Sweet Mary by Liz Balmaseda (Atria)

Single mom Mary Guevara takes no prisoners when a cocaine queen steals her identity in this engrossing thriller.

Ask a Mexican! by Gustavo Arellano (Scribner)

Arellano, a cross between an outrageous prankster and a hip professor, skewers stereotypes as he takes on both xenophobes and the politically correct.

The Heavens Weep for Us: and Other Stories by Thelma Reyna (Outskirts Press)

Delicately written stories of characters whose losses bring opportunities.

Born in the Cavity of Sunsets by Michael Luis Medrano (Bilingual Press)

Resilient poetry wrenched from funerals, rehab, and taco trucks.

Becoming Latina in 10 Easy Steps: A Novel by Lara Rios (Berkley)

When Marcela Alvarez finds out she’s half-gringa, she questions what it means to be Latina in this warm and funny story.

Latina Power! Using 7 Strengths You Already Have to Create the Success You Deserve by Ana Nogales with Laura Golden Bellotti (Fireside)

An empowering and wise guide based on the refreshing idea that the qualities necessary for achievement are inherent in Latino culture.

The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas (Grand Central Publishing)

A stunning debut in which pregnant Lily, confined to bed rest, is surrounded by loved ones who each tell a story to coax the baby out.

The Sista Hood by E-Fierce (Atria)

Written with the ear of today’s teen girl and the heart of a cool aunt, The Sista Hood chronicles four high school students who join forces to win a hip hop talent contest.

The Last of Her Kind: A Novel by Sigrid Nunez (Picador)

Incisive and absorbing portrayal of the troubled friendship between two Barnard College roommates, working class Georgette and wealthy Ann.

We ARE Americans by William Perez (Stylus)

Rousing and convincing call to action on behalf of undocumented students who struggle to obtain access to higher education.

Dancing with Butterflies: A Novel by Reyna Grande (Washington Square Press)

A masterful depiction of women whose search for love and happiness is thwarted by their profound lack of self-knowledge.

Mirrors by Eduardo Galeano (Nation Books)

Before you can know yourself, you must first know your history; to that end, read Galeano’s Mirrors, a splendidly written, erudite telling of humankind’s past.

Sister Teresa: A Novel by Barbara Mujica (Overlook)

A richly researched and gripping account of the original wise Latina, Saint Teresa of Avila.

Sonia Sotomayor: A Judge Grows in the Bronx by Jonah Winter, illustrated by Edel Rodriguez (Atheneum)

Pride and inspiration leap off the pages of this bilingual children’s book about the woman who single-handedly made “wise” and “Latina” synonymous.

The Seamstress: A Novel by Frances De Pontes Peebles (Harper Perennial)

Orphaned sisters Emilia and Luzia dos Santos become master seamstresses whose skills take them to the heights of Brazilian society and the shadows of revolution.

Names I Call My Sister: Stories by by Mary Castillo, Berta Platas, Lynda Sandoval, Sofia Quintero (Avon A)

An entertaining collection of stories about sisters who share secrets, clothes–and the occasional misdemeanor.

The Accidental Santera: A Novel by Irete Lazo (Thomas Dunne Books)

The entrancing tale of a modern-day scientist initiated into the ancient practice of Santeria, written by a practicing santera.

The Wicca Herbal: Recipes, Magick, and Abundance by Jamie Wood (Ten Speed Press)

A joyful and practical guide to using herbs for medicinal, nutritional, and cosmetic needs, written by a Latina Wiccan.

La Llorona and Other Stories by Alma Luz Villanueva (Bilingual Review Press) Stories of women who find hope despite–or because–of their grief.

A Memoir by Isabel Allende (Harper Perennial) The beloved author transforms her unspeakable grief over the death of her daughter into a work of art.