Happy Hispanic Heritage Month! National Hispanic Heritage Month is recognized in the United States from September 15 - October 15. This period was chosen because several major holidays for a variety of Latin American countries fall within this window.
- Costa Rica's Independence Day (September 15)
- El Salvador's Independence Day (September 15)
- Guatemala's Independence Day (September 15)
- Honduras' Independence Day (September 15)
- Nicaragua's Independence Day (September 15)
- Mexico's Independence Day (September 16)
- Chile's Independence Day (September 18)
- Columbus Day/Día de la Raza (October 12)
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this resource collects books for middle grade readers with Hispanic and Latinx Representation. If you know of books that you feel should be added to this collection, share your recommendations with me at contact.undergroundbookshelf@gmail.com. Some books appear in more than one category. These books fit into multiple genres. Please note: I have not read all these books. Please do your own research when selecting the book that is right for you.
Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month at the links below:
Image Description: Books are standing up in boxes as if they are on display at a community book sale.
Credit: freddie marriage / Unsplash via Webador
Books with Hispanic & Latinx Representation for Middle Grade Readers
General/Contemporary Fiction
- Sofía Acosta Makes A Scene by Emma Otheguy
- Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros
- Horse Country: Can’t Be Tamed by Yamile Saied Méndez
- The Do-Over by Jennifer Torres
- The Other Half of Happy by Rebecca Balcárcel
- Silver Meadows Summer by Emma Otheguy
- Stef Soto, Taco Queen by Jennifer Torres
- Gabby Garcia’s Ultimate Playbook by Iva-Marie Palmer
- The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora by Pablo Cartaya
- The First Rule of Punk/La primera regla del punk by Celia C. Pérez
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Chunky (series) by Yehudi Mercado
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Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra
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Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
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Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez
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The Moon Within by Aida Salazar
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Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle by Hilda Eunice Burgos
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Efrén Divided/Efrén deividido by Ernesto Cisneros
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Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan
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How Tía Lola Came to Stay by Julia Alvarez
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Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring by Angela Cervantes
- Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome (series) by Sarai Gonzalez & Monica Brown
- Esme’s Birthday Conga Line by Lourdes Heuer
- Definitely Dominguita (series) by Terry Catasus Jennings
- Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina
- Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcel
- The Other Side of the River by Alda P. Dobbs
- Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle
- Join the Club, Maggie Diaz by Nina Moreno
- Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
- Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
- My Family Adventure by Jacqueline Jules
- Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina
- Lola Levine Is Not Mean by Monica Brown
- How to Make Friends with the Sea by Tanya Guerrero
- Stella Díaz has Something to Say by Angela Dominguez
- Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya
- Strange Birds: A Field Guide to Ruffling Feathers by Celia C. Pérez
- Merci Suárez Changes Gears by Meg Medina
- Lupe Wong Won’t Dance by Donna Barba Higuera
- The Fresh New Face of Griselda by Jennifer Torres
- Becoming Naomi León by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Lety Out Loud by Angela Cervantes
- Sing It Like Celia by Monica Mancillas
- Bodega Cats: Picture Purrfect by Hilda Eunice Burgos
- Miosotis Flores Never Forgets by Hilda Burgos
- Twin Cities by Jose Pimienta
- Aniana Del Mar Jumps In by Jasminne Mendez
- Sincerely Sicily by Tamika Burgess
- Meet Me Halfway by Anika Fajardo
- Tumble by Celia C. Pérez
- Grow Up Luchy Zapata by Alexandra Alessandri
- Star in the Forest by Laura Resau
- What the Moon Saw by Laura Resau
- Gaby, Lost and Found by Angela Cervantes
- Marcus Vega no habla español / Marcus Vega Doesn’t Speak Spanish by Pablo Cartaya
- Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
- Return to Sender by Julia Alvarez
- A Seed in the Sun by Aida Salazar
- Santiago’s Road Home by Alexandra Diaz
- On These Magic Shores by Yamile Saied Méndez
- Tortilla Sun by Jennifer Cervantes
- Beast Rider by Tony Johnston and Maria Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
- A Handful of Stars by Cynthia Lord
- Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Fantasy & Mythology/Sci-Fi
- Pilar Ramirez Duology (series) by Julian Randall
- Catalina Incognito (series) by Jennifer Torres
- Witchlings by Claribel A. Ortega
- Valentina Salazar is Not a Monster Hunter by Zoraida Córdova
- Sal and Gabi (duology) by Carlos Hernández
- Love Sugar Magic: A Dash of Trouble by Anna Meriano
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The Storm Runner (series) by J.C. Cervantes
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Charlie Hernández & the League of Shadows by Ryan Calejo
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Dactyl Hill Squad (series) by Daniel José Older
- Rafi and Rosi (series) by Lulu Delacre
- The Supernatural Society by Rex Ogle
- Solimar by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- Lowriders to the Rescue by Cathy Camper
- Vega’s Piece of the Sky by Jennifer Torres
- El eclipse total de Néstor López / The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez by Adrianna Cuevas
- Chupacarter by George Lopez and Ryan Calejo
- Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti
- Cece Rios (series) by Kaela Rivera
- Unusual Chickens for the Exceptional Poultry Farmer by Kelly Jones
- Lotería by Karla Arenas Valenti
- Legendarios (series) by Karla Arenas Valenti
- The Way to Rio Luna by Zoraida Cordova
- The Last Cuentista by Donna Barba Higuera
Graphic Novels
- Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
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Mexikid by Pedro Martín
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Chunky (series) by Yehudi Mercado
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Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega, illustrated by Rose Bousamra
- Lowriders to the Rescue by Cathy Camper
- Miss Quinces by Kat Fajardo
- Invisible by Christina Diaz Gonzalez
- Red Panda & Moon Bear (series) by Jarod Roselló
- Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez
- Twin Cities by Jose Pimienta
- Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez
- Lucha Libre: The Man in the Silver Mask (English and Spanish) by Xavier Garza
- Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza
Historical Fiction
- Isla to Island by Alexis Castellanos
- My Year in the Middle by Lila Quintero Weaver
- Lucky Broken Girl by Ruth Behar
- Rooting for Rafael Rosales by Kurits Scaletta
- Step Up to the Plate, Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami
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Mexikid by Pedro Martín
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Dactyl Hill Squad (series) by Daniel José Older
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The Wind Called My Name by Mary Louise Sanchez
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The Wild Book by Margarita Engle
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Cuba in My Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas
- Anani and the Brave Hurricane Adventure Anani y la valiente aventura del huracán by Doris Vega Baez
- Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
- The Long Ride by Marina Budhos
- Farewell Cuba, Mi Isla by Alexandra Diaz
Romance
- They Call Her Fregona: A Border Kid's Poems by David Bowles
- Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
Action/Adventure/Mystery
- Pilar Ramirez Duology (series) by Julian Randall
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The Last Beekeeper by Pablo Cartaya
- Beast Rider by Tony Johnston and Maria Elena Fontanot de Rhoads
- Explorer Academy (series) by Trudi Trueit
- Catalina Incognito (series) by Jennifer Torres
Fearless (series) by Mandy Gonzalez
Red Panda & Moon Bear (series) by Jarod Roselló
Paranormal/Supernatural
- The Supernatural Society by Rex Ogle
- Solimar by Pam Muñoz Ryan
Anthologies
- High Spirits by Camille Gomera-Tavarez
- BRAVO! Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López
- Us, In Progress: Short Stories About Young Latinos by Lulu Delacre
- Flying Lessons & Other Stories edited by Ellen Oh
Poetry/Stories in Verse
- The Color of My Words by Lynn Joseph
- BRAVO! Poems About Amazing Hispanics by Margarita Engle, illustrated by Rafael López
- They Call Her Fregona: A Border Kid's Poems by David Bowles
- Singing with Elephants by Margarita Engle
- Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar
- Land of the Cranes by Aida Salazar
- A Seed in the Sun by Aida Salazar
Nonfiction
- Barefoot Dreams of Petra Luna, Alda P. Dobbs
- Leo Messi (Little People, BIG DREAMS series) by Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara
- Call Me Roberto!: Roberto Clemente Goes to Bat for Latinos by Nathalie Alonso
- My Family Divided: One Girl’s Journey of Home, Loss, and Hope by Diane Guerrero with Erica Moroz
Memoir
- Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist by Sylvia Acevedo
- Doodles from the Boogie Down by Stephanie Rodriguez
Sources
- 40 Middle Grade Books with Latinx Characters (Imagination Soup): https://imaginationsoup.net/middle-grade-books-latinx-main-characters/
- 35+ Best Latino Middle-Grade and Chapter Books ( Reading Middle Grade): https://readingmiddlegrade.com/latino-middle-grade-and-chapter-books/
- 10 Exciting New Middle Grade Books with Latinx Main Characters (Read Brightly): https://www.readbrightly.com/new-middle-grade-books-with-latino-characters/
- 26 Chapter Books, Middle Grade, and Graphic Novels for Latinx Heritage Month and Beyond (School Library Journal): https://www.slj.com/story/twenty-six-chapter-books-middle-grade-and-graphic-novel-titles-for-latinx-heritage-month-and-beyond
- Latinx and Hispanic Middle Grade Books (Ages 8-13) (What Do We Do All Day): https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/latinx-hispanic-middle-grade-books/
- 8 Middle Grade Books with Latinx Characters (Book Riot): https://bookriot.com/middle-grade-books-with-latinx-characters/
- 11 Middle Grades Books by Latinx Authors Coming Out in 2022 (HipLatina): https://hiplatina.com/latinx-middle-grade-books/
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