10 Latinx Young Adult Books Coming Out in 2022: Part 2
There are so many books by Latinx authors coming out in 2022 that you need to add to your bookcase that we had to create a follow up to our first YA books list
Photos: Macmillan; Penguin Random House; Scholastic Press
There are so many books by Latinx authors coming out in 2022 that you need to add to your bookcase that we had to create a follow up to our first YA books list. We’re so excited about so many of them — both for us and our kids — that we wanted to curate another list for our fellow Latinx bookworms to keep on hand to keep track of which books to keep an eye out for throughout the rest of the year.
From an introspective anthology and plenty of fantasy spines to classic teen romances and fantasy novels, there are still so many young adult books by Latinx authors coming out this year, that we’re sure no matter what type of literature you prefer, you’ll find a book on this list to enjoy. And if you and your teen have similar tastes in books, there are definitely a few you’ll want to share. If nothing else, the representation on the pages of these books is sure to have you hooked into their story lines fast.wp_*posts
Diamond Park by Phillippe Diederich
Release Date: March 8, 2022
Phillippe Diederich’s Diamond Park, is a page-turner about four Mexican American teenagers from Houston, and the tragedy that turns their lives upside down. When the four friends head to Diamond Park to buy their dream car — a 1959 Chevy Impala — they find themselves witnesses to a murder and one of them is being framed for the crime. Desperate to clear their name, they cross the border into Mexico on the hunt for the trafficker they think is really responsible.wp_*posts
Ballad & Dagger (An Outlaw Saints Novel) by Daniel José Older
Release Date: May 3, 2022
The first book in a new series by Daniel José Older, Ballad & Dagger is an adventure-fantasy novel about two teens who meet and fall in love amid turmoil in their New York community. But this book is more than just a romance, it touches on themes relevant to the Latinx community and the Caribbean diaspora, while incorporating folklore and music that honor Latin heritage, in a story that takes readers from present day to mysterious ancient times.wp_*posts
Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Breathe and Count Back From Ten by Natalia Sylvester offers up a twist on the teen romance. It’s about a Peruvian American teen from Florida who dreams of becoming a professional mermaid at a theme park. But she was born with hip dysplasia, and between managing her disability and her disapproving parents, she’ll have to overcome multiple obstacles to make it to audition day, all while figuring out her first love.wp_*posts
Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez
Release Date: May 31, 2022
Together We Burn by Isabel Ibañez is about a fictional medieval city in Spain threatened by dragons and it promises to be a fantasy tale full of exciting adventures, twists and turns and of course, romance. It’s about a talented flamenco dancer who finds herself training to be a dragon hunter in order to save her family legacy — and her inheritance — from an organization intent on taking it away from her.wp_*posts
Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe Garcia McCall
Release Date: June 21, 2022
From Pura Belpré Award-winning author, Guadalupe García McCall, comes Echoes of Grace about a young woman struggling to come to terms with the visions she has — a gift inherited from her mother. One day, one of her visions coincides with a tragedy that causes a rift between her and her sister, and in trying to mend their relationship she discovers hidden truths about her family that she never imagined possible.wp_*posts
Blackwater by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham
Release Date: July 19, 2022
An interesting tale of young, queer love, Blackwater is about two teen boys who seem like complete opposites, but end up falling for each other. But they’re navigating their budding friendship — and romance — in a spooky town in Maine, where they’ll have to face more than just high school bullies and drama. Supernatural forces seem to be at every turn in this enthralling graphic novel by Jeannette Arroyo and Ren Graham.wp_*posts
Twice a Quinceañera by Yamile Saied Méndez
Release Date: July 26, 2022
Twice a Quinceañera by Furia author, Yamile Saied Méndez, is afun and whimsical story that you and your teen are likely to both enjoy together. It’s about a 30-year-old woman who breaks up with her fiancé the day before her wedding after she finds out he’s been cheating on her. Determined to make the best of a difficult situation, she decides to keep the wedding venue and throw herself a second quinces, or should she say a, treintañera!wp_*posts
A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic by Debbie Rigaud
Release Date: August 2, 2022
Author Debbie Rigaud’s A Girl’s Guide to Love and Magic is a beautiful nod to Caribbean cultures and first loves. It’s about a teen from New York who is excited about the upcoming West Indian Day parade, but a wrench is thrown in her plans when a spirit possesses her aunt, who is a Haitian vodou practitioner. She manages to convince her best friend and the boy she’s crushing on to help her perform the ceremony needed to help her aunt, event though she herself knows little of how to do it.
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Bad at Love by Gabriela Martins
Release Date: August 2, 2022
Set amid the Los Angeles music scene, Bad at Love by Gabriela Martins sees a young Brazilian musician move to L.A. to join a band and become famous. Eventually, he earns himself a reputation as a “bad boy.” He meets a budding journalist who doesn’t get his appeal but thinks writing a story about him might give her a leg up at the celebrity gossip magazine where she’s an intern. Much to her surprise though, he seems to be a far cry from what he’s been made out to be.
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Our Shadows Have Claws edited by Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz
Release Date: September 6, 2022
We couldn’t be more obsessed with the idea of a Latinx horror anthology in the young adult genre. Edited by Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz, Our Shadows Have Claws features “monster stories” by Latinx authors including Julia Alvarez, Claribel A. Ortega, and Ann Dávila. The stories take place throughout Latin America and the diaspora and feature the creepiest monsters from vampires and zombies to cannibals and shapeshifters, along with creatures found in Latin mythology and folklore.
