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Libertad

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A queer YA coming-of-age set during the rigged Honduran presidential election, about a young poet discovering the courage it takes to speak her truth about the people and country she loves.As the contentious 2017 presidential election looms and protests rage across every corner of the city, life in Tegucigalpa, Honduras churns louder and faster. For her part, high school senior Libertad (Libi) Morazán takes heart in writing political poetry for her anonymous Instagram account and a budding romance someone new. But things come to a head when Mami sees texts on her phone mentioning a kiss with a girl and Libi discovers her beloved older brother, Maynor, playing a major role in the protests. As Libertad faces the political and social corruption around her, stifling homophobia at home and school, and ramped up threats to her poetry online, she begins dreaming of a future in which she doesn’t have to hide who she is or worry about someone she loves losing their life just for speaking up. Then the ultimate tragedy strikes, and leaving her family and friends—plus the only home she’s ever known—might be her only option.

432 pages, Hardcover

First published August 27, 2024

28 people are currently reading
5116 people want to read

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Bessie Flores Zaldivar

2 books36 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
Profile Image for Thomas.
1,863 reviews12k followers
March 11, 2025
3.5 stars

This book contains important and powerful messages about resisting fascist far-right governments, which is especially pertinent to the USA now. Loved the themes of art as resistance and embracing one’s queerness even as the haters hate. I appreciated Bessie Zaldivar’s writing too about political sacrifice and family. The actual prose didn’t blow me away though it was smoothly written enough that I got through the book quickly. Thanks to my friend Wren for the recommendation!
Profile Image for Mallory.
1,933 reviews291 followers
August 29, 2024
This queer coming of age story was well written and bitter sweet. It takes place in Honduras mostly in 2017 during a rigged presidential election. The main character is Libertad, a young girl finishing high school and contemplating who she is and who she will be. A few chapters are told from her older brother’s perspective Maynor. As the story progresses the reader understands last year Libertad and her best friend kissed but she didn’t want to talk about it and now is now dating another boy at school. It isn’t a safe time or place to be queer and Libi is trying to figure out who she is. It’s also not a safe time or place to be with political unrest, a rigged election and protests growing. This book was full of well developed characters and the writing was excellent. This book is a bit of an emotional roller coaster and I definitely cried while reading it. I will definitely be looking for what this author brings next.
Profile Image for JulesGP.
647 reviews231 followers
October 27, 2024
Libertad Morazán is in her last year of High School in Honduras and she is debating whether to attend the local university like her big brother, Meynor, or to leave the country for more opportunities. The elections are coming up and everyone has high hopes that the corrupt right wing President will be ousted. On a personal note, Libi has kissed her best friend, Cami, and her world view has been rocked. The kiss confirms what she already knew about herself and opens a door for her.

The book brings past and present together because to understand what is happening on a broad scale in real life Honduras in 2017, the author needs to tell the story of Libertad’s family, her grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, and her siblings. So it’s a story of young people and dreams, of how often it’s the youth who fight the most perilous battles against prejudices and political machines. How new generations mirror their predecessors in the same struggles, hoping change will finally happen in everyday life as well as in society. I really loved Libertad’s character. She’s vulnerable, she’s brave, she’s a poet who wields her words to mark the soul of Hondurans.

A big part of the book is a YA coming of age story, parties, does the girl like me?, and thinking about what’s next in life. But there’s profound heartbreak too. When the family visits the University to see the murals of murdered students and activists as well as the Forced Disappeared, I felt their pain to the core. Powerful book and narrated perfectly by Spring Inés Peña.
Profile Image for Kristy.
1,427 reviews181 followers
April 25, 2025
A coming of age story set against the backdrop of the Honduran presidential election of 2017, Libertad focuses on the Morazán family, primarily Libertad as she turns 18, explores her sexuality, and expresses herself through poetry on an anonymous Instagram account. We also get glimpses into her older brother, Maynor’s, life as a budding activist and their family dynamic. I found this YA novel to be revelatory, enlightening, and at times heartbreaking.

I received an advanced copy through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Dori Hackleman.
119 reviews5 followers
August 25, 2024
This book was so eye opening for me to read. I was born in Honduras but my mom was able to leave the country when I was 6 months old and I’ve never known how it really is in my homeland. This book has really opened my eyes about the state of things there and how so much is still not accepted there even after all these years. It breaks my heart that there is still so much unrest after all these years and the author really paints a picture of all the unsettling things there. The protests are still active and going to this day and it was just so surreal to read it all in a book. I felt what the main character felt as far as wanting to leave but also being so afraid of the unknown and what the future holds for her. The relationships between family members reminds me of my family and the complexity of it all. Being thrown into Libertad’s world is not for the faint of heart but the author did so well in bringing it all to life.
Profile Image for jordyn .
24 reviews
July 27, 2025
"Our queerness allows us to imagine care and justice beyond the ideals of a ruling political party. We are not free until all of us, everywhere, are free." PERIODO.

This is one of my new favorite novels by far. An extremely emotional and nuanced story with an urgent call to action and a reminder to never give up hope. More than once, I had to stop myself from bawling in public whilst reading. I just want to give Libertad's family and the world a big hug. It is also the first book I chose for book club! Now I have to journal all my thoughts, and I am looking forward to sharing this with the people I love.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Adelene Jane.
256 reviews22 followers
April 7, 2025
Wow I'm still processing this book, but this hit me so hard. The amount of times I cried was too many. The audiobook was fantastic. Bessie's writing was incredibly moving and powerful. This is such an important read and I will be recommending this one to everyone! Full RTC.
Profile Image for Andrea Beatriz Arango.
Author 6 books233 followers
Read
October 1, 2024
📣 HI HELLO this is my favorite YA read of the year so far!!

I'll try to cobble together a review at some point, but in the meantime RUN DON'T WALK and get this one ASAP from your nearest bookstore or library.

10/10 would cry again 😭.

🙃 Gonna go write some poems now 🇭🇳🏳️‍🌈.
Profile Image for Bethany Hall.
1,050 reviews37 followers
July 19, 2024
Amidst a tumultuous presidential election in Honduras and widespread protests, high school senior Libertad (Libi) Morazán finds solace in her political poetry and a new romance. But her world unravels as she navigates family tensions over her sexuality, discovers her brother’s involvement in protests, and faces online threats. Ultimately, tragedy forces Libi to consider leaving behind everything she loves in search of a safer future.

I just finished this book and cried my eyes out. Normal Thursday night. It took me several days to finish this book and it’s not for lack of interest. It was very heavy on my heart.

*spoilers*

I loved watching Libi learn about herself, and I truly thought the family dynamics were incredible to read about. I loved her brothers and her close relationship with both, along with her mother and Abuela. I wanted to hug Alberto, he was so sweet. I also loved her group of friends and how they interacted. Again, it was a really great dynamic to play out in the book.

I was absolutely devastated when Maynor died in the protests. We are talking sobbing. Tears running down my face. He was just figuring himself out, in love, and had so much hope. My heart broke and I could FEEL the grief coming off of these pages. So many incredible quotes about grief and how it feels.

I recovered and then by the end with the poem and mural I was a mess again. But - I was so hopeful for Libi and her future. She had figured out a good balance and got into a school she was hopeful for. It was a really full circle ending.

I loved the culture and language and prose and beauty of this book. Absolutely stunning. The author’s note had me tearing up as well - don’t miss it.

*I was provided a digital copy of this book for review from the publisher and NetGalley, all thoughts are my own.*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for mtrics.
128 reviews11 followers
September 21, 2024
As a whole, it's a good story. But I'm so done with publishers/authors spoiling up to 70% of books' content, honestly. I knew from the synopsis that:

So it was neither a surprise nor emotionally impactful when it happened, especially since it was so late in the story. And since the rest of the novel is about the ripples of that event, I just felt disconnected from it all. Overall, the pacing felt off to me.

While Libertad broaches political topics much more important than the ones in Becoming a Queen by Dan Clay, I think the latter portrayed "that thing" better.

Two other nitpicks: The spenglish isn't seamlessly woven in the prose, the full sentences of untranslated Spanish stick out and feel jarring. And while translations are available for the poems, they're shoved at the very end of the whole book (I honestly couldn't be bothered to go read them).
Lastly, the love triangle was so frustrating because the MC doesn't talk about boundaries with any of her two love interests and ends up cheating on them back and forth. Love to see it.

Otherwise, I loved the emotional depiction of such a troubled time and the slice-of-life feel of a family just trying their best to survive, generation after generation, through such turmoil.
Profile Image for Rae Hargrave.
259 reviews9 followers
August 27, 2024
Libertad is an evocative queer coming of age story set in Honduras during the political turmoil of 2017.

I knew very little about Honduras before reading this book and Zaldívar does an incredible job situating the reader in all that the setting entails: the anxiety of the political tension, the weather of Honduras, the people and smells and day to day rhythm of living in Tegucigalpa. I was immersed in Libertad's story from the first page.

I cried steadily through the last hundred pages. Libertad's journey, without spoiling anything, is incredibly emotional and beautiful - and as a queer reader, I loved the moments of queer joy, love, and possibility woven into the narrative. I also believe that being queer means being open to all the possibilities and seeing the beauty in what can be instead of what is - a powerful message that counterbalances the overwhelming political turmoil Libertad is living through.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I firmly believe it should be on everyone's TBR - it's a beautiful narrative that tells an important story, illuminating experiences that most Westerners have little understanding of.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Zaldívar and I shared an office during grad school and I was honored to receive an early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year.
Profile Image for Margaret.
1,521 reviews67 followers
November 21, 2025
This is a wonderful queer young adult novel about the rigged 2017 presidential election in Honduras. Libertad lives in Tegucigalpa, and has just turned 18. After she shares her first kiss with her female best friend, she begins realizing that she's queer. But under the far-right fascist government, her very existence is enough to warrant condemnation. Her mother condemns her, but her older brother, Maynor, becomes her rock and support. Then heartbreaking tragedy strikes the family, and the city.

This is a bit of a slow burn, but well worth reading. I know so little about this moment in contemporary history.
Profile Image for Alicia Guzman.
501 reviews53 followers
May 12, 2025
Libertad is a young adult coming of age novel set during the presidential electional in 2017 taking place in Honduras.

Most of the story is told through the eyes of Libertad, a young teen girl who is having complicated feelings for her best friend and trying to decide whether she wants to study abroad. This is taking place at a turning point for Honduras. The presidential election is coming up and the youth are hopeful the right winged president will be ousted.

I learned so much about the contemporary history of Honduras. It is also a tragic and beautiful story about resistance and love.
Profile Image for Nicole.
992 reviews17 followers
May 28, 2025
2.5 rounded up
Okay, you know it's not going great when I am 150 pages in and I check to confirm that, yup, this is a debut novel.
I got probably about 75% of the way through this book, thinking it was a 1.5 or 2 star book until the BIG thing happened (which I even knew was coming) and I cried. So then it had to go up at least one star.
My major problems with this book:
1) The other POV's that we would get tended to pull me out of the world and really didn't add much meaning to the plot. Most of the time, what was discussed in the alternate POV would ALSO be introduced in the main POV so there wasn't really a lot added with the alternate POV's other than giving away the major plot point of the book.
2) And a much bigger point - the author is supposed to be a famous poet on social media, so tell me why we only see two poems in this whole book - and only one that was posted???? Even the poem that made her viral WAS NEVER SHOWN. Elizabeth Acevedo would NEVER - I've read so many fantastic YA books where the characters are Hispanic poets and they always are DRIPPING in poetry. We almost get nothing from this book and that was huge since she's supposed to be a poet, but she ain't writing???
3) The romance(s) gave almost nothing. This is a much smaller point since there's a very valid reason that Libertad is not comfortable being open with her crushes/relationships, but they still felt flat and underdeveloped.
4) Libertad gave me nothing in terms of what to root for - no romance, no aspirations, no plans that she really seemed invested in. The only thing she really gave was her grief and for that, I'm bumping it to a 2.5 rounded up to three.
Overall, too many plot points that distracted rather than came together. I think that they were all necessary to have, but they needed to be integrated better and also edited WAY down. I can't see myself giving this book to a teen successfully since it is like 400 pages and not the most compelling narrative. It needs to be at least 100 pages shorter for it to have a chance with teens.
107 reviews1 follower
November 3, 2025
Took me a while to get through this, but it was a worthwhile read. The story was captivating and emotional.
Profile Image for Manuela Gómez.
74 reviews
September 12, 2024
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC

I've been writing, thinking about this review since I was halfway through this book, something just told me I would need a lot of words to be able to convey what it made me feel.

In simple words this book feels like home, it feels like asambleas estudiantiles waiting to start while listening to Latinoamérica, is muros pintarrajeados and the dream that if you scream loud enough the world will listen and change. Other things are familiar too: the fear and uncertainty that comes every elections, the half joke half truth of saying that they will cut down power and come back winning if they don't like the results, the wish of fighting for a country that you don't even know if it will have a future.

Libertad takes all of that and it slaps you in the face.

I have lived in Latin America all of my life, aquí nací y aquí me criaron, and this same land will probably see me die one day, I have many many complaints about it, as we all do, and also so much love. Reading Libertad was like all of that, laughing to not cry about the injustices we all face, crying when I saw my own life reflected in the pages of the book. I can't describe the experience to those who have not lived it, but it feels like that moment of grace when a protest starts, walking with a group of people who believe in change, chanting, jumping and laughing, reading the signs and telling to the people "vecino mirón, únanse al montón, su hijo es estudiante y usted es trabajador." the joy and hope one feels before the police appears in front of you.

The prose and the poetry captures it perfectly, the Spanish, the glimpses to other people's POVs that immerses the reader deeper into the world, it's a beautiful work.

When I got this book in my email it felt meant to be, and I'm so glad I was able to read it, I'm so glad I got to know Libertad and I'm looking forward to what the author does next.

Y espero algún día vernos a todos libre, y viviendo la vida que siempre nos hemos merecido.

Profile Image for Tillie Sefel.
86 reviews
September 20, 2025
Very powerful book. I was definitely sad at times, but so good. If you liked Poet X you'll most likely like this too!! I think the politics in this are still very relevant to what is going on today in the U.S.A which you know makes since sence this book takes place in 2017, but I mean in a diffrent country.
Profile Image for Cierra.
150 reviews24 followers
August 27, 2024
Full review in its optimum format can be found on my blog, Cierra’s Cynosure, here.

Discussion
Here is a queer coming-of-age novel that examines social and political intricacies at a new level. We follow 17-year-old Libertad through her senior year of high school, her 18th birthday, and her very first romantic encounters with…girls. All of these events are sweet and exciting parts of growing up, but unfortunately, they are marred by a backdrop of political violence.

Libertad is set in Honduras, a country in Central America whose history is tainted by colonialism, western imperialism, political violence/instability, and at times, blatant homophobia. Unfortunately for Libertad, all of these facts cast huge shadows over a period in her life that should feel full of promise and hope. The book illustrates what living in Honduras was like during the real-life 2017 presidential election of Juan Orlando Hernández, whose presidency was marked by allegations and a subsequent conviction of conspiring with drug traffickers across Honduras in exchange for monetary bribes.

What I appreciated most about my experience with this title was the opportunity to step outside of the demographics that I am most familiar with in a very accessible way. As an American, I am largely unaware of a lot of the political climate and instability across Central American countries. Therefore, following Libertad through all of the instances of political violence whilst she also navigates her daily life felt like a very tangible way to grasp how a country’s larger political atmosphere also impacts the lives of everyday citizens. It also provided an opportunity to examine another perspective of Western imperialism over smaller nations.

The censorship, the military police violence, the curfews, the electricity blackouts—I felt real anxiety while reading about all of these events from Libertad and her family’s perspective. Their fear and sense of helplessness felt palpable.

“Months ago, Juan Orlando Hernández ordered the military police—the MP—to take to the streets in major cities like Tegus and San Pedro to “mantener el control.” When I still had my phone, I saw videos all over Twitter and Instagram of the MP beating protestors, firing tear gas and rubber bullets.”

“I think of the coup nearly a decade ago now. The way I understand it, one morning the US government decided our democratically elected president wasn’t fit to rule anymore. They drove him out, imposing a military state and right-wing government instead. How can we be independent if another country—bigger, richer, more powerful—can swoop in at any time and upend everything?


Despite the risks of violence, there is such a notable sense of community throughout this novel that really brings each character to life and allows them to shine individually. I felt the heartwarming moments between Libertad and her older brother Maynor as they got to know each other as people and not just as siblings. I felt Libertad’s sorrow and confusion when her mom found out about her being gay and urged her to hide it at first. I felt her classic moments of annoyance with her younger brother Alberto, and her opposition to the traditional viewpoints of her Abuela. I empathized with each character trying to make sense of very complicated family dynamics, including absent parents and physically abusive ones.

Zaldivar expertly crafted emotions and relationships in this book that felt genuine. All of the characters have flaws. All of the characters have moments that they come to regret. Through the conflicts, Libertad unearths a deep understanding of the power of empathy, forgiveness, and growth in interpersonal relationships. It felt special to watch the character relationships grow and change throughout the novel. Here are a few moments of character connection that I loved:

“"It’s what every mother wants, I think. For life to be a little less hard for our children than it was for us.””

“As the two of us breathe in and out, slowly, I remind myself that this shit is hard. She has her own process to go through. I asked her a question, and she answered me as honestly as she could.”

“I stare into Alberto’s soft, dark eyes, both of us hardly blinking. “I love you so much that sometimes, it feels like if I look at you for too long, I’ll pass out. You know?”

Alberto giggles. “I don’t feel like I’m gonna pass out when I look at you.”

I laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. One day you’ll get it.””


In all, Libertad is an honest depiction of what it’s like to come of age and come to terms with your identity at a time when the world around you feels unsafe. It is raw, honest, and incredibly introspective. It depicts first love and heartache, grief, and the eldest sibling’s guilt of being the first one in your family to leave home. I highly recommend this title for all of its social and political commentary, as well as its exemplary character relationships.
Profile Image for The Book Nerd's Corner.
570 reviews12 followers
August 10, 2024
"Libertad" is a queer coming-of-age story set amongst the political turmoil that sweeps across Honduras in the early 2000s.

It's 2017 and a weighty political election looms over Libertad's and the rest of Honduras' heads. Luckily, Libertad has her poetry to bring her some relief in these tumultuous times. She never would have expected her poems to gain so much traction on Instagram, but then again, she wasn't expecting to kiss her best friend, Cami, in a grungy night club bathroom either. Or that her older brother Maynor would become an active part of the country's political protests. Libertad's world has become a whirlwind of complicated feelings and scenarios and she begins to think that the only way out is to flee the country in search of a better life where she can truly be herself.

This book is a bit of a beast in length and topic matter, but it is an important one. It is also a little more political than my average read, but once again, it's necessary, so I didn't mind it all that much. "Libertad" introduces the reader to a bunch of things that are happening in Honduras, including a rigged political election, an unconstitutional presidential stay, and charged protests, both on the streets and anonymously online. I know very little about other countries, especially their politics, so this was a great intro into Honduras and the things that it's citizens are going through.

One thing I really love about this book is how it didn't shy away from Spanish. I feel many books fear that the audience won't understand the secondary language used throughout, so they try to include it as little as possible or include direct translations directly afterward, making for a bit of a clunky read. This book on the other hand, didn't do either of these things and it made the story flow beautifully and feel much more authentic. This was especially true when Libertad wrote poetry in Spanish; it was gorgeous to experience it in it's originally language. I thank Zaldívar for sharing her language without a filter.

Another thing I can say without fail, is that the author got me attached to all the characters. I loved meeting Libertad's family and seeing how close she is to Abuela, her mother, and both of her brothers, Maynor and Alberto. It is nice to read about families that are super close, yet still have disagreements and fights. Libertad's friends are also great, though Cami is obviously the most important to the story plot and Libertad's self-discovery journey. Even Alicia, an important side character, grabbed on to my heart and wouldn't let go. All of Zaldívar's characters are dynamic, diverse, and all go through some serious stuff that changes their lives in various ways. My heart really goes out to all of her characters.

Overall, "Libertad" is a beautiful story filled with heartfelt characters and gestures. It is a bit of a tough read at times, but it is important to read about the less than optimal parts of life and experience the grief, love, and passion that oppressed people often go through. If you have interest in reading Libertad's queer, coming-of-age tale while also learning about the beautiful country of Honduras, I can't recommend this one enough.
Profile Image for Selena De La Cruz.
47 reviews
February 26, 2025
Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar is a powerful coming-of-age story that follows a Honduran high schooler as she navigates the complexities of her sexuality, family dynamics, and an uncertain future. Against the backdrop of political turmoil in Honduras, Libertad confronts personal and societal struggles while finding her voice in a chaotic world.

One of the book’s most profound messages is that true freedom comes from accepting yourself fully. Once you embrace who you are, you can stand up for what you believe in and follow your own path. This theme resonates throughout the novel as Libertad grapples with her identity and the pressure of living in a deeply conservative society.

What makes this novel so compelling is how vividly it brings Libertad’s world to life. Through the author’s rich descriptions, I felt immersed in her hometown—the humid air, the relentless rain, the buzz of mosquitoes, and the heat all felt palpable. The dialogue reflects authentic Honduran speech, adding to the story’s realism. I especially loved the references to local food; every mention of plantain chips made me crave them. The novel doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of being queer in a conservative country, and many scenes left me heartbroken at the injustice faced by Libertad and her family. Despite the heavy themes, the book is filled with moments of love, hope, and resilience. There is little I would criticize—the emotional depth and cultural richness made it an unforgettable read.

This is an essential book for open-minded readers and those who identify with or want to understand queer experiences. It also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of youth involvement in politics. Through Libertad’s eyes, we see how governments can prioritize self-interest over the people, offering a cautionary reflection for other countries—including the United States—on the dangers of political complacency. The novel encourages readers to educate themselves, think critically about their leaders, and take action to protect their future.

In short, Libertad is a moving, immersive, and thought-provoking novel that stays with you long after the final page. Highly recommended.
Author 27 books31 followers
November 28, 2024
A lot of YA books struggle to balance the fact that a good story requires character agency, but the characters are teenagers, which often means that their agency has limits. "Libertad" (a title which references the main character's name, but also the central theme) is a book about a girl who bears witness to something huge she has no agency over, and yet who carves out a place in the world in other ways.

I appreciated the ways in which this book addressed Libertad's desire to escape Honduras, without suggesting that emigration was the ultimate end goal of Hondurans in general. The author uses this story, and the character conversations, to ask a lot of questions about how one survives in a place where their freedoms are limited and their identity equates to danger. In some places, they answer those questions with moving reflections on how relationships can deny social norms; in others, they offer multiple perspectives but no hard and fast conclusions. It's clear, even before the beautiful author's note, that Zaldivar is navigating the complexity of the situation, and that they believe that the choices they've made are not necessarily "right" in any objective sense.

I'm reluctant to talk to much about the plot, since I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that this book felt sincere and wholehearted at every step of the way. I loved it, even as it hurt to read on multiple levels. I do think the themes were handled in a way that works for the genre and age range of the target audience without pulling punches or getting too heavy-handed with the messaging.

Thank you to BookishFirst and the publisher for the ARC... I was a bit delayed in reading it, but this is heavy material, and is quite timely in its themes even though it's technically a (recent) history novel. This was so good. "Libertad" is one of the best books I've read this year, and I've read a LOT.
Profile Image for Alena.
267 reviews
August 29, 2024
Libertad is a powerful debut about a queer teen living in the political disturbance of Honduras. 

It is a realistic and emotional story, you don't need to know much about Honduras to understand what is going on, the author explains the historical context simply and makes you part of the story, you can almost be breathing the hostile air of Tegucigalpa, before the elections.

Libertad is a queer teenager but she can't admit it because of the homophobia of the country, through her poetry she expresses herself anonymously, she writes about her feelings, her family, and above all about politics and the problems of her country, only those closest to her know who is behind the viral Instagram.

Honduras is a dangerous place, but that does not mean that the characters do not have dreams and hopes, they want and fight for a better country, and they are looking forward to the elections to exercise their right to choose and thrive.

It’s raw, realistic, emotional, and powerful, it is about love and grief, about following your path and discovering yourself, and being careful. The family and friendship dynamics are realistic and complex, there are many people and everyone has a unique voice. They are likable people, with dreams and flaws, they are messy and complicated, but if you get attached to them and can empathize with their actions you will suffer when something happens to them. And spoilers & TW: something is going to happen to them, it's violent, it's horrible but it's realistic, and it makes sense, even if you don't like me, life is hard and you don't know what can happen.

It’s heartbreaking, but it is also a lesson, not only about the political conflict in Honduras but also about humanity. It’s an important story.

Read if you like:
• Diverse Reads
• Coming of Age
• Realistic stories
Profile Image for chaospaladin.
99 reviews3 followers
August 18, 2024
When I got this book in the mail I was like wow it's longer than I was thinking (over 400 pages!) and I was concerned I would get bored and struggle to finish it. That was not the case at all, I read ~250 pages in 2 days so it did an excellent job holding my attention overall.

Onto what I loved. This books is heavy on the emotions and it does it well, I will even admit I teared up in a few places. I loved Libertad's relationships with her siblings, especially Maynor. Honestly her relationships with all of her friends and family is what really made the book interesting and the writing around them is great. I liked the poetry aspect of it a lot, and I feel like the prose really has a poetry vibe to it some of the descriptions which really added to it.

Really my only gripes with the book are formatting based, which might sound silly and maybe you'll think none of this matters but it seriously bothered me. First off, and I feel like I am always complaining about this, the book is almost all in first person, following Libertad as the title would suggest. But there's several chunks about her family members that are from the past and in third person. Nothing pulls me out of a book faster than shifts like that and I just did not like it. Yes there's some character information in them but the important bits are relayed to Libertad at some point so honestly they just do not need to be there imo I also really struggled with the Spanish in the book. I am NOT saying it doesn't belong there, it 100% is at home in the book, but there's very little explanation or translation. There are some end note translations (with the first one coming on page 158), but there's only 5 of them. There are some in-text translations and context clues, but not nearly enough for me personally.
170 reviews
June 6, 2024
ARC provided by Penguin Teen (thanks!) Seventeen-year-old senior Libertad lives in Tegucigalpa, Honduras with her family. As the Honduran presidential election advances, Libertad must navigate her own identity amid tumultuous political and social circumstances.

Libertad is a book that will stay in the back of my mind for a long time. Zaldívar does an excellent job with writing about Libertad and her family’s home life, but also how that life intersects with and is affected by the decisions that the people in power make.

Libertad, her family, and her friends are beautifully flawed people. I love how Libertad herself was allowed to feel extreme emotions in response to the things that she was going through. We also get a glimpse into many other people’s lives and backgrounds, such as her older brother, Maynor, her mother, and her grandmother.

Throughout the novel, Libertad must grapple with her queer identity and what that means for her future in general, but also her future if she stays in Honduras. This theme, I think, will resonate with many queer readers, but especially queer readers who cannot come out safely.

One of the only criticisms that I had of the book is that I wish that we learned a little more about (and had POVS of) some of Libertad’s friends, like Cami or Valeria, who mentions that she’s queer once towards the end of the book, and then we don’t hear much more from her. Same with Dani; I liked her, but she seemed to serve as Libertad’s gateway to the queer community, and I just wish we got a pov from her or something more.

Libertad is out August 2024, and I absolutely recommend it!!
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254 reviews12 followers
October 5, 2024
Thank you to @penguinteen for providing an ARC.

This was a great debut and I am so happy that more authors from Central America are getting published these days. I’m always on the lookout for YA books to read from that part of the world because of the students I serve in my district.

Libertad is set in 2017 Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is a time of political unrest and the main character, Libertad is entering her senior year as the president is threatening not to step aside after the election.

There are so many elements to relate to in this debut novel. Despite the political unrest, it is mid-paced. Just like in real life, despite the craziness of a revolution hanging over everyone’s heads, life must go on. For Libertad, that means figuring out her feelings for her best friend in a culture that does not accept queerness. Over one year, Libertad experiences love, develops as a political poet and must decide whether Honduras is the home she wants to stay in.

There are some portions that move a little slow. But I tend to lean towards the action packed scenes in books. The protest and police scenes early on in the book really pulled me in, as I’m not familiar with that time period in Honduras so I didn’t know what to expect.

Home, family and acceptance are constant motifs throughout the book. Several chapters are even in her mother and older brother’s point of view. I really appreciated hearing from both of them, but especially Maynor. Since he is the oldest by more than 5 years, he has insight into family dynamics that Libertad does not, and it adds depth to the story. It thought it was a unique touch to the narrative.

I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy. The narrator did an excellent job at voicing the characters. There is Spanish language throughout the book so if you need help with pronunciation or just want to hear how it is supposed to sound for non-native speakers, I definitely recommend.

I look forward to reading more of Zaldivar’s work.
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