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.