THE LATINA BOOK CLUB

The Latina Book Club celebrates LATINX HERITAGE MONTH every day. To honor authors during this celebratory month, we will highlight a new book every day. Join us and #ReadLatinoLit. Antheneum/ Caitlyn Dlouhy Books BARELY MISSING EVERYTHING By Matt Mendez “Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”    Fabi, her son Juan and his best friend JD find this out the hard way. They all had other plans for themselves, but life proved cruel and merciless. They are hoping for one last shot at their dreams…maybe. SUMMARY:   Juan has plans. He's going to get out of El Paso, Texas, on a basketball scholarship and make something of himself--or at least find something better than his mom Fabi's cruddy apartment, her string of loser boyfriends, and a dead dad. Basketball is going to be his ticket out, his ticket up. He just needs to make it happen. His best friend JD has plans, too. He's going to be a filmmaker one day, like Quinten...

Algonquin Young Readers    “The goal is to get to the heart.”    “The desert has a way of erasing the things that make us each unique.”   “We do not kid ourselves in the desert: life is hard here, even in the best of circumstances.”          --ALL THE WIND IN THE WORLD Captivating. Mysterious. Nightmarish. Magical. Samantha Mabry’s new book, ALL THE WIND IN THE WORLD , is a stunning mixture of magical realism and romantic suspense. It was selected for the National Book Award longlist; a 2017 BookExpo YA Editors’ Buzz Book; a Fall 2017 Indie Next Pick; and now Latina Book Club’s Book of the Month. SUMMARY:  Set in the desert fields in Texas, ALL THE WIND IN THE WORLD is the story of two lovers in desperate straits, who will do anything and everything to protect their love and escape their meager existence.  Sarah Jac and James are transient jimadors/ farm workers in the maguey fields i...

The Latina Book Club is pleased to welcome back Stephanie Elizondo Griest . She has been around “the bloc” a few times and always returns with a great story.  However, her new book ALL THE AGENTS AND SAINTS hits closer to home.  Below is an excerpt from the book, followed by an interview with Stephanie.  And, Mark Your Calendars! Stephanie will be in New York for a book signing on Tuesday, October 3, at 7pm at Bluestockings in the Lower East Side. We’ll see you there.--mcf I straddle two cultures,  I also inhabit the space between faith and doubt.              – Stephanie Elizondo Griest ALL THE AGENTS AND SAINTS Dispatches from the U.S. Borderlands by Stephanie Elizondo Griest University of North Carolina Press Note: This excerpt, snipped from the final chapter, takes places at the Mohawk Nation of Akwesasne, which straddles the New York/Canada borderline. The author arrives at her friend...

       University of Texas Press It’s Women’s History Month and The Latina Book Club begins its celebration with a new hot-off-the-press anthology— ENTRE GUADALUPE Y MALINCHE: TEJANAS IN LITERATURE AND ART —edited by two leading experts in Chicana and Mexican feminism,  Inés Hernández-Ávila and Norma Elia Cantú . This is a unique collection of memoirs, poetry, essays and artwork from artists such as Carmen Lomas Garza, Kathy Varga and Santa Barraza. Contributors include writers such as Celeste De Luna, Maria Limon, Laura M. Lopez, Pat Mora, Ire’ne Lara Silva, Carmen Tafolla and Terry Ybañnez.  Most of the pieces are in English, but a few are in Spanish with translations. The writers and artists discuss everything from family to friends to dreams to identity to community to women rights. Readers will find this a powerful, passionate and (sometimes) painful collection. Happy Reading. BOOK SUMMARY:   Mexican and Mexican American wom...

   I am no longer that hungry, insecure little girl anymore. While I’ve managed to subdue my past, I believe my past hasn’t spoiled me, but has prepared me for the future. I may not be perfect but, whenever I stumble, I can wipe the crud off and walk on.       Life is precious.  Life is worth living.  As I choose to walk in forgiveness, to become better and not bitter…I am whole.  I am significant.  I am free at last.  ¡Wepa!     --- Mary A. P é rez Chart House Press RUNNING IN HEELS is a story about child abuse, survival, forgiveness and redemption. Mary P é rez’s first memory is that of her and her older brother being kidnapped from their kindergarten school by their mother and her latest boyfriend.  By the time Mary is three her parents are divorced and she alone is living with her mom.  Mary grows up a hungry child – hungry for food, but more importantly, for love and accept...

   The Latina Book Club is pleased to welcome Frank Brewster III, a Texas music teacher turn poet and author. Once an educator, always an educator. Frank has been able to "bridge words, poetry, music and education, all into a single work of art," and his books are being used in numerous school districts.   What follows is a lengthy chat with Frank, but you can't help but be impressed by his devotion to education, and his hard work in getting his books into children's hands.   All we can say is, Bravo, Frank. Bravo! It is Life that inspires me to write. You see, I am in love with life!!! I am fascinated with all aspects of living for it is a constant challenge of beauty, love, struggle, heartbreak, food, and so much more! --Frank Brewster III Q:   Congratulations on winning $10,000 from the Mission Economic Development Corporation Ruby Red Venture Program.  We understand that the money is going to mass-produce your books for several school di...