It’ll be Hispanic Heritage Month in just a few short days! While there’s never a bad time to read books by Latine creators and/or about Latine characters, the month-long period from September 15 to October 15 is an especially appropriate occasion for doing so.
Every comic on this list has just been published or will be released soon. Some deal with big questions about cultural heritage, including what it means to be Latine, while others are just plain fun adventures. You’ll find comics for young readers, young adult readers, and adult readers, too.
Cat and Lola: School Picture Day by Melissa Villaseñor and Jimena Sánchez Sarquiz (Sep 22)
It’s school picture day, and Lola is determined to avoid a catastrophe like last year’s toothpaste stain fiasco. She’ll need help from her fashion-conscious cat to find a look that is not only fabulous, but that also shows off her sparkling personality for the camera!
Gabby Torres Knows What You Did by Angela Dominguez
This fun series for young readers continues as Gabby learns that she’s about to get some new neighbors–and she immediately suspects they’re up to something sinister. Will her investigation uncover the truth or just get Gabby into trouble?
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez and Krystal Quiles
Adapted from the classic novel, which in turn was based on true events, In the Time of the Butterflies follows the Mirabal sisters–Las Mariposas–who fought to overthrow the Dominican Republic’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo. They were killed for their efforts, but the memory of their willingness to fight against tyranny lives on.
Mexikid Dreams by Pedro Martín
This companion to the award-winning Mexikid finds Pedro looking for every opportunity to escape the strawberry fields where he and his family have to work on weekends and in the summer. It’s only when he comes to understand why they’re out there picking berries that he can fully appreciate the chance to follow his dreams when the opportunity finally arrives.
Second Generation Blues by Julio Anta and Red Dryer
Luis’s parents want him to keep working as a delivery boy at their restaurant. But all Luis wants is to spend the summer with his friends, especially Yara, the girl he has a crush on. Can he balance his parents’ wishes with his own, or will he have to give up one or the other?
For more reading at the intersection of Latine culture and comics, check out this look at how superhero comics have depicted Latin America, this introduction to Latin American comics, and some fun facts about Mexican superhero comics.