12TH ANNUAL SUMMER READING LIST FROM LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB

 

This year, Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club celebrates its 20^th Anniversary of reading and promoting Latine culture and literature.  They’ve created a community of authors, readers and industry professionals.  Today, June 22, they announce the release of their 12th annual Summer Reading List on this the first day of the summer.

 “Reading is most rewarding when it creates a connection—whether to a character, a culture, an idea, or a shared human experience,” says Teresa M. Tobin, Project Manager. “Our Summer Reading List offers something special for everyone because it celebrates the richness and diversity of Latine storytelling. These books bring together a wide range of voices and experiences that explore culture, identity, family, and community. Whether you're seeking entertainment, inspiration, or a deeper understanding of the world around you, you'll find a story that speaks to you. Enjoy the journey!”

 

  SUMMER READING LIST

1.     Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya (Grand Central Publishing) — Classical

2. Calladita No More: My Latina Journey and the Lessons that Shaped Me by Hady Mendez (Publish Your Purpose) — Biography 
3. Convent Wisdom: How 16^th Century Nuns Could Save Your 21^st Century Life by Ana Garriga and Carmen Urbita (Avid Reader Press) — Nonfiction, history
4. Dreaming of Home by Cristina Jimínez (St. Martin’s Press) — Biography
5. El Vaquero by Emiliano Trujillo (self-published) — Fiction, thriller
6. Guatemalan Rhapsody by Jared Lemus (Ecco) — Short stories
7. Hear Ye Mortals by Yamile Saied Méndez (Levine Querido) — Fiction, YA
8. Kinds of Grace: Poetry (Flowersong Press) by Jennifer Martiza McCauley — Poetry
9. P FKN R: How Bad Bunny Became the Global Voice of Puerto Rican Resistance by Vanessa Díaz and Petra R. Rivera-Rideau (Duke University Press Books) — Ethnomusicology, Latin American Studies
10. Pretend You’re Dead and I Carry You by Julián Delgado Lopera (Liveright) —  Fiction, LGBTQ+
11. Run Home: A Graphic Memoir by Alyssa Bermudez (Roaring Brook Press) — Graphic novel, YA 
12. Still, We Are Sacred by Emanuel Xavier (Rebel Satori Press) — Poetry, LGBTQ+
13. Talking with Rudy: Platicando con Rudolfo Anaya by Dr. Irene Blea (self-published) — Biography
14. The Game at the End of the World: Villainous Referees, Communist Bakers, the Secret Women’s World Cup, and a Goalkeeper’s Last Stand by Juan Villoro (Restless Books) — Nonfiction, sports
15. The Other Moctezuma Girls by Sofia Robleda (Amazon Crossing) — Fiction
16. The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores (Carol Rhoda Books) — Fiction, middle grade
17. The Possession of Alba Diaz by Isabel Cañas (Berkley) — Fiction
18. The Sun and All the Other Stars by Karla Montalván (Elizabeth & Minnie Publishing) — Fiction
19. This Is The Only Kingdom by Jaquira Díaz (Algonquin Books) — Fiction
20. We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Camara (New Directions) — Historical fiction

 For more information on the 2026 Summer Reading List, 

email Teresa M. Tobin, Project Manager, at tmtobin.lcbookclub@gmail.com.

 

 Happy Reading and Always Read Latino Lit!

  

 

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS NATIONAL LATINO BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES BOOKS OF THE MONTH FOR JUNE

 

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club announces Books of the Month for June:

            

WHEN THE TIDES HELD THE MOON by Venessa Vida Kelley – a queer historical fantasy of a young Puerto Rican immigrant who captures a merman for a Coney Island sideshow in turn-of-the-20^th century New York.

 

SINK OR BURN by Cristy Road Carrera – Cristy, a punk rock icon and Latinx artist, weaves a story of romance, resistance, revolution and resilience amid a dystopian future in the year 2121.

 

Visit the Book Club website for full book summaries and author bios here:  https://latinolit.com/

 

Register today for the podcast:   https://latinolit.com/join-author-podcast/

 

SAVE THE DATE!   The Live Author Podcast will be held on Monday, June 29, 8pm ET.  The Book Club will talk to the authors about their books, themes and inspiration.   

  

Shop for your books here:   https://bookshop.org/shop/lascomadresbookclub

 

Subscribe to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel for more author interviews.  Here's the link to last month's Live Author Podcast:  https://youtu.be/BqaB3jI2VIs

 

#ReadLatinoLit

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE & BOOK NEWS FOR MAY

 

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Join us in celebrating our Comadres Accomplishments, Community Service and Book News. 

 

 We are proud our Comadres are Leading the Way!

 

 

 

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & COMMUNITY SERVICE  

Three of our Comadres were recognized by Hispanic Lifestyle magazine with a Milestone Award:

Jazmin Diaz (San Jose, CA) – Founder and CEO of Flourish Learning & Development LLC is being recognized as an executive leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for personal and professional growth by Hispanic Lifestyle.  Her Milestone Award will be presented on June 17 in California.

 

Michelle Herrera Mulligan (Brooklyn, NY) – was honored for shaping the future of storytelling and expanding the marketplace of ideas. Associate Publisher and Vice President of Primero Sueño Press, Michelle is helping redefine how stories are told and who gets to tell them.  She received her Milestone Award in New York City on May 20th.

 

 Rhina Valentin (New York, NY) – was recognized for “elevating culture, community, and creative expression in New York.”  Rhina is a powerful creative force whose work continues to shape New York’s cultural and media landscape.  She too received her Milestone Award on May 20th.

 

 

Julie Anna Alvarez Rivera (New York, NY) – With 20 years of career advising experience in higher education career services and in the private sector, Julie Anna has launched her own career consultant practice "Career Journey Now" to help individuals navigate their job search or career transition. More details are available at www.careerjourneynow.wixsite.com/jaar.

            PLUS! This Spring marks her 11th year of volunteering alongside her sister and fellow Comadre, Clara Galvano Rivera, with the National Puerto Rican Day Parade Inc.'s annual Education Scholarship Committee, participating in the review of aspiring students' written applications and interviewing applicants who make the initial cut. We are impressed each year by the intelligent and talented students we get to see through this process! We can't wait to hear the news of which students are ultimately selected to receive these $2000 scholarships.

 

Aurora Anaya (Los Angeles, CA) – is celebrating the first year of her mobile bookstore! She launched Bloom Wild Bookshop in June 2025 to bring books and CA native plants to communities. Since then, her bookmobile has popped up in 25 cities, had 52 activations and driven over 1,000 miles. Some amazing milestones have included being a part of events in six prominent cultural institutions and a month-long residency at the LA County Fair.  Aurora is happy to be back in bookselling and promoting diversity in books and plants!

 

Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) – is thrilled to share that her exhibition “Imagination and Activism” in Barcelona, generated a really positive response from audience and the media.

 

Egli Colón-Stephens (New York, NY) – will be teaching a writing workshop for the Festival Del Libro y Cultura Dominicana on July 11 entitled ‘El Vuelo Migratorio: Writing Between Languages, Loss and Belonging.’ It’s open to all writers.  Register at www.DomincanWriters.org/DWAEvents.

 

Dora Herrera (Los Angeles, CA) – is proud to be included in the Pasadena City College 100 Women: Bold Enough To Bloom inaugural awards luncheon - celebrating business leaders achievements, tenacity, and community impact of extraordinary businesswomen, entrepreneurs, and advocates across the region.

 

Isis Martinez (Austin, TX) – started a new job as Director, HR Business Partner at Seekr, an AI Tech organization.

 

Rachel “Rachel” Moran Nevarez (Pharr, TX) – is proud to announce that she is a part-time Adjunct Instructor teaching South Texas Community College- Administrative Office Procedures and Legal Office Procedures.  She’s held the position since January.

 

Monica Trasandes (Los Angeles, CA) – was interviewed by Pam Covarrubias of Café con Pam, a podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to “fight calladita culture by healing your inner niña,” by talking about mental health, personal growth, and more. Pam asked insightful questions like, “growing up, what roles did you give yourself in your family that no one gave you?” You can watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxLDVn_zgBw&t=2452s

 

 

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COMADRE AUTHORS

 

  

Dr. Melissa DuPont-Reyes (New York, NY) – is excited to share the newly released SOCIALSVOICE e-book, which summarizes her participatory study with Latino youth on social media’s impact on adolescent mental health. The study recruited participants through the Comadres network, and Dr. DuPont-Reyes is deeply grateful for the vital contributions of the network and its members, including Comadres members who served on the Community Advisory Board.   The book is being shared with participating families, policymakers, Community Advisory Board members, and other key stakeholders to help put a spotlight on Latino youth voices in the conversation about social media and adolescent mental health!  Explore the SocialsVoice study e-book on our project website:  https://www.publichealth.columbia.edu/research-labs/socialsvoice

 

Elvia Gonzalez (Leander, TX) – self-published her motivational book, Imbloqueable: De la sobrecarga a la Paz con Poder, sin dejar de ser exitosa y amada. The book is available in Spanish at www.ElviaGonzalez.com.   The best writing advice Elvia ever received was:  to create a clear thinking system that helps you organize your ideas and intentionally guide the reader with clarity and curiosity.

 

Lucinda Mayo (Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico) – has a Photographic History book with Arcadia Publishing entitled, Images of America: Amagansett, with co-author Carleton Kelsey. In 1998 also contributed to another 'Long Island' book, this one re women's lives, which can be viewed at https://www.amazon.com/Long-Island-Women-Activists-Innovators/dp/1557871507.  Lucinda’s main website presents her textile works, and gives the most complete picture of her general 'trayectoria': https://www.lucindaquilts.com.  And her most 'Latina' site would be the very basic https://fandombuki.weebly.com -- the only Latina connection for the Amagansett and Long Island Women books is that I'm imagining some NYC Comadres may head out to East End beaches in the summertime.

            The best writing advice Lucinda ever received she garnered from books by Marilynne Robinson, the generous-spirited novelist, and from writing professor/author John Maguire.  His insistence on concrete language, ie. his useful if tongue-in-cheek question re heavy use of objects/images: 'Can you drop it on your foot?'

 

  

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Congratulations to all and Thank You for your service!

 

 NOTE:   This list is for promotional purposes only and 

not intended as an endorsement of any kind.

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS' ACCOMPLISHMENTS, COMMUNITY SERVICE & BOOK NEWS -- APRIL

 

Join us in celebrating our Comadres Accomplishments, Community Service and Book News. 

 We are proud our Comadres are Leading the Way!

 

NOTE:   This list is for promotional purposes only and not intended as an endorsement of any kind.

  

 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & COMMUNITY SERVICE  

 

Andrea Arroyo (New York, NY) -- Two of her artworks are featured in the book “No Te Olvides”, presented with an exhibition in Barcelona, Spain.

 Judithh Canades, PhD (Eagle Pass, TX) -- Honored to address the Southwest Texas College (SWTX) Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Spring Induction Ceremony in March in Eagle Pass, Texas where 30 students were inducted into the PTK Beta Lambda Gamma Chapter. As an alumna of Southwest Texas College and a Phi Theta Kappa member, she was pleased to share her experiences as a student who began at SWTX and continued to pursue my education and career in government, nonprofit management, and public service in Texas and Washington, D.C.

 Lynette Correa-Velez (Chicago, IL) – She was accepted into the MYB Fractional Support Program-Spring 2026 Cohort to assist her in scaling her GenAI tech start-up, Pagame Project, based in Chicago, IL. Latina Mompreneurs unite! For more info, go here: https://mybfractional.com/

 Nereida Claudio (Woodstock, GA) – Launched her shop, Spanish Abuela. You can follow her and shop at https://spanish-abuela.square.site/ The website celebrates the wisdom and sass of our culture as handed down through dichos & refranes. Check her out and follow SpanishAbuela_ online today on Instagram and Facebook.

 Jamie Della (Mammoth Lakes, CA) -- Her presentation, A Mexican perspective of the Bear Flag Revolt: Using folklore, testimonios, letters, and oral histories to reveal the Californio experience of annexation and early evidence of the cultural conflict pervasive in America today, was accepted for the XVIII Recovering the US Hispanic Literary Heritage/Association for Documentary Editing Joint Conference, Record Keepers of Nation: Diverse Foundational Figures and Documents of the US, scheduled for October 8-10, 2026.

 Karina Martinez (Austin, TX) -- Excited to share that her fashion brand, Lorenza, will show at Austin Fashion Week on May 7^th.

 Nimia Ramos Beauchamp (San Juan, PR) -- Organized a Feria de Servicios Comunitarios and Recruitment activity in April for Consejos Comunitarios de Seguridad en Cancha Baloncesto La Experimental en Río Piedras.

 Doris Selva (Laguna Woods, CA) – Completed Mission work in Brazil with Patria Church and Life Impact International, serving Children on a prevention project in April, providing support and love to vulnerable communities.

 Nadia Siles (Austin, TX) -- Nadia will be graduating from her Masters of Science in Computer and Electrical Engineering from University of Texas- Austin on May 9, 2026. Bravo!

  

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COMADRE AUTHORS

  

Nereida Claudio (Woodstock, GE) -- Spanish Abuela - Bilingual Home Provision - You can Follow her and shop her Bilingual Home Provisions at https://spanish-abuela.square.site/ The website will celebrate the wisdom and sass of our culture as handed down through dichos & refranes. Check her out and follow SpanishAbuela_ online today on Instagram and Facebook.

 Araceli Esparza (Madison, WI) – She self-published her memoir, Healing through racial discrimination. ¿Ahora Que? Now What?  Learn more about her book at https://www.araceliesparza.com/workbook. This is a free workbook on her website.

 Ana Parra-Vivas (Houston, TX) -- Is truly excited to share that her recent book, The Graceful Healing Workbook & Journal, received a 5-star review from Readers’ Favorite.  The reviewer shared: “The Graceful Healing Workbook and Journal could not have come at a better time, when so many people are desperate for a steadier direction in their lives.”  This meant a lot to Ana because: “this book was created for exactly that purpose—to offer a calm, guided space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself.”  The book is a 12-week journey with short lessons, thoughtful questions, affirmations, and plenty of space to write—designed to help you slow down, gain clarity, and begin again with intention. Visit her at https://www.anaparravivas.com/graceful-healing-workbook.

 Mireya Perez-Bustillo (Brooklyn, NY) – She was the Featured Reader at Artemis Poets Collective at One on One, in New York City in April.  Also, published prose piece "Tendra Sus Razones" in Voices 2025, online journal of LP2Program of CUNY GCenter and reading and video of this piece In "Voices of Voices" 03/20/2026.  Mireya also has a poem in the latest Comadres Connect Newsletter, All New.

 Lara Rios (Highland, CA) – Her new romance, BUILT TO WIN, was published in March by Wise Writer Publishing.  Read more about her books at www.lara-rios.com.

  

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Congratulations to all and Thank You for your service!

 

 

LAS COMADRES CELEBRATES ITS MEMBERS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

 

Join us in celebrating our Comadres Accomplishments. We are proud our Comadres are Leading the Way!

 

NOTE:   This list is for promotional purposes only and not intended as an endorsement of any kind.

  

ACCOMPLISHMENTS  

 Raesha Cartagena (New York, NY) – was presented with a Puerto Rican Women Legacy Award by the Comité Noviembre on March 26, as President of the Puerto Rican Institute for the Development of the Arts (PRIDA), Cultural Advocate and Puerto Rican Arts Community Leader.

 Dalilah Garcia (Brownsville, TX) -- On February 25, 2026, Dalilah had the distinct honor of making history as the first Spanish-language Virtual Networking Leader for FemCity. For 16 years, this international membership-based organization has exclusively operated in English. As President of FemCity Brownsville and a proud community founder, she led the organization’s first-ever virtual networking session conducted entirely in Spanish.  This milestone expanded accessibility and inclusivity while advancing FemCity’s mission to support and empower ambitious women in business through authentic connections, collaboration over competition, and the cultivation of meaningful professional and personal growth worldwide.

Karina Martinez (Pflugerville, TX) -- Her high-fashion clothing website is live! www.thelorenza.com.

 Elsa Prado (Oak Lawn, IL) -- Will be receiving an award for Women’s Day from International Radio and LULAC.

 Milly Silencio (Carteret, NJ) – On March 7, Milly was a Co-Presenter with Samuel Ocasio Jr. at Princeton Theological Seminary on “Technological Collective Connection through Memes: Religious Identity, Play, and Imagination of Latinos.”  Last November, she was Co-Presenter with Comadre Lizanne Espina at American Association of Religion/Society of Biblical Literature on the “Church’s Call of Solidarity with Migrant Women contending Injustices of The U.S. Immigration System.”  

 

Congratulations to all!

 

 

LAS COMADRES & FRIENDS BOOK CLUB ANNOUNCES MARCH BOOKS OF THE MONTH

 

Las Comadres & Friends National Latino Book Club is pleased to announce its Books of the Month for March.  Both great selections to celebrate Women's History Month.

FRONTERA MADRE(HOOD) edited by Cynthia Bejarano & Maria Cristina Morales -- a collection of essays that explore Latinx, Black and Indigenous mothering from both sides of the US-Mexico border.  

MY TRAIN LEAVES AT THREE by Natalie Guerrero -- an electric coming-of-age novel about an ambitious young Latina from Washington Heights trying to make it on Broadway.

 

  

Read the full book descriptions and author bios here:   https://latinolit.com/march-2026-cynthia-bejarano-maria-cristina-morales-editors-and-natalie-guerrero/

 

SAVE THE DATE!   Our Live Author Podcast this month will be held on Monday, March 30, 8pm ET.  We’ll get a chance to talk to the authors and ask them about their books.   

 

FREE BOOK!  Register today for the podcast and you may win a free book:   https://latinolit.com/join-author-podcast/

Check your time zone:  5pm PT, 6pm MT, 7pm CT, 8pm ET, 9pm PR.

 

Shop for your books here:   https://bookshop.org/shop/lascomadresbookclub

 

Subscribe to the Las Comadres YouTube Channel for more author interviews.  Here's the link to last month's Live Author Podcast:   https://youtu.be/TgunqO0921E?si=HtMYNLzfp9NE36qd

 

Visit the Las Comadres & Friends Book Club website for more upcoming books of the month:   https://latinolit.com

 

 

Happy Reading and Always Read Latino Lit!