by Amanda Takacs, GateWay Faculty Librarian
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, I wanted to share a few of my favorite books that explore family, identity, belonging, and the many experiences that shape our lives. Whether you enjoy a little romance, a supernatural mystery, or nonfiction that encourages you to think about history and identity in new ways, these books offer something worth exploring!
For fiction lovers, Big Chicas Don't Cry explores the complicated relationships between four cousins who were once close but have drifted apart over the years. When they come back together as adults, they begin rediscovering the importance of family, forgiveness, and the lessons passed down by their grandmother. If you're in the mood for something with a supernatural twist, Cemetery Boys follows Yadriel, a transgender teen who wants nothing more than to be accepted by his traditional family. When he accidentally summons a ghost he can't get rid of, he finds himself caught up in a mystery that is anything but ordinary. Both books explore what it means to find your place in the world while navigating family expectations, identity, and the desire to be understood.
If nonfiction is more your style, I recommend My Side of the River, a powerful story about a young woman in Tucson who experiences homelessness while attending high school after her parents' visas are not renewed. Her story explores loneliness, determination, and the challenges of pursuing a college education while trying to build a future. I also recommend Our Migrant Souls, which examines the history and meaning of the term Latino and what that identity means in the 2020s. Both books offer opportunities to learn about experiences, histories, and perspectives that deserve to be heard.
Click here to find more fiction and nonfiction in the library to celebrate and learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month.
In addition to books, we have movies! My favorite hidden gem is Kanopy. You can find Kanopy through our Streaming Media databases. Kanopy has a special Hispanic Heritage Month section right now, highlighting Spanish language cinema, Hispanic American actors, Latin American culture and history, and more. You need your MEID to login to Kanopy.
I love sharing resources like Kanopy because streaming films can be a fun way to discover new perspectives, explore different cultures, and connect with stories that might be unfamiliar to us. Next time you're looking for something to watch, take a few minutes to explore Kanopy. You might just discover your next favorite film.
I hope you'll find something that sparks your curiosity, introduces you to a new perspective, or gives you a great story to enjoy!
