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by Pam Muñoz Ryan

The highly anticipated new novel from the Pura Belpre and Jane Addams Peace Award-winning author of ESPERANZA RISING now in Spanish.

Naomi Soledad León Outlaw ha tenido que enfrentarse a mucho en su corta vida, empezando por su nombre. También está el problema de su ropa (hechas por su abuela en tela de poliéster), su timidez y la fama que tiene en la escuela de no ser nadie especial. Pero según su abuela, la mayoría de los problemas se solucionan con mentalidad positiva. Y su vida, junto a su abuela y su pequeño hermano, Owen, en el parque de casas móviles Avocado Acres, es tranquila y feliz… hasta que su mamá aparece luego de siete años, creando confusión y retando a Naomi a que averigüe quién es.

Find it in Juv Fiction Spanish here.

by Patrick Flores-Scott

A heart wrenching YA coming of age story about three siblings on a road trip in search of healing.

With a strong family, the best friend a guy could ask for, and a budding romance with the girl of his dreams, life shows promise for Teodoro “T” Avila. But he takes some hard hits the summer before senior year when his nearly perfect brother, Manny, returns from a tour in Iraq with a devastating case of PTSD. In a desperate effort to save Manny from himself and pull their family back together, T’s fiery sister, Xochitl, hoodwinks her brothers into a cathartic road trip.

Told through T’s honest voice, this is a candid exploration of mental illness, socioeconomic pressures, and the many inescapable highs and lows that come with growing up–including falling in love.

Find it in YA Fiction here.

by Erika L. Sánchez

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * A “stunning” (America Ferrera) YA novel about a teenager coming to terms with losing her sister and finding herself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican American home.

“Alive and crackling–a gritty tale wrapped in a page-turner. “–The New York Times

Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family.
 
But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role.
 
Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed.
 
But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal?

Find it in YA Fiction here.

Inspired by the Childhood of Activist Dolores Huerta

by Jennifer Torres

A powerful and inspiring imagined story about real-life civil rights activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta that reminds us that even our biggest heroes started out small.

Her grandpa calls her “Lolita Siete Lenguas”–Little Lola, Seven Tongues, all fighting to be heard. Lola is trying not to make so much noise, but when she witnesses injustices in her own neighborhood, she knows she can’t keep quiet. Can Lola find a way to use her voice for change? ¡Sí, se puede!

Inspired by the real-life civil rights activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta, Lola Out Loud is a warm and rollicking picture book that reminds us that sometimes one strong voice is just what we need.

Find it in Children’s New here.

Cowboy and Former Slave

by Jane Katirgis

When Nat Love was born into slavery in Tennessee, his family worked on a tobacco plantation. He longed to see the world and soon became a talented horse rider. At the age of fifteen, he left his family and headed to Dodge City, Kansas. As a young cowboy in America’s Wild West, Love broke wild horses and won shooting contests. Young readers will delight in learning about the adventures of this African American cowboy. A timeline, sidebars, and primary sources add depth to this easy-to-read narrative.

Find it in Juvenile Nonfiction here.

A tale of two kitchens by Elizabeth Lilly

Whether you’re settling in for a heaping plate of Mamaw’s banana pudding or Abuela’s arepas and tostones, a good meal always brings family together.

A Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book
An ALSC Notable Children’s Book

This tale of a family road trip highlights the author’s joy in both her American and Colombian heritage, and captures all the warmth and love of her family’s two distinct cultures.

Once a year, on a Friday night,
My family leaves the city
And drives hours and hours . . .

After a long drive to visit family–whether in the mountains of rural West Virginia or the sticky heat of Florida–what could be a better welcome than a homemade meal?

Inspired by Elizabeth Lilly’s childhood vacations and the sense-memories of late-night journeys down the coast, Let Me Fix You a Plate is a vivacious exploration of family traditions old and new– from toast with homemade blueberry jam, to fresh orange juice and arepas with queso blanco, to midnight waffles at home. 

Vivid illustrations explore the heart of the home–the kitchen–and the treasures found when a family gathers to celebrate their culture, and one another. Joyous, bright, and mouth-watering, this celebration of family and our diverse, delicious traditions is sure to leave readers hungry for more!

A Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year
A CCBC Choice

Find it in Picture Books here.