Seven Not-to-Miss 2022 YA Books with Latinx Protagonists

Last year was a great year for YA novels with Latinx protagonists, and 2022 promises to continue this positive trend. Here are seven titles to keep an eye out for this year.

Last year was a great year for YA novels with Latinx protagonists, and 2022 promises to continue this positive trend. Here are seven titles to keep an eye out for this year.

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Cervantes, J.C. Flirting with Fate. Razorbill. Apr. 2022. ISBN 9780593524114.
The best-selling author of the middle grade "The Storm Runner" series, makes her YA debut with this fantastical novel about love and fate. Ava Granados's Nana is at the brink of death, and Ava is trying desperately to reach her and receive the blessing that has been passed down in her family from generation to generation. Ava doesn’t make it in time, but soon her Nana’s ghost appears, revealing that she did send Ava a blessing—but it landed on someone else. Now, the protagonist has to get close to the young man who carries her blessing, and in doing so, open up her carefully guarded heart.

Córdova, Zoraida, ed. Reclaim the Stars: 17 Tales Across Realms & Space. Wednesday Bks. Feb. 2022. ISBN 9781250790644.
This 17-story anthology features science fiction and fantasy stories by Latinx voices including, J.C. Cervantes, Yamile Saied Méndez, and Mark Oshiro. Meet ghosts, princesses, and mermaids and travel across space and into lands and realms both familiar and unfamiliar in this vibrant anthology.

Cuevas, Mayra & Maria Marquardt. Does My Body Offend You? Knopf. Apr. 2022. ISBN 9780593425855.
Malena Rosario finds herself in Florida after her home in Puerto Rico is destroyed by Hurricane María. The last thing she expects is to be attacked by the school’s administration for not wearing a bra to school. Ruby McAllister is used to speaking out but is secretly uncertain about her own future. When she sees how Malena is being treated, she speaks up. Malena and Ruby’s lives become intertwined as they fight for what they believe in and discover what they have inside.

Engle, Margarita. Rima's Rebellion: Courage in a Time of Tyranny. S. & S./Atheneum. Feb. 2022. ISBN 9781534486935.
After taking readers to 1991 Cuba in last year’s Your Heart, My Sky, Engle travels further back in Cuba’s history to the 1920s, where women are struggling to win the right to vote. Rima, having been born illegitimately, faces bullying constantly—but finds solace in riding horses with her grandmother. As women fight for suffrage, Rima finds inspiration and strength in others, and during these unprecedented times, begins falling in love.

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Ibañez, Isabel. Together We Burn. Wednesday Bks. May 2022. ISBN 9781250803351.
When her father, the most famous Dragador in Hispalia, is injured, Zarela Zalvidar must learn how to fight with dragons herself if she wants to maintain a hold on the arena that belongs to her family. Her only hope is an unwilling dragon hunter she must convince to help her. This fantasy novel based on medieval Spain is sure to be a favorite with fans of fantasy, adventure, and of course, dragons.

Maldonado, Crystal. No Filter and Other Lies. Holiday House. Feb. 2022. ISBN 9780823447183.
The author of Fat Chance, Charlie Vega returns with this timely novel about what can happen when small lies get out of control. Teen Kat Sanchez has a secret—she is also 21-year-old Max Monroe, a popular social media influencer with a fun and adventurous life. At least, online she is. But when the person Kat has been stealing from to create her online persona finds out, her life quickly spirals out of control.

Velez, Angela. Lulu and Milagro's Search for Clarity. HarperCollins/Balzer + Bray. Feb. 2022. ISBN 9780063071780.
Ever since their perfect older sister Clara left for college, Lulu and Milagro have been pursuing their own goals—studious Lulu hitting the books and working hard to obtain a summer internship at Stanford, and fashion-forward and fun-loving Milagro devoting more time to her boyfriend. When they suddenly find themselves on a weeklong field trip exploring possible colleges, Lulu and Milagro find new friendships and discover truths about themselves and Clara.

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