(3) YA In 1958 California, four goodhearted Mexican American boys find themselves in deep trouble when they stumble upon the body of a murdered homeless person along the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks that run through their town. Told from the perspective of twelve-year-old Manuel, this coming-of-age story is also a moving exploration of institutionalized racism.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 At once heartbreaking and full of hope, this moving memoir is a survival story that recounts the Mexican American author's adolescence spent as an undocumented immigrant in Texas. Arce brings to life the current reality of many, and her story will evoke empathy. This well-written testament to the power of hope, sacrifice, and education also conveys information about various immigration laws. Includes an insert of family photos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) YA In this dense but readable anthology of captivating tales from pre-Columbian Mexico, a variety of creation and origin myths are ordered chronologically to share a narrative history of the world from the Aztec and Maya perspectives. Background information is provided in the introduction. Add this title to collections of myths from around the world. Pronunciation guide included. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 Ana María Reyes is determined to earn a scholarship spot at the top private school in New York City. But it's not easy to prepare for her piano audition while living in a small Bronx apartment with a large (and still-growing!) family. A trip to her parents' native Dominican Republic puts things in perspective. A warm family story full of heart and humor.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 In this fast-paced new adventure series full of fantastical creatures from Hispanic mythology, Charlie has listened to his abuela's scary tales for years. But suddenly, around the time of a mysterious fire, they seem to come to life. Charlie--now growing horns and feathers--and his crush, Violet, set off on a global chase to find his missing parents. At times frightening but consistently entertaining. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 Lowriders series. Illustrated by Raúl the Third. Elirio, a mosquito with artistic talent, and his friends, an impala and an octopus, share a love of lowrider cars and have mutual bullies--members of a car club known as Los Matamoscas. Spanish words (and their translations) are sprinkled throughout this humorous graphic novel about lowrider culture, friendship, and standing up for oneself. Raúl the Third's distinctive pen drawings burst with energy and visual gags. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) PS Clues written in the first person coupled with illustrations of each animal's tail end encourage readers to guess which animal's head will appear on the following page. Among the mostly predictable answers, a couple of twists are included. Canty's delicate watercolor and mixed-media illustrations are in muted tones and are "adapted from nineteenth-century artwork."

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 On a trip to Mexico City, Mexican American tween Paloma Marquez and her new friends attempt to solve the mystery of the missing peacock ring, a (fictional) ring that belonged to the intriguing and beloved Mexican artist Frida Kahlo. This fast-paced mystery is full of opportunities to learn Spanish vocabulary, gain insights into the art of Kahlo, and glean a small sampling of Mexican culture.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 In this moving and timely sequel to Pura Belpré Honor–winning The Only Road, Jaime has made it into the U.S. and now faces the challenges of assimilating into a different culture. He longs to be with his family back in Guatemala, but with the help of his sketchbook and some unexpected friendships, he discovers a new definition of home. Reading list. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) YA Teenagers Ryan and Dalila are star-crossed from the start: he is a self-proclaimed bad boy from Texas, and she's the studious daughter of a powerful attorney in Mexico. After a chance meeting at a concert, their lives unexpectedly intertwine and it doesn't take long for sparks to fly. This intense romance is told from the passionate protagonists' alternating perspectives.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Ana Aranda. "Get your family--one, two, three! / Are you ready? ¡Claro! ¡Si!" A small-town summer celebration is the thread that weaves fourteen brightly illustrated spreads together. The rhymes on each page, which include Spanish words in bold text, flow well and will inspire young readers to carefully inspect the detailed watercolor and ink scenes. Rain or shine, la celebración continues! Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) YA Essence's marijuana-shop-worker mother is usually high, leaving Essa in charge of her little sister, Puck. Essa and Puck's lives are forever changed when a mysterious boy from Chicago, Oliver, arrives in Boulder, Colorado. Essa's interest in Zen Buddhism gives her strength once the story veers into wilderness-survival terrain. This story is at once a keep-you-guessing mystery and an affectionate portrait of liberal, outdoorsy Boulder culture.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) YA During their senior year in high school, a diverse group of four friends decides to create New Year's resolutions for one another. What follows is a year of life lessons on friendship and identity, told from each of the character's perspectives. Teens will relate to the well-developed characters and their (mostly predictable) struggles.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sarah Horne. Ana receives a chicken for her birthday instead of the amusement park tickets she requested. Little does she know that Abuela Lola--and the chicken--had the ultimate surprise in mind all along, which plays out amusingly in Horne's joke-filled cartoony illustrations. Repetition of the titular refrain throughout the story gives the text a lyrical quality.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 This young readers' adaptation of the adult memoir In the Country We Love tells the heartbreaking story of a girl who was left behind when her undocumented parents were deported to Colombia. Actor/activist Guerrero's account provides readers with an inside view of a contemporary issue and will trigger a variety of emotions in readers. Photographs are sprinkled throughout, and the book ends with a call to action. Websites.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Joshua Heinsz. Paco is a restless student with a vivid imagination; he'd rather daydream and draw than pay attention in class. When his profesor notices Paco's artistic talent, he is introduced to a whole new world: the art room. The serviceable rhyming text includes Spanish words sprinkled throughout. Bright colors bring the illustrations--and Paco's imagination--to vibrant life. Glos.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alessia Trunfio. The story of Jesus's resurrection on Easter morning is told in the style of "The House That Jack Built." The rhyming text and predictable pattern make this an engaging read-aloud for religious settings. The full-spread illustrations are luminous and purple-hued (the color traditionally associated with the Passion of Christ). Bible verses from the Gospel according to John begin and end the book.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) K-3 Translated by Mara Lethem. Illustrated by Chiara Carrer. The lives of seven disadvantaged children who share the same name and live throughout the Americas are highlighted in short, almost poetic snippets translated from the Spanish. Each Pablo has his own unique struggles and sources of hope. The evocative colored- and graphite-pencil illustrations underscore a somber mood and evoke readers' empathy for the boys.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 Luna Ramos's many primas (cousins) annoy her, but especially prissy Claudia. When she locks Claudia in a bathroom at a family quinceañera, Luna is banned from wearing hats, which she uses to cover an embarrassing white patch in her hair. To make matters worse, Claudia is transferring to Luna's school. The accessible, relatable, and humorous story relays messages of loyalty and self-acceptance.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Le Duo. This colorful volume presents two-page profiles of both well-known and lesser-known activists (twenty-nine men, twelve women). The text (successfully translated from the French) is organized into fact boxes, and the digital illustrations are labeled with even more facts about each individual. The heroes featured are from all over the world, some still living today. Timeline.

Reviewer: Katie Darrin