Kelly is a former librarian and a long-time blogger at STACKED. She's the editor/author of (DON'T) CALL ME CRAZY: 33 VOICES START THE CONVERSATION ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH and the editor/author of HERE WE ARE: FEMINISM FOR THE REAL WORLD. Her next book, BODY TALK, will publish in Fall 2020. Follow her on Instagram @heykellyjensen.
At the beginning of Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month, I highlighted several awesome YA books by Latine authors that hit shelves in 2024. It was very much not a complete least, but meant to put some attention on the titles both now and as we move through the rest of the year. I teased that it wouldn’t be the only such list in honor of the month-long celebration. Welcome to your roundup of upcoming Latine YA releases to preorder or request from your bookstore or library.
Again, this isn’t complete since we still don’t even know what the entire roster of 2025 books will look like. But this is a nice sampling that includes beloved authors, as well as newcomers. You’ll find both novels and graphic novels here.
Dan In Green Gables by Rey Terciero, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre (June 3)
Dan Stewart-Álvarez has always lived on the road with his mother, who is a free spirit. As much as he has craved a more stable home life, being dropped off to live with his grandparents, who he has never met, was not what he meant. Now he’s in rural, conservative Tennessee trying to make a life with strangers while being queer in a community that wouldn’t tolerate that.
But as he grows into himself and his new life, Dan might come to understand what family looks like–and it might not look like what he imagined.
This is a spin on Anne of Green Gables, featuring a queer Latino main character.
Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa (March 11)
Gabriel Piña is a college freshman and he’s got his eyes set on continuing his stardom on the football (the soccer variety) field. He’s definitely straight–at least, he is until he begins to develop feelings for Vale, who is tutoring Gabi in philosophy. Gabi kissed Vale once at a party and now it seems the “not having feelings” beliefs are anything but true.
The trouble is that being bisexual will be damning for Gabi on the football field. Queerness isn’t welcomed in the sport, especially professionally.
This is a romance, so you know how it’s going to end. The story is set over the course of Gabi’s freshman year, so readers who love college-set stories will dig this one. Sounds a bit like one that would do well with fans of Check Please.
If We Survive This by Racquel Marie (June 17)
Flora Braddock Paz has always considered herself weak. She’s not the proud survivor or leader she’s seen in movies or in her real life. But six months into a pandemic that is turning people into zombie-like creatures, Flora knows she and her little brother need to leave their desolate Los Angeles suburb. Their mother has died and their father went missing. Flora believes that if she and Cain can get to their family’s cabin in northern California, not only can they find some safety, they might eventually be able to reunite with their father.
The trip is dangerous. It is long. It is also painful, as it unlocks Flora’s memories of the last time her family made it together just one year earlier. Will she be able to survive and keep her little brother safe on the journey?
This survival horror thriller is being called The Walking Dead meets Yellowjackets.
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On The Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres (January 28)
Estrella (Noche) Villanueva is grieving the loss of her girlfriend Dante, who accidentally drowned. During the day, Noche is that girl, plus the nerdiest science kid ever. But at night, Noche is a Lechuza, an owl who guides the dead into the afterlife. Noche can’t do that, though, with Dante. Instead, she visits Dante every night to spend just a little more time together with her spirit. That puts both of them in danger.
When Jax moves to town, Noche is almost immediately smitten. He loves science, too, and now she’s beginning to wonder if she can move on from the tragic end of her relationship with Dante.
But there might be other things in the cards for Noche, as well as both Jax and Dante. Noche may have gone too far off the course of being a Lechuza in her pain.
Want some more? Then look no further. Here are several other Latine YA titles hitting shelves in 2025 for your TBR/To-Be-Preordered:
- The Girl You Know by Elle Gonzalez Rose (February 25)
- Lucha of the Forgotten Spring by Tehlor Kay Mejia (February 18)—the second and final installment in the series.
- Sugar Coated by Amber Padilla—no shopping link yet, but you can learn a little bit about this 2025 graphic novel on Padilla’s website.
English (US) · 