Happy Wednesday, friends! Today is the start of a new order in Michigan in regards to COVID, which a lot of people are unhappy about. It doesn’t change much for me, outside of the fact that I’m starting a new job today. What a weird time to start a new job! I’m still excited, even if things are going to look a bit different for a while. Learning skills that will be useful in the future for sure! Anyway, today’s Top 5 Wednesday theme is Latinx, so I’m going to talk about LGBTQ+ Latinx books!
There are some really great books that have come out this year, so I’m definitely going to highlight some books you should read before the end of the year!
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Top 5 LGBTQ+ Latinx Books
1. Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas
I’ve been recommending this book since I reviewed it in August and that’s not going to stop any time soon. Yadriel just wants his family to accept him as he is: a brujo. So, he decides to summon his cousins ghost to prove it once and for all. Instead, he summons Julian, who has some unfinished business. As Yadriel helps him so he can pass on, Yadriel might be falling for him instead. The perfect book to read for Transgender Awareness Week!
2. They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera
Adam Silvera is a staple in LGBTQ YA literature, in my opinion. He writes books that are like a gut punch to your emotions. I’m sure you can tell that from the title of this book. When both Mateo and Rufus get the Death-Cast call that they’re going to die today, their paths haven’t yet crossed. Thanks to the app Last Friend, that changes; and they each change each other’s lives. Fair warning: you’ll probably cry at the end.
3. We Set the Dark on Fire by Tehlor Kay Mejia
This book doesn’t get enough hype, in my opinion. I listened to it this summer and it’s different and fantastic. I highly recommend the audiobook if you’re thinking about picking it up! Daniela Vargas is the top student at the Medio School for Girls, where girls are trained to be wives to prominent men. When she’s finally matched, she might just fall for the other wife instead. Espionage, resistance, spunk; what more could you want?
4. Each of Us a Desert by Mark Oshiro
This is another book I got the chance to review, and I’m so thankful for that! It’s one of those books I can’t quite describe, but it’s such a journey that everyone needs. Xochitl takes her villages secrets and burdens and sends them to the spirits. But one night, she decides she no longer wants to. She longs to be free. So, she finds herself on a journey across the desert to find a solution to her gift–and maybe, she’ll find love along the way.
5. Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Told in verse, Acevedo’s books are always an experience. I recommend the audiobooks, if you get the chance! On the day her father is supposed to return to the Dominican Republic, Camino finds tragedy instead. Her father’s plane has crashed, with no survivors. In New York, Yahaira finds out the same news. Now, Camino and Yahaira are about to find out they have a sister–one they never knew existed.