6 Hispanic/Latine authors writing about the immigrant experience

Being Puerto Rican means that I’m a lifelong U.S. citizen. I’ve never had to navigate the harrowing trials of documentation or the fear of being separated from family. Reading stories like these, though, makes my heart ache for my Hispanic/Latine community who do face these struggles daily. 

These six books on the Libby app offer a window into lives shaped by migration, resilience, and hope, and they remind us of the humanity behind headlines and statistics.

Solito by Javier Zamora
🎧 Audiobook

This memoir tells the story of Javier Zamora at just nine years old, setting out on a 3,000-mile journey from El Salvador to the United States to reunite with his parents. Expecting a two-week “trip” that turns into life-changing months, Javier recounts the dangers, heartbreak, and unexpected kindness he experiences along the way, shedding light into the lives of many young migrants.

Dominicana by Angie Cruz
🎧 Audiobook

Fifteen-year-old Ana Cancion moves to New York City in 1965 in a marriage of convenience, leaving behind everything she knows in the Dominican Republic. Ana navigates loneliness, love, and family duty, discovering freedom, possibility, and a new life in America amid political upheaval.

My Side of the River by Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez
🎧 Audiobook

At fifteen years old, Elizabeth Camarillo Gutierrez faced the unthinkable: her immigrant parents were forced back to Mexico, leaving her to navigate high school, care for her younger brother, and survive as a homeless teen in the U.S. In this memoir, you see Elizabeth’s resilience, family bonds, and the pursuit of the American dream against impossible odds.

Infinite Country by Patricia Engel
🎧 Audiobook

A Colombian family navigating love, hope, and survival across Bogotá and Houston. When deportation tears their family apart, each member must balance loyalty, dreams, and identity in this exploration of life for the undocumented.

The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henríquez
🎧 Audiobook

This novel follows Maribel, a young girl recovering from a near-fatal accident, and a Panamanian teen who sees her true spirit. Set in an apartment complex of immigrant families in Delaware, this novel explores love, identity, and the struggles of pursuing the American Dream.

Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
🎧 Audiobook

Pam Muñoz Ryan tells the story of a young girl forced to leave her privileged life in Mexico for a California farmworker camp during the Great Depression. Esperanza must learn resilience, hard work, and hope to rise above her new hardships and protect her family.

*Title availability may vary.

These stories stay with you long after the last page. Heartbreaking, eye-opening, and necessary, offering perspectives that are often overlooked. By reading the experiences of these young migrants, families, and resilient individuals, we can better understand the courage, sacrifice, and determination that define so many lives in our communities.

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