Books for Spanish-speaking readers published in the United States

(Mesa, Arizona) — In a vibrant country of ethnic diversity, the demand for books in Spanish continues to soar. With an estimated 54 million Spanish speakers residing in the United States, the publishing industry has responded by offering a rich array of new titles in the Spanish language.

Whether you are an avid reader searching for the next captivating story or a librarian seeking to grow your library’s Spanish collection, we have compiled a selection of four noteworthy books in Spanish that cater to your literary interest.

The four new books in Spanish listed below are available for purchase by the general public on major online retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and can be ordered directly from Ingram by booksellers, retailers, and libraries.

As the literary landscape continues to evolve, the Spanish-speaking community in the United States can take delight in the wealth of new books available in their native language.

These books in Spanish reflect the diverse experiences and rich heritage of Spanish-speaking cultures, providing a platform for connection, understanding, and discovery.

Below we have included a description in English for each of these book written in Spanish, which will be useful for anyone who wants to learn more about it.

Murmullos de La Barbarie: Una distopía del desenchufe digital, el cine silente, la comida ambulante y la música acústica

Have you ever faced the dilemma of living in a world constantly connected to digital devices while longing for a more disconnected life? Then perhaps you will identify with the predicament of 137, the protagonist of Murmullos de la Barbarie, Una distopía del desenchufe digital, el cine silente, la comida ambulante y la música acústica, a novel in Spanish by Saúl Holguín Cuevas. In a personal and internal struggle, 137 grapples with the complexities of the capitalist world within the safety and comfort of the Konsortium while being tempted by the offer of a grassroots environment and uncomplicated life in a rugged, unknown, and risky place known as La Barbarie (a less sophisticated, rough place). His story will help us reflect on our own dilemma as we weigh the advantages and disadvantages of hyperconnectivity and the benefits and challenges that come with a less complicated experience that allows us to live unplugged and in greater harmony with nature. Murmullos de la Barbarie (loosely translated Murmurs of a barbaric world, A dystopia of digital unplugging, silent cinema, street food and acoustic music) is a novel that realistically portrays the current dystopian scenario that arises from the clash between dizzying technological advancements and our quest for a slower-paced analog lifestyle.

PRODUCT DETAILS
Paperback | $15.00 | Spanish
Published by Hispanic Institute of Social Issues
August 21, 2023 | 280 Pages | 6 x 1.5 x 9 | ISBN 978-1936885565

Un inmigrante astrólogo en Nueva York, Un relato verdadero de la vida en Estados Unidos (An immigrant astrologer in New York, A true account of life in America)

Carlos, a Latin American immigrant, arrived in New Jersey in 1993 after leaving Peru, his native country, seeking to get a shot at the American Dream. This book chronicles his adventures and misadventures as he discovers that life in the United States for an immigrant like him is more complicated than he imagined. So, one day he begins writing the chronicle of his life, hoping to give recently-arrived and would-be immigrants an accurate tale of life in America. Interestingly, the author arrived in the U.S. when the 1993 World Trade Center bombing occurred, just to witness the effects of the September 11, 2001 attacks from a distance and then live through the COVID-19 pandemic in the NYC area. His personal story thus incorporates his account of these historical events and others. Un inmigrante astrólogo en Nueva York, Un relato verdadero de la vida en Estados Unidos, (An immigrant astrologer in New York, A true account of life in America) presents the story of Carlos Anaya Mantilla as he goes from job to job, and eventually establishing as a cook in the restaurant industry. He discovers more talents when he becomes a guest opinion writer for a Spanish newspaper, a background cast member playing a small role in a feature movie, an actor in other roles in theater plays, and a member of a Peruvian cultural NYC-based group. Carlos also entered the field of astrology by taking classes with a renowned Latina NYC astrologer, later becoming a known astrologer in the area, hosting his astrology radio show, and appearing on a T.V. Spanish shows to share his knowledge on the subject. The author published his first book in 2013.

El atolladero, cuentos de misterio en lugares inesperados
(The quagmire, mystery tales in unexpected places)

Unknown, unexplainable, dystopian, and astonishing circumstances converge in El atolladero, a collection of twenty short stories in Spanish that will take readers into hazy realms of mysterious paths. Its characters find themselves suddenly in situations that take them to the boundaries life-and-death, to far-fetched worlds or even familiar places but under strange circumstances. El atolladero: Cuentos de misterio en lugares inesperados includes stories of a “metallic city” a man reaches by a fast train ride traveling through an extensive tunnel. Others tell of a long road, a tall and endless wall, or a ship on a warm sea with mysterious characters. Despite being very human, some characters almost get transfigured into specters when they find themselves in latitudes that defy reason and challenge the concept of past, present, and future. One of the characters is a famous international detective who chases dangerous criminals in the underworld. His relentless work and summary decisions make his reputation oscillate between that of a fair investigator and a cold-blooded avenger. Other fictional characters inspired by real stories transport readers to the Mexican Revolution era, where a revolutionary rebel’s brief encounters with people evoke scenes from the distant and bloody subversion. The twenty short stories include nine poems and short poetic prose that round off the literary work of this Mexican writer.

(The Falcon Strike, the massacre of students in Mexico in 1971)

In 1971, Mexican university students began reorganizing their movement following the government’s violent crushing of their protests on October 2, 1968. Newly-elected President Luis Echeverria Alvarez took a different approach to student activism, freeing political prisoners detained for their role in the 1968 movement, which had stopped after the Tlatelolco Massacre. With their unmet demands, student organizers planned a massive demonstration for June 10, 1971. It was meant to be a two-mile march involving thousands of students from universities and high schools nationwide. However, as students marched amid a heavy presence of anti-riot police, hundreds of young men dressed in plain clothes descended upon the demonstrators. Initially appearing to be rival students, the men were armed with kendo sticks and began brutally attacking protesters and bystanders. The attackers then began to shoot at the demonstrators with semi-automatic rifles. The attack was later revealed to be a well-coordinated plan prepared by city officials to disperse the march, and dozens were reportedly injured or killed. Subsequent news reports and photographs showed that the attackers were, in fact, members of a state-sponsored paramilitary group known as Los Halcones (The Falcons), who were on the city government’s payroll to break up demonstrations and beat protesters. As a result, the attack became known as El Halconazo (Falcon Strike). In 2021, the Mexican people commemorated the 50th anniversary of the student massacre. El Halconazo: La masacre de estudiantes en México de 1971 (2nd edition) provides an account of a tragic event in Mexican history, highlighting the political tensions and violence that have characterized the country’s relationship with its student population.

La COVID-ja de los veinte
(The COVID-ja of the twenties)

In the first months of 2020, humankind began to deal with the outbreak of a new form of a virus; its spreading pace would quickly turn it into a pandemic. Efforts to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 disrupted everyday life, and soon, phrases like “stay-at-home,” “social distancing,” “mandatory use of face masks,” and others became routine. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people began to suffer the ravages of this deadly disease. Hospitals became saturated with individuals who had contracted the virus, then morgues followed. Two and a half years later, in the summer of 2022, the estimated global number of infections stood at nearly 540 million, while the estimated death toll had surpassed six million. La COVID-ja de los veinte (The COVID-ja of the twenties) is the testimony of a California resident who was among the first cases of infection; he was admitted to a hospital after being diagnosed with COVID-19. His story shares the experiences of a patient connected to a respirator and fighting for survival, physically and mentally. The account of his dreams and nightmares while unconscious reveals a symbolic language that alludes to the line between life and death and the strength of the human will to influence destiny. By sharing the images and events of his dreams, the author shows us a fantastic survival experience. His battle should motivate us to reassess life and cling to it.