What do you think?
Rate this book
Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed: 15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora
Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, 'WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED' is a groundbreaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope.
In 'WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED', best-selling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These 15 original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, 'WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED' is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.
The best-selling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.
In 'WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED', best-selling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These 15 original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, 'WILD TONGUES CAN'T BE TAMED' is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.
The best-selling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.
9 pages, Audible Audio
First published November 2, 2021
210 people are currently reading
11519 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews
May 5, 2021
Review for shelf awarenness.
November 2, 2021
Thank you Flatiron Books for providing me with an early copy of Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed!
When I came across this anthology on my twitter timeline, I immediately wanted an early copy of it. I digitally ran over to Netgalley and requested it the second I saw it up. Unfortunately, I am still waiting to see if I have been approved or not.
Luckily, I came across a few instagram giveaways that were providing early physical copies and you know I had to enter all of them.
Somehow, my entry was picked and I became the proud owner of one.
This collection of non-fiction stories by authors from the Latinx diaspora is so important for many reasons. However, the most important reason is due to the majority of the authors selected are Afro-Latinx/Black/Indigenous, who are historically forgotten when speaking about Latinx people/history.
It was amazing getting to read their life stories, especially since my brother on my mom's side is Afro-Cuban. Even though we come from the same mother, our lives and walks through it are on two different spectrums. It helped him understand what life for him was most likely like, as we've never really spoken about it.
Apart from that, this was my first anthology in a very long time. It was enjoyable seeing many authors and their stories along with their writings come together, allowing me to get to know them. There are many authors I'd never read anything from, but am intrigued to check their other works out.
I recommend this anthology to every one, even other Latinx folks, especially white/white passing Latinx. Many of us need to learn and reflect on how we abide by White Supremacy while being quick to correct people when they say we are white.
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️4 STARS⭐️
When I came across this anthology on my twitter timeline, I immediately wanted an early copy of it. I digitally ran over to Netgalley and requested it the second I saw it up. Unfortunately, I am still waiting to see if I have been approved or not.
Luckily, I came across a few instagram giveaways that were providing early physical copies and you know I had to enter all of them.
Somehow, my entry was picked and I became the proud owner of one.
This collection of non-fiction stories by authors from the Latinx diaspora is so important for many reasons. However, the most important reason is due to the majority of the authors selected are Afro-Latinx/Black/Indigenous, who are historically forgotten when speaking about Latinx people/history.
It was amazing getting to read their life stories, especially since my brother on my mom's side is Afro-Cuban. Even though we come from the same mother, our lives and walks through it are on two different spectrums. It helped him understand what life for him was most likely like, as we've never really spoken about it.
Apart from that, this was my first anthology in a very long time. It was enjoyable seeing many authors and their stories along with their writings come together, allowing me to get to know them. There are many authors I'd never read anything from, but am intrigued to check their other works out.
I recommend this anthology to every one, even other Latinx folks, especially white/white passing Latinx. Many of us need to learn and reflect on how we abide by White Supremacy while being quick to correct people when they say we are white.
OVERALL RATING: ⭐️4 STARS⭐️
Want to read
August 21, 2021Giveaway Win!
February 28, 2022
Am I terrible person for not loving this?
It’s a collection of essays by Latinos, many of them Afro-Latino. Most of them explore identity—trying to fit in, whether in society or an ethnic group, which is the universal experience of teens and college students. In fact, it began to feel like a collection of college entrance essays.
Some of these writers explore the experience of finding your identity very well. Others seem unaware that this is a universal experience and rite of passage for every teenager and young adult, regardless of time and place, let alone race. Having gone through it myself quite a while ago, these experiences didn’t have a profound effect on me. I have also spent my whole life surrounded by Latinos, so there really wasn’t anything eye-opening or earth-shattering to me: I’ve seen (and felt) these types of experiences many times.
A lot of this book shows the absurdity of forcing people into ethnic and other arbitrary identity groups, though I doubt that was the intention. None of these writers see that. They all have to find the “right” group to belong to. It’s out of the question to belong to multiple groups. A few complain about others being judgmental and then make judgmental statements themselves, and that kind of hypocrisy irked me.
A final note: The vast majority of Latin Americans don’t like the term Latinx, which the book editors insist on here. As someone who grew up hearing and learning Spanish, I find it insulting. It is imposing white, English-speaking sensibilities onto another language, implying that the language isn’t good enough. It feels like linguistic imperialism. Cultural appropriation, maybe. (See here for more on this.)
Language: Some strong language
Sexual Content: Mostly implied
Violence: Some in flashbacks, not graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
It’s a collection of essays by Latinos, many of them Afro-Latino. Most of them explore identity—trying to fit in, whether in society or an ethnic group, which is the universal experience of teens and college students. In fact, it began to feel like a collection of college entrance essays.
Some of these writers explore the experience of finding your identity very well. Others seem unaware that this is a universal experience and rite of passage for every teenager and young adult, regardless of time and place, let alone race. Having gone through it myself quite a while ago, these experiences didn’t have a profound effect on me. I have also spent my whole life surrounded by Latinos, so there really wasn’t anything eye-opening or earth-shattering to me: I’ve seen (and felt) these types of experiences many times.
A lot of this book shows the absurdity of forcing people into ethnic and other arbitrary identity groups, though I doubt that was the intention. None of these writers see that. They all have to find the “right” group to belong to. It’s out of the question to belong to multiple groups. A few complain about others being judgmental and then make judgmental statements themselves, and that kind of hypocrisy irked me.
A final note: The vast majority of Latin Americans don’t like the term Latinx, which the book editors insist on here. As someone who grew up hearing and learning Spanish, I find it insulting. It is imposing white, English-speaking sensibilities onto another language, implying that the language isn’t good enough. It feels like linguistic imperialism. Cultural appropriation, maybe. (See here for more on this.)
Language: Some strong language
Sexual Content: Mostly implied
Violence: Some in flashbacks, not graphic
Harm to Animals:
Harm to Children:
Other (Triggers):
March 10, 2022
This is one of those books I missed reading last year and right after finishing it I was really upset at myself for not finding the time to read it sooner!! That said, I am glad I finally got to it. It’s such an expansive and diverse collection of Latinx/e voices covering topics of colorism, coming-of-age, imposter syndrome and so much more. I do think because each essay jumped to covering different topics and themes, the over all collection felt a bit disjointed. I still plan to recommend this collection to everyone.
January 28, 2022
A beautiful collection of writing pieces across numerous perspectives and voices from our expansive and broad diaspora.
The book of 15 writers and stories to tell covers what it means to be recognized for one's identity by those within and outside of the diaspora. It covers death and grief. It covers womanhood and navigating queerness and religion. There is so much love and struggle explored that hits so close to home, with other stories broadening our understanding of what it truly means to be a community and support one another.
In this exploration of race, ethnicity, language, politics, and layered connections to cultural identity, we are presented with something very raw and honest.
The book of 15 writers and stories to tell covers what it means to be recognized for one's identity by those within and outside of the diaspora. It covers death and grief. It covers womanhood and navigating queerness and religion. There is so much love and struggle explored that hits so close to home, with other stories broadening our understanding of what it truly means to be a community and support one another.
In this exploration of race, ethnicity, language, politics, and layered connections to cultural identity, we are presented with something very raw and honest.
July 4, 2021
These are more essays than short stories. Which is on me. I didn’t think about how “anthology” can mean many things.
I think this is good. I think it will get recommended a lot. But it’s also a book that is very clearly not for me. Which is okay. I think it’s going to mean a lot to readers seeing themselves for the first time. Although it’s marketed as YA and has a really stellar lineup of YA authors, I’d push back on this being strictly YA. This feels a lot like something that would be assigned in a hip college course (and maybe an ambitious high school course) which is good because nonfiction like that is hard to find.
I’m not sure who the actual audience for this book will be. It will, of course, be an invaluable mirror to Latinx teens and be a window for other readers. But even with the snazzy cover and the author lineup I question how many teens browsing a library or bookstore will pick this one up on their own.
I think this is good. I think it will get recommended a lot. But it’s also a book that is very clearly not for me. Which is okay. I think it’s going to mean a lot to readers seeing themselves for the first time. Although it’s marketed as YA and has a really stellar lineup of YA authors, I’d push back on this being strictly YA. This feels a lot like something that would be assigned in a hip college course (and maybe an ambitious high school course) which is good because nonfiction like that is hard to find.
I’m not sure who the actual audience for this book will be. It will, of course, be an invaluable mirror to Latinx teens and be a window for other readers. But even with the snazzy cover and the author lineup I question how many teens browsing a library or bookstore will pick this one up on their own.
December 7, 2021
This book was really well done. It deals with very heavy topics, but the voices telling their stories were excellent. I loved the variety of experiences that were captured in this collection. Books of essays aren’t typically my first go to, but I am so glad I won a copy of this book on Goodreads. I am not Lantinix, but it was excellent to get to read about some of the perspectives to help me understand this culture better. I highly recommend this book which I devoured in one day.
February 9, 2024
This is a touching collection of essays about struggles with identity and finding your place in the world.
April 1, 2022
There is no other book that is quite like Wild Tongues Can’t be Tamed.
More than just essays from people in the Latinx diaspora this book also has a lot to say about Afro-Latinx intersectionality. Either through my lack of searching or simply lack of books I have never read a book with so much Afro-Latinx representation. I took the most pleasure in slowing down and gently unfolding and listening to the stories being told. I found that I connected so much with a lot of the struggles depicted in these stories even though I am not a member of the Latinx community. I thought it was a wonderful way of showing struggle and also having community, culture, resources, and hope to fall back on. Every of this book is a masterpiece from the way the stories are arranged to the words that build to moments of clarity. I wish there were more books like this one in the world. If there were, the world would probably be a more honest place. I really believe in having places to let marginalized people speak freely and allow themselves to tell and to be listened to and I feel like this is a step towards that being an intrinsic part of our society. This book should be on everyone's bookshelf.
—Thank You High Five Books for providing this ARC—
More than just essays from people in the Latinx diaspora this book also has a lot to say about Afro-Latinx intersectionality. Either through my lack of searching or simply lack of books I have never read a book with so much Afro-Latinx representation. I took the most pleasure in slowing down and gently unfolding and listening to the stories being told. I found that I connected so much with a lot of the struggles depicted in these stories even though I am not a member of the Latinx community. I thought it was a wonderful way of showing struggle and also having community, culture, resources, and hope to fall back on. Every of this book is a masterpiece from the way the stories are arranged to the words that build to moments of clarity. I wish there were more books like this one in the world. If there were, the world would probably be a more honest place. I really believe in having places to let marginalized people speak freely and allow themselves to tell and to be listened to and I feel like this is a step towards that being an intrinsic part of our society. This book should be on everyone's bookshelf.
—Thank You High Five Books for providing this ARC—
February 3, 2022
3,5 stars!
Really enjoyed this book, would recommend to certain people. Hard to review as I really enjoyed some authors stories and some became a bit repetative. I think this is because as a woc growing up around only white people, many of these thoughts and feelings are not revolutionary and things that have been rotating in my own brain for years, as well as people and situations I’ve encountered in my own life. At times it felt like some stories were written for the white gaze. That the writer expects the reader to not have any experience or understanding of the matter. Not acknowledging the normalities, and the fact that the reader is just as likely to be familiar to the feelings and situations as the reader is to be unknowing.
I would recommend this to anyone who is not of colour, and to people of colour who are young/ want their feelings and experience validated and understood. For me, the perspective of colourism, insight to the Latinx community (it’s beauty and its flaws), being an immigrant/child of an immigrant in America was very valuable and highly appreciated.
Really enjoyed this book, would recommend to certain people. Hard to review as I really enjoyed some authors stories and some became a bit repetative. I think this is because as a woc growing up around only white people, many of these thoughts and feelings are not revolutionary and things that have been rotating in my own brain for years, as well as people and situations I’ve encountered in my own life. At times it felt like some stories were written for the white gaze. That the writer expects the reader to not have any experience or understanding of the matter. Not acknowledging the normalities, and the fact that the reader is just as likely to be familiar to the feelings and situations as the reader is to be unknowing.
I would recommend this to anyone who is not of colour, and to people of colour who are young/ want their feelings and experience validated and understood. For me, the perspective of colourism, insight to the Latinx community (it’s beauty and its flaws), being an immigrant/child of an immigrant in America was very valuable and highly appreciated.
March 9, 2023
Goodreads giveaway
This feels more like a collection of college admissions essays about identity crises.
This feels more like a collection of college admissions essays about identity crises.
November 19, 2021
Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed features personal stories from a variety of Latinx authors.
Themes: identity, sexuality, racism, Black experience, Latinx experience, colonialism, immigration, assimilation, imposter syndrome, language trauma, mental health, agency over one’s body and life
Writers from across the Latinx diaspora interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about this rich and diverse community.
Eres Un Pocho by Mark Oshiro
The Price of Admission by Naima Coster
Caution Song by Natasha Diaz
The Mark of a Good Man by Meg Medina
#Julian4SpiderMan by Julian Randall
Half In, Half Out by Saraciea J. Fennell
Haitian Sensation by Ibi Zoboi
The Land, The Ghosts, and Me by Cristina Arreola
Paraíso Negro by Kahlil Haywood
Cuban Imposter Syndrome by Zakiya N. Jamal
More Than Nervios by Lilliam Rivera
Alaiyo by Jasminne Mendez
Invisible by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Abuela’s Greatest Gift by Janel Martinez
A Mi Orden: A Meditation on Dichos by Elizabeth Acevedo
This is a book that will make many feel seen, heard, and empowered. Do yourself a favor, and read it. I’ll definitely be checking out other works by these authors.
CW: racism, racial slurs, colorism, microaggressions, substance use, homophobia, suicidal thoughts/ideation/attempt
Themes: identity, sexuality, racism, Black experience, Latinx experience, colonialism, immigration, assimilation, imposter syndrome, language trauma, mental health, agency over one’s body and life
Writers from across the Latinx diaspora interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about this rich and diverse community.
Eres Un Pocho by Mark Oshiro
The Price of Admission by Naima Coster
Caution Song by Natasha Diaz
The Mark of a Good Man by Meg Medina
#Julian4SpiderMan by Julian Randall
Half In, Half Out by Saraciea J. Fennell
Haitian Sensation by Ibi Zoboi
The Land, The Ghosts, and Me by Cristina Arreola
Paraíso Negro by Kahlil Haywood
Cuban Imposter Syndrome by Zakiya N. Jamal
More Than Nervios by Lilliam Rivera
Alaiyo by Jasminne Mendez
Invisible by Ingrid Rojas Contreras
Abuela’s Greatest Gift by Janel Martinez
A Mi Orden: A Meditation on Dichos by Elizabeth Acevedo
This is a book that will make many feel seen, heard, and empowered. Do yourself a favor, and read it. I’ll definitely be checking out other works by these authors.
CW: racism, racial slurs, colorism, microaggressions, substance use, homophobia, suicidal thoughts/ideation/attempt
September 6, 2022
A few strong, interesting pieces, but overall a somewhat flat collection. Many of the pieces lacked a certain flair or real pivotal theme that they turned around, so they read more like laundry lists of issues about identity and upbringing. I was also really unclear on the intended audience; supposedly it's geared toward young adult readers, but most essays talked about things happening to their writers in adulthood (dealing with aging parents, in-laws, having kids, careers, and the like), which are not the things on a teen's mind. It just felt like a book about identity crisis with an identity crisis, which is a shame, since many of the writers wrote about the important topic of racism and anti-Blackness in the Latin American community.
Speaking of: please let's retire the term Latinx? It's so awkward and impossible to say in our language and how the hell do you pluralize it? I refuse to use it; it was not created by us, so I prefer Latine or Latin American as an umbrella term.
I'd been looking forward to this collection, and there are a few pieces I connected to or found quite strong, but overall, a lack of cohesion and lack of clear audience led me to struggle with this one, which is a bummer. Look at that stunning cover!
Speaking of: please let's retire the term Latinx? It's so awkward and impossible to say in our language and how the hell do you pluralize it? I refuse to use it; it was not created by us, so I prefer Latine or Latin American as an umbrella term.
I'd been looking forward to this collection, and there are a few pieces I connected to or found quite strong, but overall, a lack of cohesion and lack of clear audience led me to struggle with this one, which is a bummer. Look at that stunning cover!
September 4, 2021
This was a Goodreads Giveaway win book for me! I was so happy to have received this advanced copy in the mail!! I stepped out of my Black YA box and read stories by Latinx writers. Let me tell you…These 15 stories were AMAZING! I couldn’t put this book down. I enjoyed using Google Translate to look up words and phrases used in these stories. There’s so many different Latinxs-Honduran, Dominican, Afro-Latina and so much more and they each have their own style and differences but similarities at the same time. ALL Latinxs will appreciate this beautiful body of work. As someone who is not, I learned so much and appreciated a different type of culture that I’m not a part of. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful!
January 7, 2022
Thank you Flatiron Books for sending me an ARC in exchange of my honest opinion.
This anthology is a gem, and I need everyone to read it. It collects stories from many perspectives of the Latinx diaspora, focusing mainly on Afro-Latines and Indigenous-Latines. They delve into gender identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, among other topics that are present in our day by day. I loved every single essay since it presented the experience of each author while navigating their identity. My favorite essays were Elizabeth Acevedo’s, Zakiya N. Jamal’s, Janel Martinez’s, Mark Oshiro’s, and Saraciea J. Fennell’s.
This anthology is a gem, and I need everyone to read it. It collects stories from many perspectives of the Latinx diaspora, focusing mainly on Afro-Latines and Indigenous-Latines. They delve into gender identity, sexual orientation, race, culture, among other topics that are present in our day by day. I loved every single essay since it presented the experience of each author while navigating their identity. My favorite essays were Elizabeth Acevedo’s, Zakiya N. Jamal’s, Janel Martinez’s, Mark Oshiro’s, and Saraciea J. Fennell’s.
October 15, 2023
Didn’t realize this was a nonfiction but regardless this was a fantastic 5⭐️!! Probably one of my favorite collection of stories, I felt their emotion and pain and I felt their struggles with their communities and identities. Definitely recommend this book and hopefully found some new authors to continue reading from!!
October 31, 2021
My heart. This was such a beautiful anthology. I cried for most of it because I just felt so much of the words written here. I think everyone needs to read this book!
December 3, 2021
There were some really standout essays in this collection. I loved seeing so many new and exciting Latinx voices in this book. Can’t wait to see what else they put out.
April 3, 2023
This book was a great read about dealing with heavy life topics, but I feel as though some of the essays were very repetitive.
January 19, 2022
A wonderful read that hits close to the heart and shows the immense diversity of the Latinx experience. Invisible by Ingrid Rojas Contreras hit the closest and got me to tears and rage. Made me realize how much healing I have to be from growing up and navigating within white suprematist racist families. Also has inspired me to write about my own experiences, a great feeling to have when you finish a piece.
August 5, 2021
Important collection of Latinx diaspora voices and all the gorgeous texture that immigration and exploration of roots cultivates. There are essays on beauty, alcoholism, colorism, proximity to whiteness, mental health stigma, relationships with fathers, uncles and in-laws. The whole purpose of this collection is to platform voices not traditionally represented on the shelves, and it does just that. Beautifully curated and incredibly important addition to our reading lives.
March 26, 2022
This collection is what I wished I had growing up. The 15 essays cover individuals navigating latinidad with all its complexity and limitations. In general, I tend to like essay compilations because there are always a few that really resonate. Definitely recommend.
November 23, 2022
"It's strange to not speak a language fluently yet still
be attuned to its meaning, but it's comforting all the
same.”
This collection of 15 Latinx narratives was so powerful. It really captured the variety of experiences different Latinx folks have. Latinidad is not a monolith!
These personal narratives dived deep into discussions of identity, language, and culture.
I am a white Latina and I found myself relating to the narratives that talked of Latinx imposter syndrome and the internal reluctance to claim their identity due to a lack of ability to speak the Spanish language. This is something I have struggled with my whole life. I am white. It is what people know when they see me. But to only claim whiteness denies half of my family. It denies my Dad and my grandparents and great-grandparents.
Reading these narratives about struggling with identity made me feel like I wasn’t alone with my own feelings of identity. I AM Latina, and one day hopefully I’ll feel confident enough in my own self. But I am also white, and I cannot ignore that my experiences are different than these authors. I have tremendous white privilege. Due to my whiteness, I will never have to experience racism the way my grandma has, nor will I have to experience racial profiling like my Dad has.
This nonfiction collection opens the door for further personal reflection. It educates and informs on other Latinx experiences. It provides alternate perspectives. A beautiful and POWERFUL read. I highly recommend it.
be attuned to its meaning, but it's comforting all the
same.”
This collection of 15 Latinx narratives was so powerful. It really captured the variety of experiences different Latinx folks have. Latinidad is not a monolith!
These personal narratives dived deep into discussions of identity, language, and culture.
I am a white Latina and I found myself relating to the narratives that talked of Latinx imposter syndrome and the internal reluctance to claim their identity due to a lack of ability to speak the Spanish language. This is something I have struggled with my whole life. I am white. It is what people know when they see me. But to only claim whiteness denies half of my family. It denies my Dad and my grandparents and great-grandparents.
Reading these narratives about struggling with identity made me feel like I wasn’t alone with my own feelings of identity. I AM Latina, and one day hopefully I’ll feel confident enough in my own self. But I am also white, and I cannot ignore that my experiences are different than these authors. I have tremendous white privilege. Due to my whiteness, I will never have to experience racism the way my grandma has, nor will I have to experience racial profiling like my Dad has.
This nonfiction collection opens the door for further personal reflection. It educates and informs on other Latinx experiences. It provides alternate perspectives. A beautiful and POWERFUL read. I highly recommend it.
July 25, 2021
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC of the anthology (for which I was SUPER excited for). 4/5 stars.
This was WAY more critical in terms of theory and positionality than I expected. I was honestly expecting this to be geared more YA, but I would expect these texts to be read at a critical level in college courses or DEI courses. I do think high schoolers could handle them -- and need to read them -- but it would require a lot of frontloading of information for them to understand it.
Past my teacher perspective -- this book is not and was not meant for me. I say this honestly as a white woman. It was eye opening and I knew and can understand many of the problems and critical theory within the text, but I am not meant to connect with it. I am not the target audience for this text -- and that is okay.
I also was thrilled with the inclusion of Black voices within the Latinx diaspora. I was not expecting the dynamic and varied amount of voices. It was beautiful. It provided a critical look at the foundations in the Latinx community, the anti-Blackness within the community, and the work that needs to be done.
The essays were powerful and poignant. SUCH a good read.
This was WAY more critical in terms of theory and positionality than I expected. I was honestly expecting this to be geared more YA, but I would expect these texts to be read at a critical level in college courses or DEI courses. I do think high schoolers could handle them -- and need to read them -- but it would require a lot of frontloading of information for them to understand it.
Past my teacher perspective -- this book is not and was not meant for me. I say this honestly as a white woman. It was eye opening and I knew and can understand many of the problems and critical theory within the text, but I am not meant to connect with it. I am not the target audience for this text -- and that is okay.
I also was thrilled with the inclusion of Black voices within the Latinx diaspora. I was not expecting the dynamic and varied amount of voices. It was beautiful. It provided a critical look at the foundations in the Latinx community, the anti-Blackness within the community, and the work that needs to be done.
The essays were powerful and poignant. SUCH a good read.
April 7, 2024
I absolutely loved this short story collection and found the vast majority of the entries to be strong 4 and 5 star reads. All shed light on diverse aspects and experiences of the latinx diaspora, and each story added a distinct perspective (while still feeling cohesive overall). My favorite stories for their writing, point of view, and learnings were Haitian Sensation by Ibi Zoboi and A Mi Orden: A Meditation on Dichos by Elizabeth Acevedo (one of my established favorite authors). As my close teacher friend would say, books are either mirrors or windows, and this book is a collection of many windows I'm grateful to have seen through. I found this read to be compelling, thought provoking, and powerful — and a fantastic read for young adult and adult readers alike!
Oh, and definitely read the audiobook so the voices come to life — and you'll hear Elizabeth Acevedo's voice for her piece (she's an all-time favorite audiobook narrator).
Oh, and definitely read the audiobook so the voices come to life — and you'll hear Elizabeth Acevedo's voice for her piece (she's an all-time favorite audiobook narrator).
April 8, 2025
What a powerful and moving collection of essays from authors and thinkers within the Latinx diaspora. Each piece offers a deeply personal perspective, capturing both pride and dismay in equal measure as they reflect on their culture, race, heritage, and lived experiences. These writers share vivid memories from childhood, insights into how their upbringing shaped their adult lives, and honest explorations of identity, mental health, societal politics, and the ongoing search for belonging.
Reading this collection challenged me to better understand the lived experiences of others and deepened my awareness of what true allyship looks like, especially in today’s world. I firmly believe we become better people when we make the effort to step into someone else’s shoes and practice active listening. Everyone’s story matters, and this book is a powerful example of how those stories can be told—through heartfelt, thought-provoking essays by voices that deserve to be heard.
Reading this collection challenged me to better understand the lived experiences of others and deepened my awareness of what true allyship looks like, especially in today’s world. I firmly believe we become better people when we make the effort to step into someone else’s shoes and practice active listening. Everyone’s story matters, and this book is a powerful example of how those stories can be told—through heartfelt, thought-provoking essays by voices that deserve to be heard.
March 6, 2022
A great collection of #ownvoices Latinx short stories giving insights in the broad diaspora of experiences. I enjoyed many of these, especially the ones about struggles with dual identities and figuring out how to belong when you don't visibly appear to fit the stereotypical Latinx mold. A number of these stories address the challenges of Afro-Latinx identities and feeling like they aren't 'enough' in one way or another. There is also a really great story by Elizabeth Acevedo - a favorite author of mine. Overall a really strong collection that should be required reading. Much thanks to Libro.fm for my complimentary ALC!
September 18, 2024
15 YA stories from the latinx diaspora.
👅
In this #storycollection you will find so many original and unique voices from 15 up-and-coming Latinx authors. The stories range from poetry, memoirs, tales of grief, addiction, grief, anti-Blackness and even some ghost and superhero stories. Authors include: Elizabeth Acevedo, Mark Oshiro, Ibi Zoboi, Lilliam Rivera, Jasminne Mendez and others.
👅
It’s hard to rate short stories because I’ll connect with some more than others, but this one was full of characters I couldn’t get enough of. I’d recommend this to any high school student, as well as teachers doing a unit on voice or story collections in general.
CW: racism, xenophobia, homophobia, religious bigotry, mental health, suicide attempt, addiction, ableism
👅
In this #storycollection you will find so many original and unique voices from 15 up-and-coming Latinx authors. The stories range from poetry, memoirs, tales of grief, addiction, grief, anti-Blackness and even some ghost and superhero stories. Authors include: Elizabeth Acevedo, Mark Oshiro, Ibi Zoboi, Lilliam Rivera, Jasminne Mendez and others.
👅
It’s hard to rate short stories because I’ll connect with some more than others, but this one was full of characters I couldn’t get enough of. I’d recommend this to any high school student, as well as teachers doing a unit on voice or story collections in general.
CW: racism, xenophobia, homophobia, religious bigotry, mental health, suicide attempt, addiction, ableism
January 17, 2022
An anthology of reflections on what it means to be Latinx, with a specific focus on the diversity and under representation of the Afro-Latinx experience.
“I think about what we lose when we deny the complexity of our stories, our families, and ourselves in service of some victorious narrative-the desire to declare ourselves triumphant, worthy, palatable to whiteness. I think about the testimonies and self-expression we lose, as well as the opportunities to accept ourselves and connect to one another.” -Naima Coster
“I think about what we lose when we deny the complexity of our stories, our families, and ourselves in service of some victorious narrative-the desire to declare ourselves triumphant, worthy, palatable to whiteness. I think about the testimonies and self-expression we lose, as well as the opportunities to accept ourselves and connect to one another.” -Naima Coster
Displaying 1 - 30 of 345 reviews