As a family business with a melting pot of cultures representing our employees, we celebrate diversity. It is important to understand the meaning behind Hispanic Heritage Month as one that recognizes the shared heritage of all people who speak the variations of the Spanish language or who descend from populations where these languages originate and flourish.

Many use the term “Latino” interchangeably with Hispanic, however, Latino more closely describes the area of Latin America whereas Hispanic cultures are found in many other places on the globe. Hispanic Heritage Month is unique as it is celebrated in the middle of the month – September 15th through October 15th – as it coincides with and commemorates the start of moves for independence in many Hispanic countries such as Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

We’ve procured this list of popular books from our catalog that embody the influence of Hispanic heritage and culture, all of which can be found in the “Hispanic & Latino” section of our online bookstore.

The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Sandra is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Mexico, currently residing in San Miguel de Allende where she continues to work with two non-profit organizations that she founded: the Macondo Foundation and the Alfredo Cisneros del Moral Foundation, as well as Los MacArturos, which is a community of Latino MacArthur fellows who have a common interest in social activism.

Her book, The House on Mango Street, paints a unique portrait of the American landscape from the minority and immigrant perspective. Centered in the Latino neighborhoods of Chicago, a young girl dreams of more than her neighborhood or expectations of who she should be and instead cultivates her own destiny.

Of Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia

This is a feminist must-read! Women's voices in Cuba are often silenced, but Gabriela Garcia tells the stories of women with such honesty and empathy that you won't be able to resist her. Written with humor and sensitivity, Of Women and Salt sheds light on the tough lives most Cuban nationals knew best: that by marrying an American citizen or green card holder they may finally leave behind their past including the trauma of leaving family members behind with no way back.

The Inheritance of Orquídea Divina by Zoraida C Crdova

Seven years ago, the Montoyas paid their final respects to Orquídea Divina at her funeral. As they start to uncover why their matriarch has never left home, three of them will learn that she has bequeathed gifts of wisdom and healing upon each girl. Marimar can foresee good fortune for others; Rey can sense when people are lying; Tatinelly's daughter Isabella is able to heal injuries with love--all while stumbling through high school without one clue about what these skills might mean for the future. If only they had taken better care of themselves.

The Five Wounds by Kristin V Quade

A girl in Las Penas is pregnant and instead of aborting the child she carries, runs away from her alcoholic mother to a family that can't help but love her. With a life full of secrets, lies, and harsh realities The Five Wounds tells an incredible story about one New Mexico community's search for grace in a time when change is inevitable.

The beauty of Kirstin V Quade's debut novel is its stunning ability to simultaneously make us care deeply for both Angel and Amadeo. By following them through the first year after their children are born, we watch as fatherhood inexorably draws them closer together even as they struggle with feelings both new and ongoing that threaten any chance at happiness between them.

The House of Broken Angels by Luis A Urrea

In this final literary offering from Luis Urrea, a beautiful, warming testament to family and legacy that is certain to become an instant classic. The House of Broken Angels explores the history and future of the America we know through the fatefully linked destinies of four generations: Miguel Ángel de La Cruz and his descendants.

Told with power and elegance by one of our finest storytellers, it chronicles days in San Diego's Chicano barrio during two heartbreaking yet mythic birthdays―the deathbed weekend when Big Angel tells himself goodbye as he reaches for heaven; and his own centenary, which he spends reflecting on how much time has given him plenty of reasons for broken hearts but few regrets.

The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia

Start a new life, one devoted to your love for limes. Meet Federico De La Fe and his daughter Little Merced as they escape the dark past in search of a better future. Along the way, be charged with quenching their thirst for sour satisfaction as you overcome addiction together. Rich with metaphor and great humor, this offbeat tale is perfect for those who can't resist a little green goodness.

Dominicana: A Novel by Angie Cruz

When she arrives in New York City, Ana is surrounded by new people and experiences full of culture. This opportunity propels her into a world that hadn't even been on the horizon before her hasty marriage to Juan Ruiz--a world that opens up more opportunities for an ambitious girl like herself than she ever expected. But as time goes on, it becomes clear that Ana only had herself to rely on when things changed. She's restless with city life, yearning for someplace where she can belong completely—she'd trade anything not to go back home again. With these feelings growing inside of her, will Ana come close to walking this path alone?

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Urrea

Into the Beautiful North by Luis Urrea is a nuanced, lyrical novel about balancing duty and desire. Nayeli Flores yearns for her father but finds herself instead watching over the village while dreaming of life in America. When she saves six men who arrive at her mother's restaurant, she has an epiphany: to find seven male recruits for this dying town so that it can defend itself against bandits seeking to steal its natural resources. But when telling them about their mission fails miserably, she turns to fate -- inviting one man every day onto her porch until seven walks through her door with duty on their shoulders and love in their hearts.

Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras

Fruit of the Drunken Tree is a novel about family, love, friendship, and conflicts between power and justice. Chula comes to know Petrona as she gradually unplugs from the safety of her suburban life with her maid's calmness. When Chula can no longer find Petrona in their neighborhood, once controlled by Pablo Escobar's cartel, she leads herself into the heart of Medellín - Colombia's second-largest city where guerrilla forces occupy homes abandoned by residents afraid for their lives.