By: Ray Villarreal

Publisher: Piñata Books, Arte Público Press, Houston Texas

The book, On the Other Side of the Bridge, is about a young boy named Lon Chaney Rodriguez, mostly called Lonnie throughout the story. When we first meet Lonnie, he is introduced as a typical teenage boy–a dirty room, a great affinity for horror movies, occasionally getting into trouble with friends, and is captivated by the opposite sex. Lonnie is also a very smart individual; however, he is not willing to put forth the extra effort to complete his schoolwork. That being said, not only is he doing poorly in school, but his father is also unemployed, depressed, and is an alcoholic. Because of this, Lonnie’s mother is constantly nagging– for Lonnie to put forth more effort and for her husband to get a job to help fulfill his parental and household duties. Read more ›

By: I.C. Rivera

Publisher: El Yunque Publishing

This is an intriguing fictional story that revolves around an Assyrian refugee in the Netherlands named Samir and an Hispanic girl Isabel who moves to the Netherlands on a whim. Isabel leaves her job in the states because she doesn’t get a promotion that she has been working towards and believes it is rightfully hers. The promotion is given to her best friend and this is the catalyst that will change Isabel’s life forever. This move will take her on a ride of her life that she hadn’t bargained for. Read more ›

By Rolando Hinojosa

Publisher: Arte Público Press, Houston Texas

The book is composed of various vignettes designating a fictional Belken County. It is the fourth book of the Klail City Death Trip series and was initially published in 1986. The writing overall is abstract in that it discusses many characters that have lived and died within this county and this makes it intriguing in itself. The book gives you an overall sense of having lived in this era and setting. The character names used are quite interesting and this provides each vignette with an interesting flair. Read more ›

By Juan Alvarado Valdivia

Publisher: University of New Mexico Press

Although this memoir is about the author’s struggle through a portion of his life after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma, it is written with such candor that you will find it thought provoking. The author goes into detail with his thoughts, weaknesses, and struggle in dealing with this life and death situation. You can’t help but wonder what you would do in his place. Read more ›

By Robert J. Alvarado

Publisher: Sierra Press

This is a great fiction story that incorporates both history and a great story plot of a young man whose life spirals after avenging the rape of his younger sister. It has all the muster of a good western including gun fights, murder, and survival. The author does a fantastic job of incorporating the history of the United States and Mexico during a time when the Wild West was in full swing and struggles occurred on both sides of the border. The descriptions of history add much to the story and make the life of Rafael, the protagonist, really interesting. Read more ›

Francisco’s Kites – Las cometas de Francisco

By Alicia Z. Klepeis, Illustrations by Gary Undercuffler, Translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

Publisher: Piñata Books – Arte Público Press, Houston, Texas

This children’s book excellently captures the mood of a young boy who is missing his friends left behind in El Salvador. He is wishing he had a kite, but his mom can’t afford to buy him one. He decides to make one.

This decision takes him on a journey that is fun, exciting, and intriguing not to mention inventive and filled with ingenuity. You have to read the story to see what happens next, but I guarantee that your child will enjoy Francisco’s story. Read more ›

Sofi and the Magic, Musical Mural

Sofi y el mágico mural musical

By Raquel M. Ortiz, Illustrations by Maria Dominquez, Translation by Gabriela Baeza Ventura

Publisher: Piñata Books – Arte Público Press, Houston, Texas

This is a children’s book with magnificent illustrations that will capture the hearts of any child. The colors are beautifully done and are the pictures describe and coincide with the story wonderfully.

The story captures what a child may be thinking as they are sent on errand and see a mural that intrigues them. What is even more interesting is that Sofi, the main character in the story, is taken on a magical journey through the mural. It is not just a story of a little girl on a delightful crossing, but also a story that is filled with images of the Puerto Rican culture. Read more ›

By Carlos Alemán

Publisher: Aignos Publishing

Nuno is a prequel to the author’s first novel Happy That It’s Not True. This prequel is a quick read and 219 pages long.

The author spins an interesting story about a young man named Nuno who overcomes a dysfunctional family environment; his father dies and his mom abandons him at the age of two. He is then brought up by his Aunt Olgalana and eventually they go to live with his grandparents. His grandfather is a monster in more ways than I will disclose here; the atrocities are unbelievable and scary and a world you may not want to enter. Read more ›

By Maceo Montoya

Publisher: University of New Mexico Press – Albuquerque

This book is comprised of six short stories that will keep you wishing each was a full length book. Each of the stories is so captivating that you hate it when they end. This is a testament to the writer’s talent.

The author manages to capture each character’s thoughts and view of the world with great precision, that you can’t help but love them immediately – yes even the antagonists. The reader will be able to identify with each of the characters immediately. Mr. Montoya captures life in the raw with just the right ‘slice of life’ if you will. Read more ›

By Manuel A. Meléndez

Publisher: Aignos Publishing, Inc.

This book is about a mother, two boys, and three daughters trying to survive in New York after having moved from Puerto Rico. With the encouragement of the husband, who has moved to the U.S. mainland first, the family follows looking for a better way of life only to find much despair and horror.

The family noticeably begins to battle a curse from the past that comes in the form of an evil spirit. The spirit, named Eduardo, once loved the mother from a distance and will stop at nothing to possess her. The evil spirit is determined to possess the mother, destroy her family, and take the youngest son’s soul. Read more ›