Read Harder This Latine Heritage Month

We’re in the middle of Latine Heritage Month, which runs from September 15th to October 15th. To celebrate, I’m highlighting seven books by Latine authors that check off tasks in the 2026 Read Harder Challenge, including YA, nonfiction about resistance, magical realism, gothic novels, and romantasy. These recommendations are all written by Vanessa Diaz, who also writes Book Riot’s Latine Lit newsletter. Sign up to get Latine book recommendations in your inbox all year round! Get 15% off annual All Access memberships for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot’s 15th anniversary! Savings amount to more than 3 months of free unlimited access to our entire content archive, plus features like Collections and the New Release Index. Claim your savings and start leveling up your reading life. Task #3: Read a YA book by a Latine author Cemetery Boys by Aiden ThomasWhen trans boy Yadriel’s traditional Latine family is reluctant to accept his gender, he decides to perform a ritual over Dia de Muertos to prove he’s a brujo and summons the wrong ghost. That ghost is Julian, a very cute classmate (and human golden retriever) who needs Yadriel’s help solving a mystery before he can cross over...