Your Friday Five: Hispanic Heritage Month

With Hispanic Heritage Month in mind, I share my adult version of a Friday Five!

These Latino authors tell vastly different stories about Latino families. Protagonists are born to immigrant parents yet share varying anecdotes about the "Latino Experience."  Enjoy, and let us know what you think.
 

Lotería: A Novel, Mario Alberto Zambrano This page-turner is a compilation of journal entries inspired by different cards of a Loteria deck. Each entry relates a smidgit of Luz's story and how she came to be in the custody of the state. It's juicy, but you might get mad at daddy's little girl, Luz.

Gunmetal Black, Daniel Serrano This is the first "urban fiction" book I've read and I fully intend to return to the genre for more. The protagonist, Eddie, is released from prison and attempts to start a new life but somehow a casino heist comes in the picture! Prepare your attention, because it's about to get snatched with a death-grip in this plot-twist filled book.

The Dirty Girls Social Club, Alisa Valdes-Rodriguez Alisa Valdes' The Dirty Girls Social Club screams "Latinas are diverse!" and I adore it for that reason. The five main characters not only have different professions experiencing differing levels of success, but they are also ethnically different with different Spanish accents -- who doesn't like to read the Truth being spoken?! I do!

Rain of Gold, Victor Villaseñor How did we get to be where we are? Follow Villaseñor's family through the Mexican Revolution to present day California with this long but fascinating and adventure-packed family history. It is highly rated everywhere.

Always Running: La Vida Loca, Gang Days in L.A., Luis Rodriguez Ever wanted to know what it's like to grow up in poverty, to immigrant parents, in a gang-infested region? Look no further! Always Running takes you to the sordid world of gang territory and through the elusive journey to leave it.

-- Vickie