11 Middle Grades Books by Latinx Authors Coming Out in 2022

There are so many awesome new children’s books by Latinx authors and about Latinx kids coming out in 2022, that we’re back with another book roundup of Latinx kids books we can’t wait for our chiquitos to check out. This time, we’ve curated a list of middle grades books for Latinx kids written by Latinx authors. Everything from fantasy and adventure books to a unique graphic novel will be hitting store shelves and online inventories this year — think simple chapter books for kids in the upper elementary grades.

We absolutely love that there are so many creative and thoughtful Latinx authors writing books that help our kids feel seen, and we’re super-excited for titles from acclaimed authors like Zoraida Córdova, Margarita Engle, and Yamile Saied Méndez, to drop in the next few months. Even Hamilton star, Mandy Gonzalez, has a new children’s book out this year! See some of the most anticipated Latinx middle grades books here and keep an eye out for more of our recommendations in the coming months.wp_*posts

Sofía Acosta Makes A Scene by Emma Otheguy

Release Date: January 25, 2022

Sofía Acosta Makes a Scene is book about a young, Cuban-American girl attempting to balance the expectations of her former ballet dancer parents and her desire to find her own identity. It touches on prominent topics in the Latinx community like family dynamics, immigration, assimilation, and maintaining cultural traditions so your kiddo is sure to see him or herself in the pages. And of course, it’s a great pick if you have a ballet-loving kid.wp_*posts

Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall

Release Date: March 1, 2022

Written by Afro-Latinx author, Julian Randall, Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa is an adventure story about a 12-year-old Dominican girl from Chicago who finds herself on a remote island filled with spooky, spiritual, and powerful creatures, the most menacing of which, is “El Cuco.” The book is centered on Dominican myths and legends and brings them to the modern world in a way that’s sure to keep kids engaged.wp_*posts

Catalina Incognito by Jennifer Torres

Release Date: March 8, 2022

All of the books in the Catalina Incognito series by author Jennifer Torres are coming out in 2022, the first on March 8. The series is about a Mexican-American girl who has a magical sewing kit she got from her abuela. The kit allows her to turn her regular clothes into cool disguises that help the unassuming Catalina solve mysteries and even crimes, just like the ones she sees on her favorite telenovelas. So far, there are four books scheduled to be published in the series.wp_*posts

Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros

Release Date: March 15, 2022

Pura Belpré Award-winning author Ernesto Cisnero’s latest book, Falling Short, is about two sixth graders entering middle school. The boys are best friends who rely on each other for support and understanding as they each attempt to find their way in middle school, while setting goals that will help them win the approval of their parents. It’s a story of friendship and family that lots of kids can relate to, and we love that it’s one that actually depicts boys dealing with their emotions.wp_*posts

Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos

Release Date: March 15, 2022

An incredibly unique book, Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos, is actually an impeccably illustrated graphic novel. It however, does not contain any words, but rather uses the images to depict the story of a girl who leaves her home in Cuba to move to New York City in the 1960s, without her parents or any other family joining her on the journey away from the home she knows and loves. The powerful pictures tell the emotional tale with undeniable emotion and authenticity.wp_*posts

Fearless: Boulevard of Dreams by Mandy Gonzalez

Release Date: April 5, 2022

Boulevard of Dreams is the second book in the Fearless series by Broadway and TV actor, Mandy Gonzalez, who originated the role of Angelica in Hamilton on Broadway. It follows a group of kid actors with Broadway ambitions as they encounter mysteries and embark on adventures in New York City. The members of the “Fearless Squad” all come from different backgrounds and have different personalities, but they always stick together and help each other out of the unexpected and sometimes scary situations they find themselves in.wp_*posts

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega

Release Date: April 5, 2022

Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega is a fun, witchy tale about a 12-year-old who lives in a magical town that holds a ceremony to place young witches in one of its five covens each year. Seven Salazar can’t wait to join a coven and become a full witch, but she ends up as a “spare”. That means she’ll never be as strong as most other witches and unless she and the other two spares can manage to complete the task necessary to form their own coven, her future as a witch just might be doomed. This one is an exciting story of friendship that touches on topics like self-worth and identity.wp_*posts

Horse Country: Can’t Be Tamed by Yamile Saied Méndez

Release Date: April 5, 2022

Horse Country: Can’t Be Tamed by Yamile Saied Méndez is the first in a series is about two girls who seem like total opposites yet find common ground in their love of horses. They end up meeting on the horse ranch where one has spent most of her life, and while they don’t immediately hit it off, they eventually bon as they try to help an injured horse recover. One of the things we really love about this story, is that it offers up a classic storyline within the genre, but replaces the main characters with Latina characters. That’s representation at its finest.wp_*posts

High Spirits by Camille Gomera-Tavarez

Release Date: April 12, 2022

What makes High Spirits by Camille Gomera-Tavarez so unique is that it’s actually a collection of short stories centered around one fictional family. Books of short stories aren’t all that common in children’s literature, and while this one is definitely best suited for older kids, we love that it’s being presented in this format, which is perfect for kiddos with shorter attention spans. It features eleven stories that take place in different places throughout the diaspora, and touches on real-life topics like mental health, identity and machismo.wp_*posts

The Do-Over by Jennifer Torres

Release Date: June 7, 2022

Author Jennifer Torres, The Do-Over, is the story of two sisters who were once close, but find that they’ve grown apart in the wake of their parents’ divorce. In a timely twist, they end up quarantining together at their dad’s house when a pandemic strikes. They have grand plans to use the time to get their parents back together, that is until they discover that their dad has a new girlfriend and that she and her daughter are living with him too! Talk about complicated. But this is exactly the type of story kids need to help them navigate unpredictable and uncontrollable events that might occur in their own lives.wp_*posts

Valentina Salazar is Not a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Zoraida Córdova, author of The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina, is releasing Valentina Salazar is Not a Monster Hunter about a trio of young sisters who’ve inherited the task of saving magical creatures and monsters who occasionally end up in the human world. As “protectors,” they often find themselves embarking on  dangerous missions but soon life is completely changed. After their dad is killed during one such situation, their mom decides to move them to a small town she deems safe so they can start living a normal life. But the girls aren’t regular girls and find it hard to let go of their calling.