1) This is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz.
This is a selection of short stories depicting love, relationships, and heartbreak. Mr. Díaz uses his skill of writing to bring his characters to life.
2) A Wedding in Haiti by Julia Alvarez.
A memoir depicting the author’s relationship with a Haitian farmer named Piti. It captures things that are witnessed during her unusual relationship with this farmer as well as how her trips to this place impact and affect her.
3) Have You Seen Marie? by Sandra Cisneros.
This book captures the quest of a girl in search of her cat right after the death of her mother. The search creates an internal transformation of the character Sandy. The beautiful poetic writing brings the book to life.
4) The Distrance Between Us by Reyna Grande.
A memoir depicting the author’s early years as she and her siblings are left behind with their grandparents in Mexico while the parents enter the United States illegally. It is a heartfelt story.
5) The Sandoval Sisters’ Secret of Old Blood by Sandra Ramos O’Briant.
A brilliantly told story of the Sandoval Sisters and their life journeys during the mid 1800s. The author excellently interweaves much history of the United States and Mexico during that time. The book is written with great skill and talent.
6) We the Animals by Justin Torres.
As you read this book, you may think you are reading “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros; although, this book is about a dysfunctional family whereas Ms. Cisneros’ book is not. The book is written with the same style and flavor and uses a vignette structure to tell the story. The author is quick witted and uses a very clever style of writing.
7) All That Glitters by Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez.
A powerful story bringing two unlikely characters together through which a bond and friendship is developed. In this friendship they find strength, love, and success.
8) Killing the American Dream: How Anti-Immigration Extremists are Destroying the Nation by Pilar Marrero.
This is a book that should be read by everyone interested in the immigration issues of the United States. The author skillfully and objectively captures the problems of immigration today omitting much of the political and technical jargon.
9) Secret Saturdays by Torrey Maldonado.
This story captures the life of an inner city kid and gets into the minds and souls of how they think and feel. Although the story is fiction, it is so real.
10) Looking for Esperanza by Adriana Páramo.
This is an excellent book depicting the hidden world of undocumented female farmworkers and the struggles that they endure on a daily basis just to survive. This is a very powerful book.
Be sure to check out our previous year’s top 10 lists by clicking here.
