Hi party people and disco dancers,

It's a weird day here in London, UK. Yesterday my beautiful, diverse, welcoming city was filled with far right anti-immigration protestors. It was an enormous march, reflecting the growing division and right-wing propaganda sweeping the country. It felt so strange that these people marched in London, a wonderful, vibrant, city full of people from all over the world. I've lived here since I was 17, and have (mostly) felt like I belonged here. I love London, and I hope that people know that these right wingers do not reflect its true spirit. London is for everyone.

So, here are 3 books that showcase the beautiful diversity of the city I call home:

Rapunzella, or Don't Touch my Hair by Ella McLeod

This beautiful YA fantasy book, told in verse, follows a young Black girl from South London, who visits a fantasy world in her dreams, and a myterious girl with magical hair called Rapunzella. As she grows up, gentrification changes her neighbourhood, and the land in her dreams is under threat from an evil force, and she must help the girls she has befriended to defend themselves.

This is a love letter to South London, an area of London with large Caribbean and African communities. I have lived in South London almost my whole adult life and I'm very rpud of it. I'm also sad that gentrification is disrupting the community feel, and the area is often negatively represented in the news. It's full of life, love and family, just like this book.

Murder in the Dressing Room by Holly Stars

A drag queen (who is non-binary out of drag), finds her drag mother killed, and investigates the murder, delving into London's queer scene.

This was such a fun read, especially for a queer Londonder. it features spaces like The Vauxhall Tavern, the first queer bar I ever went to in the city (an institution), and Old Compton Street, London's gay heart. It's a sparkly celebration of London's fabulousness.

Sweet Heat by Bolu Babalola

This is techinically a sequel, but I read it as a standalone and loved it! A young Black creative is trying to rebuild her life after an awful break up, but then her ex comes back to town, and the two of them find themselves flung together both socially and professionally. The yearning! The passion! The unique experience of being a Black British creative in London is laid bare, with all its frustrations and triumphs. The party scenes and community moments reminded me of some of my very favourite nights in the city, full of people celebrating themselves, in all their unapologetic brilliance. I adored this book.

Much love, take care,

Disco x

Happy Sunday, mis internet amigxs!

I don't know what else Latinx literature needs to do to prove itself to big publishing. Just in this week's releases, we have a National Book Award Longlist title, a double middle grade fantasy releases, MULTIPLE nonfiction to inspire the littles as well as some highly anticipated fantasy, romance, literary fiction, AND SO MUCH MORE!!

Before we get into it...

An apology: Last week, I incorrectly included The Maiden and Her Monster on the release list but author Maddie Martinez is NOT Latinx! I'm so sorry for incorrectly identifying her as such. I am always trying to do better, but admit I am not perfect and always appreciate when people let me know so I can learn and correct my mistakes! I've removed her book from the list.

And now onto this week's releases beginning with...

NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST FOR YOUNG PEOPLE'S LITERATURE--

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by Maria Dolores Aguila: Middle grade novel in verse based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident--an inspiring story of one child standing up against segregated schools. "When injustice grows, resistance blooms"

YOUNG ADULT FICTION

The Story of My Anger by Jasmine Mendez (Audiobook) Novel-in-verse centered on an Afro-Latina Texas teen who is battling racism in her theater program and book banning by her town's school board.

The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar by Sonora Reyes (Audiobook) The Lesbiana’s Guide to Catholic School's Cesar Flores is the star of this book as he comes to terms with his sexuality, his new bipolar diagnosis, and more mistakes than he can count.

Lemons and Lies by Alexis Castellanos (Audiobook) Companion to Guava and Grudges, this YA rom com features a meet-cute, fake dating, family drama and FOOD, as only Cubans can do it.

YOUNG ADULT SUPERNATURAL THRILLER

The Silenced Diana Rodriguez Wallach (Audiobook) Thriller Supernatural thriller YA--Hazel Perez visits the old abandoned girl's school for an assignment, falls unconscious, and awakes with a revenge not her own. As she digs in the past, haunted by ghosts, she discovers secrets hidden long ago about the school.

TRANSLATED FICTION

Good and Evil and Other Stories by Samanta Schweblin and translated by Megan McDowell (Audiobook) Collection of taught short stories where all the characters find themselves at the point of no return.

ROMANCE

Dance With Me by Alexis Daria: Second book in The Dance Off book series follows Natasha Diaz who's desperate enough for a place to live, she moves in with the literal last person she'd ever want to--Dimitri Kovalenko, even though he's pined for her for years. This workplace romance is forbidden, anyone, so it'd never happen, right?

Wild Hit by Mari Loyal: End of romance baseball trilogy featuring venezuelan MCs and marriage of convenience

LITERARY FICTION

Scab-Muggers by Yvonne Martinez: The fight against sexism based in the 1990's labor movement against the backdrop of Harvard.

MIDDLE GRADE FANTASY

Witchlings: Scepter of Memories by Claribel Ortega (Audiobook) BOOK FOUR! Seven, Thorn and Valley are BACK! This time, they're trying to stop Ambert's plan of taking over Twelve Towns.

Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic by Leslie Adama (Audiobook) First book in a new middle grade fantasy series about Chloe, whose biggest fear is that her undocumented parents will be deported until she learns that they're actually part of a secret society!

LITERARY FICTION

The Many Mothers of Dolores Moore by Anika Fajardo (Audiobook) In her 35th year, Dorrie becomes and orphan, except for the cacophany of deceased relative's voices that follower her around giving her advice. She made a deathbead promise to her mother to return to where she came from and despite advice fromt he deceased otherwise, she sets off to discover her roots, where she came from.

PICTURE BOOK

Black Hair Can by Silvia Rodriguez (author and illustrator)

NONFICTION PICTURE BOOK

Queer Latine Heros: 25 Changemakers from Latin America and the U.S. from History and Today by Sofia Aguilar and illustrated by Valentine De Luna Cortes

Claudia Said Si!The Story of Mexico's First Woman President by Deborah Bodin Cohen and Kerry Olitzky and illustrated by Carlos Velez Aguilera: available in both English and Spanish today!

POETRY

The Boy Kingdom by Achy Obejas: 44 poems from Cuban lesbian Jewish poet, Achy Objeas, broken into 4 parts--about her son, stories of her parents and roots and Cuba and her divorce.

NONFICTION

Calladita No More: My Latina Journey and the Lessons that Shaped Me by Hady Mendez: Each chapter is a different Latine saying as Hady navigates her own life story navigating through identity, belonging and leadership.

Inside the Cartel: A True Crime Tale of Espionage, Undercover Operations, and a War Against Billionaire Drug Lords by Martin Suarez (Audiobook) I'll be honest, with the way the Latinx population has been discussed and portrayed in media in this country for decades and longer, I STRUGGLE to keep this one on the list especially since it's a law enforcement story. I did request a review copy and may read it during non-fiction November, but this is the story of Martin Suarez, known Manny, who spent the longest time as an FBI undercover agent within the Medellin cartel and rose to very high ranks within the cartels while working as an informant.

xoxo, Carmen

Although it’s still a little too early to add What Feeds Below (Fall 26) the Ya Horror Fantasy by Tatiana Sclote Bonne, that is our imprints first release, people are already talking about it!

I came across this review of Such Lovely Skin (Tatiana’s first YA Horror about a Twitch streamer that accidentally summons a demon) and got super excited about the WFB mention!

I am checking constantly to see when we will be able to get the book up on Goodreads, and you’ll be the first to know, but in the meantime, check out Tatiana’s other books!

Just a quick note, make sure you are in the discord! On the daily that’s where I will be sharing book club updates, but also just chatting about bookish things, pets, and generalized yapping. It’s much easier to get ahold of me over there. Have a wonderful weekend 💛