of Cuba by Emma Otheguy and Adam Gidwitz, Dutton Books for Young Readers
What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado, Nancy Paulsen
Books
Who Was Celia Cruz? by Pam Pollack, Penguin
Workshop
FICTION – ROMANCE
A Taste of Sage by Yaffa S. Santos, Harper
Paperbacks
Here to Stay by Adriana Herrera, Carina Press
Island Affair by
Priscilla Oliveras, Zebra
Holiday Home Run by Priscilla Oliveras, Zebra
Books
Never A Bride by Caridad Pineiro, Independently
Published
The Worst Best Man by Mia Sosa, Avon
The Wrong Mr. Darcy by Evelyn Lozada with Holly
Lorincz, St. Martin's Press
You Had Me At Hola by Alexis Daria, Avon
FICTION – THRILLER
A Spy in the Struggle: A Riveting Must-Read
Novel of Suspense by Aya de Leon, Dafina
Category Five (Five Midnights) by Ann Davila Cardinal,
Tor Teen
Death of a Telenovela
Star by Teresa Dovelpage, Soho Crime
Mexican Gothic by Silvia
Moreno Garcia, Del Rey
Rag and Bone (The Henry Rios Mysteries) by
Michael Nava, Persigo Press
Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia, Atria Books
Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Mazterrica,
Scribner
The Cipher (Nina Guerrera Book 1) by Isabella
Maldonado, Thomas & Mercer
The Cowboy, Manuel A. Melendez, Independently
Published
The Low Low Woods (Hill House Comics) by Carmen
Maria Machado, DC Comics
Trust Me by Richard Z. Santos, Arte Publico
Press
FICTION – YOUNG ADULT
A Breath Too Late by Rocky Callen, Henry Holt
& Co
A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow by
Laura Taylor Namey, Atheneum Books for Young Readers
All These Monsters by Amy Tintera, HMH Books for
Young Readers
Blazewrath Games by Amparo Ortiz, Page Street
Kids
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo, Harper
Teen
Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas, Swoon Reads
Dark and Deepest Red by Anna-Marie McLemore,
Feiwel & Friends
Don't Ask Me Where I'm From by Jennifer De Leon,
Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro, Tor Teen
Eartheater by Dolores Reyes, HarperVia
Flamer by Mike Curato, Henry Holt & Co. BYR
Furia by Yamile Saied Mendez, Algonquin Young
Readers
Here the Whole Time by Vitor Martins, Scholastic
Press
Historically Inaccurate by Shay Bravo, Wattpad
Books
Holly Hernandez and the Death of Disco by Richie Narvaez, Piňata Books
Illegal: A Disappeared Novel by Francisco Stork, Scholastic Press
Incendiary (Hollow Crown) by Zoraida Cordova,
Disney Hyperion
Infinity Son (Infinity Cycle) by Adam Silvera,
Harper Teen
Lobizona (Wolves of No World) by Romina Garber,
Wednesday Books
Miss Meteor by Tehlor Kay Mejia & Anna Marie
Mclemore, Harper Teen
Never Look Back by Lilliam River, Bloomsbury YA
Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzalez,
Wednesday Books
Quiet No More by Nikki Barthelmess, North Star
Editions
Running by Natalia
Sylvester, Clarion/ HMH Books for Young Readers
Salty, Bitter, Sweet by Mayra Cuevas, Blink
Sanctuary by Paola Mendoza & Abby Sher, G.P.
Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Shadowshaper Legacy (The Shadowshaper Cypher) by
Daniel Jose Older, Scholastic
Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of
Everything by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, Simon Pulse
Soaring Earth: A Companion Memoir to Enchanted
Air by Margarita Engle, Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Someone Like Me: How One Undocumented Girl
Fought for Her American Dream by Julissa Arce, Little Brown Book for Young
Readers
Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling
Feathers by Celia Perez, Puffin Books
Suncatcher by Jose Pimienta, Random House
Graphic
The Cycle of the Red Moon: The Harvest of
Samhein by José Antonio Cotrina, Dark Horse Books
The Everything I Have Lost by Sylvia Zeleny,
Cinco Puntos Press
The First 7 (The Last 8) by Laura Pohl, Sourcebooks
Fire
The New David Espinoza by Fred Aceves, Harper
Collins
The Unleased (The Haunted) by Danielle Vega,
Razorbill/ Penguin Random House
This Is How We Fly by Anna Meriano, Philomel
Books
This Train is Being Held by Ismee Williams,
ABRAMS Books/Amulet Books
Tigers, Not Daughters by
Samantha Mabry, Algonquin Young Readers
You Brought Me the Ocean by Alex Sanchez, DC
Graphic Novel
Until We're Fish by Susannah R. Drissi,
Propertius Press
Wayward Witch (Brooklyn Brujas Book 3) by
Zoraida Cordova, Sourcebooks Fire
We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres Sanchez,
Philomel Books
We Didn't Ask for This by Adi Alsaid, Inkyard
Press
We Unleash the Merciless Storm (We Set the Dark
on Fire) by Tehlor Kay Mejia, Katherine Tegen Books
Wishbone by Anna Garcia Schaper, Piňata Books
Woven in Moonlight by Isabel Ibaňez, Page Street
Kids
Where We Go From Here by Lucas Rocha, PUSH/
Scholastic
White Fox by Sara Faring, Imprint
GOVERNMENT / POLITICS / HISTORY
A Silent Fury: The El Bordo Mine Fire by Yuri
Herrera, And Other Stories
American Tacos: A History and Guide by Jose R.
Ralat, University of Texas Press
Grieving: Dispatches from a Wounded Country by
Cristina Rivera Garza, The Feminist Press @ CUNY
Let’s Talk About Your Wall : Mexican Writers
Respond to the Immigration Crisis edited by Carmen Boullosa and Alberto
Quintero,The New Press
Let Us Dream: The Path to a Better Future by
Pope Francis & Austen Ivereigh, Simon & Schuster
More Than Ready: Be Strong and Be You ... and
Other Lessons for Women of Color on the Rise by Cecilia Muňoz, Seal Press
Pleas and Petitions: Hispano Culture and
Legislative Conflict in Territorial Colorado by Virginia Sánchez, University
Press of Colorado
Revolutionary Women of Texas and Mexico:
Portraits of Soldaderas, Saints, and Subversives edited by Kathy Sosa, Ellen Riojas
Clark & Jennifer Speed, Maverick Books
The Hidden Life of Ice: Dispatches from a
Disappearing World by Marco Tedesco & Alberto Flores D’Arcais, The
Experiment
The Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When
We Fall Apart by Alicia Garza, One World
What Were We Thinking: A Brief Intellectual
History of the Trump Era by Carlos Lozada, Simon & Schuster
MEMOIRS
Children of the Land by Marcelo Hernandez
Castillo, Harper
Cuban Son Rising by Charles Gomez, KoehlerBooks
Flying Free: My Victory
over Fear to Become the First Latina Pilot on the US Aerobatic Team by Cecilia
Aragon, Blackstone Publishing
I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity,
Justice, and Living Between Worlds by Sunny Hostin & Ms. Charisse Jones,
HarperOne
L.A.’s Last Street Cop: Surviving Hollywood
Freaks, the Aryan Brotherhood, and the L.A.P.D.'s Homicidal Vendetta Against Me
by Al Moreno, Highpoint Literature
My Time to Speak: Reclaiming Ancestry and
Confronting Race by Ilia Calderon, Atria Books
Once I was You: A Memoir of Love and Hate in a
Torn America by Maria Hinojosa, Atria Books
Ordinary Girls by
Jaquira Diaz, Algonquin Books
Particulate Matter by Felicia Luna Lemus,
Akashic Books
Plantains and the Seven Plagues: A Memoir:
Half-Dominican, Half-Cuban, and Full Life by Paz Ellis, Independently Published
Spirit Run: A 6,000 Mile Marathon through North
America's Stolen Land by Noe Alvarez, Catapult
The Girl with Self-Esteem Issues by Rosie
Mercardo, Harper One
The Undocumented Americans, Karla Cornejo
Villavicencio, One World
Unforgetting: A Memoir of Family, Migration,
Gangs and Revolution in the Americas by Roberto Lovato, Harper Collins
NON FICTION
A and B and Also Nothing by Chris Campanioni,
Otis Books/ Seismicity Editions
Apples of Gold: Timely Advice When the World
Doesn't Seem Lovely by Jo Elizabeth Pinto, Independently Published
Plant Witchery:
Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants by Juliet
Diaz, Hay House Inc
Magnetized: Conversations with a Serial Killer
by Carlos Busqued, Catapult
Reynaldo Rivera: Provisional Notes for a
Disappeared City by Reynaldo Rivera, Semiotext(e)
POETRY
A Grave is Given Supper by Mike Soto, Deep
Vellum Publishing
An Incomplete List of Names (National Poetry) by
Michael Torres, Beacon Press
Corta La Piel / It Pierces the Skin by Xánath
Caraza, Flower Song Books
Eighteen Inches by Mirtha Michelle Castro
Marmol, Andrews McMeel Publishing
Every Day We Get More Illegal by Juan Felipe
Herrera, City Lights Publishers
Fractures (Wisconsin Poetry Series) by Carlos
Andres Gomez, Univ. of Wisconsin Press
Grabbed: Poets & Writers on Sexual Assault,
Empowerment & Healing edited by Richard Blanco, Beacon Press
Guillotine: Poems by Eduardo Corral, Graywolf
Press
Habitat Threshold by Craig Santos Perez,
Omnidawn
How to Love A Country by Richard Blanco, Beacon
Press
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz, Graywolf
Press
Resistencia: Poems of Protest and Revolution
edited by Mark Eisner & Tina Escada, Tin House Books
Somos 4 Life by Nancy León & Celia León,
Balboa Press
Tertulia by Vincent Toro, Penguin Books
Thresholes by Lara Mimosa Montes, Coffee House
Press
Year of the Dog (American Poets Continuum, 178)
by Deborah Paredez, BOA Editions Ltd.
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