Best-Sellers by Latine Authors Worth Reading in 2023

why didn't you tell me carmen rita wong illegally yours rafael agustin you sound like a white girl julissa arce lighter yung pueblo neruda ont he park cleyvis natera

Latine authors in the United States have made notable contributions to American literature and played a vital role in representing the experiences and perspectives of Latino communities. They have have also written best-selling books.


Coming from a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds and often writing about their experiences as immigrants, their work has helped to enrich and diversify the literary landscape in the U.S. Their ability to tell stories that are often underrepresented in mainstream media, gives voice to the diversity of experiences that exist despite the tendency of mainstream media to lump the entire Latine community into one non-existing monolith.

These five best-selling books by Latine authors released in 2022 accomplish exactly that - the dismantling of the mythical Latine monolith. They each do a deep service to the community by adding their unique stories about what the American-Latine experience is really like.

“Why Didn’t You Tell Me?” by Carmen Rita Wong

Carmen Rita Wong is a journalist, author, and television personality. She is best known for her work as a financial journalist and commentator. She has appeared as a guest on numerous television programs to discuss economic issues and personal finance. In addition to her journalism work, Wong is the author of several books on personal finance and economic issues.

When Carmen’s mom passed away, her lifelong secrets finally unraveled, shaking up Carmen’s fundamental understanding of her daily life, identity, and place in the world. She wanted to shake her mother’s soul by its shoulders and demand: Why didn’t you tell me?!

In this very raw, personal memoir, Carmen explores generational trauma, the psychology of resilience, and racial and cultural identity as she discovers and learns to cope with her mother’s long-held secrets.

Why Didn’t You Tell Me?
$28.00 $22.99

“You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation” by Julissa Arce

Julissa Arce is an immigrant rights activist, speaker, and author. She is known for her work advocating for the rights of immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented. Arce was born in Mexico and immigrated to the United States when she was 11 years old. She became a successful businesswoman, working at Goldman Sachs and other financial firms, but later dedicated her career to social justice activism.

Julissa believed that the secret to fitting in was to “sound like a white girl,” as in having no accent at all. But boy, was she wrong. In her book “You Sound Like a White Girl,” Julissa aims to dispel the myth many immigrants coming into the U.S. are often told: that assimilation leads to happiness and belonging. Instead, she encourages the celebration of our uniqueness, culture, origins, and heritage as she shares her own story and experiences as an immigrant.

You Sound Like a White Girl: The Case for Rejecting Assimilation
$27.99 $13.99

“Illegally Yours: A Memoir” by Rafael Agustin

Rafael Agustín is a television writer and producer who has worked on several popular television shows. He is best known for his work on the award-winning CW show “Jane the Virgin,” on which he served as a writer and producer. Agustín has also written for other television shows, including “Superstore” and “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”

While trying to get his driver’s license during his junior year of high school, teenage Rafael accidentally discovered his parents were undocumented immigrants. This revelation turned his life upside-down and made him question his sense of belonging and identity. “Illegally Yours” is a hilarious and heartwarming tale of how his family’s secret became their struggle, and their struggle became their hustle. As Rafa’s mom told him: “dreams should not have borders.”

Find it as a Hardcover, eBook, or Audiobook:“Illegally Yours: A Memoir” by Rafael Agustin

Illegally Yours: A Memoir
$29.00 $24.99

“Lighter: Let Go of the Past, Connect with the Present, and Expand the Future” by Yung Pueblo

Yung Pueblo is the pseudonym of Diego Perez, a spiritual teacher, author, and social media influencer. Perez is known for his work as Yung Pueblo, through which he shares teachings and insights on spirituality, mindfulness, and personal growth.

Moving forward and healing oneself is never easy, but there are steps we can take toward starting that journey. In his book, Yung Pueblo shares his own path to healing after years of using drugs that were taking a toll on his mind and body, and while he’s still on that journey, he shares with us the first few steps to moving forward. From learning self-compassion to letting go, we can grow stronger, and the burdens we carry will finally become lighter.

Lighter
$24.00 $19.99

“Neruda On The Park” by Cleyvis Natera

Cleyvis Natera is an acclaimed essayist, short fiction writer, critic, and novelist born in the Dominican Republic and raised in New York City. She worked a corporate job in insurance for two decades before becoming a full-time writer. Upon the publication of her debut novel “Neruda On The Park,” it was selected as May 2022 New York Times Editor’s Choice and as the June 2022 pick for Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai’s Fearless Literati Book Club.

An exciting debut novel about members of a Dominican family in New York City who take vastly different routes when faced with impending gentrification, “Neruda On The Park” crafts a vibrant tapestry of community as well as the sacrifices we make to safeguard what we love most in a beautifully detailed depiction of family, friendship, and ambition.

Neruda On The Park: A Novel
$28.00


hands holding up yellow protest signs that say Hands Off Our Bodies
Photo Credit: Gayatri Malhotra via Unsplash

Originally published in Common Dreams. Reprinted with permission.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

In November, abortion rights measures will appear on ballots across ten states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, and New York, where Latinos make up a significant portion of the electorate. For decades, pundits and politicians have recycled long-held misconceptions about Latino voters and abortion access, citing our conservative and religious beliefs.

Anti-abortion extremists have long fueled these misconceptions through misinformation and disinformation campaigns targeting Latino communities with egregious lies and inflammatory rhetoric about abortion. Yet, polling, focus groups, and direct interactions with Latino communities have debunked these outdated tropes.

The Latino electorate will prove decisive in securing reproductive freedom and abortion access through ballot measures around the country, particularly in states where Latinos are a significant portion of the electorate.

For Latinos, the freedom to decide, a pillar of our American democracy, is critical. Meanwhile, Latinos are being hit directly with anti-abortion efforts that take away that freedom such as the six-week abortion ban put into effect by the Florida Supreme Court and the 1864 abortion ban upheld by the Arizona Supreme Court. In the wake of the Dobbs decision, people of color and Latinas have felt the impact of a lack of abortion access, an element of basic healthcare.

A 2023 report by the National Partnership for Women and Families estimated that nearly 6.5 million Latinas, or 42% of all Latinas of reproductive age in the country, live in a state that either had or was likely to ban abortion. Ironically, it will be abortion access and anti-choice efforts to restrict freedom of choice that will mobilize Latino voters this election.

In a poll conducted by three national reproductive justice organizations, 87% of Latinas named abortion and women’s rights as one of their top priorities as they head to the polls. Another battleground poll conducted by Somos PAC and BSP Research found that 61% of Latino registered voters expressed a more positive/favorable view of Kamala Harris after hearing that she will protect abortion rights, versus only 19% of Latinos who said they had a more negative view of Harris after hearing that.

In key states to secure the White House and both chambers, Latinos make up large chunks of the electorate: Arizona (25%), Colorado (15%), Florida (20%), Nevada (20%), and New York (12%). In the face of unprecedented attacks on basic healthcare access and targeted attempts by extremists to mislead and divide our community on this issue, this November Latinos will be key deciders on abortion access across the country.

Mari Urbina, Managing Director of Indivisible, Battleground Arizona Lead and former Harry Reid advisor.

Héctor Sánchez Barba is president and CEO of Mi Familia Vota (MFV).

This Viral Video Game Is Changing the Face of Voter Outreach

In 2024, voting campaigns have evolved greatly, to say the least. Creativity is now the name of the game and tongue-in-cheek humor is expertly leveraged to drive action. One example of that is Bop the Bigot, a revival of a viral game created in 2016 by Bazta Arpaio, an Arizona activist group, as part of a campaign to unseat Maricopa County’s Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Arpaio lost his re-election to Paul Penzone that year.

The game has now been updated for the current election cycle and relaunched by On Point Studios, with new features added to enable players to find out what’s on their ballot, confirm voter status, and register to vote.

Much like its former 2016 version, the game allows users to take out their political frustrations by virtually “bopping” GOP candidates in the head. It’s very similar to whack-a-mole, except the mole is replaced by former President Donald Trump, Ohio’s Senator J. D. Vance, and Kevin Roberts, President of the Heritage Foundation, which is spearheading Project 2025.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

B. Loewe, Director of On Point Studios, came up with the concept for this game when working as the Communications Director at Bazta Arpaio in 2016, and is the executive producer of this revamped version. In the first version of the game, Bop the Bigot players used a chancla (flip flop) to “bop” the characters, tapping into Latino culture by leaning on the childhood experience of being set right by a flying chancla from a fed-up mother or grandmother.

This year, the chancla is replaced by a more current element, a green coconut, referencing Kamala Harris’ coconut tree meme. There are also side characters like “the couch,” cat ladies, and more coconuts. All references to jokes about Vice-Presidential candidate Vance, or insults Vance has made about women on the campaign trail.

Another new addition is that Harris’ laugh is immortalized as the game-over sound effect, an unexpected detail that adds even more humor and levity to the game.

cartoon renditions of Donald Trump, Kevin Roberts, and J.D. Vance around a Bop the Bigot logoPromotional image provided by On Point Studios.

Bop the Bigot, which is playable on desktop and mobile, is intended not just as a way to vent political frustrations, but also as a tool for activism and securing voter engagement.

For example, the game supports the work of Mexican Neidi Dominguez Zamorano, Founding Executive Director of the non-profit organization Organized Power in Numbers by using the “game over” screen to prompt players to donate to it and support their efforts.

Organized Power in Numbers is focused on empowering workers in the South and Southwest of the U.S. through collective action and comprehensive campaigns. Their mission is to create a large-scale movement that challenges the status quo and advocates for workers' rights, and racial and economic justice.

Currently, Dominguez Zamorano is leading worker outreach to 2 million working-class voters in the South and Southwest through doorknocking, texting, and calls with the help of local groups in North Carolina, Arizona, New Mexico, and more.

“We have been blown away by the enthusiastic reception for the video game. We knew we wanted to be part of its creative approach because our movement needs more fun and laughter. We need more ways to connect with nuestra gente so we can feel joy among all the absurdity we witness every day,” Dominguez Zamorano shared with Luz Media via email.

“Our people are gente trabajadora and we deserve to feel uplifted even in our toughest moments. We are deeply involved in the South and Southwest so we know what’s at stake in this election and we’re happy this can be a resource to mobilize, raise spirits, and get out the vote," she concluded.

Dominguez Zamorano is a committed activist for immigrants and workers' rights, known for her strategist skills and expertise. She played a key role in the campaign to win DACA and has also held roles in major campaigns, including as Deputy National States Director for Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign. In addition to her work with Organized Power in Numbers, Dominguez Zamorano is serving as a Senior Advisor to Mijente’s Fuera Trump Initiative.

Grassroots efforts like these have taken on new life in 2024, with Bop the Bigot adding to the larger, ongoing fight against political apathy and disinformation. Just as it did during the 2016 race, the video game uses humor to soften the serious task at hand—getting people to the polls.

"We want the game to be a fun and comical outlet for anyone who’s been insulted, frustrated, or harmed by Trump in the past and everyone who is ready to move forward as a country after election day," explained Loewe in a press release. "The proposals in Project 2025 and the beliefs of Trump and Vance aren’t just weird, they’re truly harmful. We wanted to give people a humorous and peaceful way to smack down their racism and sexism. We hope it makes people laugh and also feel empowered and motivated to get to the polls on or before election day."

With a mix of satire, sharp political critique, and nostalgia, the game is a call to action. The upcoming election, which is getting closer by the minute, has sparked fierce activism and creative yet grounded initiatives like these aim to ensure voters are engaged, especially young Latinos and disenfranchised groups.