A great way to see if you might like books before buying them! Also a great way to discover new books and authors that you might not have heard of otherwise.

A really nice sampler. Just the covers of the titles was intriguing, but I also like to diversify my reading. So this is a great way for me to decide what to get excited about next!

Another really nice sampler. I enjoy these, especially when I can't decide what to read next! I've definitely added a few more books to my TBR after finishing this sampler.

It’s hard to give feedback on these Latinx releases without investing the full amount of time to absorb the stories. I assure you that as a reader, the enthusiasm to see so many stories with Latinx protagonists is cheer-worthy! The authors are stellar and readers are in for a treat!

This sampler was fantastic! I already jotted down which ones I want to continue reading. As the title indicates it was a sample for the Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month YA. I had not read anything like this before and I find it truly clever. A great way to introduce diverse authors and their stories.

thank you to the pusblisher and netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review

a great collection of upcoming reads, that I am very excited for!

Overall, a very good collection of samplers for some upcoming books! I really enjoyed the samplers, and I'm adding several to my to read lists! More details about individual books below.

Azar on Fire
The writing drew me in immediately. I'm interested in seeing what happens with Azar's journey to share her lyrics with others while maintaining a healthy throat. I'll definitely be checking this one out!

Chasing After Night
I'm a little skeptical about the time skips, but I'm intrigued by the story and the time skips were handled well in this sampler. I have a weakness for celebrity stories, and I really enjoyed the writing, so I'll definitely be checking this out!

Diamond Park
I didn't connect with the writing as much in this one. I wasn't as able to get a good sense for the direction of the story or the characters, but I really liked the little details added for characterization. I'm not sure yet if I'll be reading this one, but I'm sure many will like this.

Flirting with Fate
Ohh, an interesting POV for this one. I liked the writing in this one, and I'm interested in learning more about the world-building in this world (and Ava's blessing!) I think I'll be reading the full version of this one.

It Sounds Like This
This looks like it will be a fun YA novel, especially for those interested in marching bands shenanigans. I also liked how the character was impacted by recent weather events in Houston. It makes the characters feel much more relatable.

When We Make It
This looks like it will be a very heartfelt collection of poems about the author's experiences growing up. I really enjoyed the poems I read in this sampler, and I liked how different each poem was, while still falling under the author's clear voice.

So many wonderful titles that span genres. I love that this shows just how vibrant and expansive LATINX voices and stories are. We are so much more than merely immigrant stories. While those are important, our fairytales, folklore, culture, and so much more all deserve to be highlighted, inspired, and elevated. I also love that so many of these touch on so much more than just being Latinx, but also mental health, trauma, family both found and born into.

Thanks NetGalley and Penguin Group for a copy of the six samples in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this samples available for the occasion of the Hispanic Heritage & Latinx Month!

It made me want to read all the books and, in fact, they are all already present in my TBR. Can't wait to read them!
This is a great way to figure out which books you might like.

Another one where I added so many books to my TBR list. Idk what it is about theses but I really love them! I love reading about the different books that are coming out.

Thank you Netgalley for this nice sampler for Latinx and Hispanic month. The excerpts from the 6 novels were really interesting, and I look forward to reading a few of them in full and sharing them with teenage students.

AZAR ON FIRE by Olivia Abtahi
I was surprised to see this included as I initially didn’t know the main character was Argentinian. It’s a little angsty, but that’s fair given the fact that the MC is only fourteen. I also like that because there aren’t enough lower YA books and this helps fills that gap. I like that AZAR is passionate about her musical dreams despite being disabled.
3/5 stars
CHASING AFTER KNIGHT by Heather Buchta
This simply was not my thing. It was little melodramatic and the “mystery” annoyed rather than intrigued me
1/5 stars
DIAMOND PARK by Phillippe Diederich
I always like the idea of road trip books and this Mexican one already seems like fun. The family and friend dynamics were shaping up interestingly, though I hope Susi will show more character than just The Levelheaded and Beautiful Girl among the guys.
3/5 stars
FLIRTING WITH FATE by J.C Cervantes
I liked this! The sister relationship felt real. I loved the main character, Ava’s, love for her grandmother and determination. The magic seems like a lot of fun.
3.5/5 stars
IT SOUNDS LIKE THIS by Anna Meriano
The main character is an overachiever and a peacemaker in her family which I liked, but that was pretty much it. I’ll be honest, I’m not into music and this was centered on a girl in a band. Every relationship in this excerpt was so messy. Best friendship was catty, family was nigh dysfunctional. The social media plot already felt overwrought. The repetition of “my sibling Ellen” was incredibly annoying.
1/5 stars
WHEN WE MAKE IT by Elisabet Velasquez
This is one story told in verse that worked! It’s vibrant and real. I know it’s meant to be “real” but bleak hood stories are just not my thing at this point.
2/5 stars
This is kinda hard to rate, given that it is a sampler of several instead of one whole book, but overall I’d give it two and a half stars.

A great collection of various Young Adult novels from Latinx creators. I'll be looking forward to reading these in full, especially It Sounds Like This.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group, and Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read free digital samples of six books for an honest review. (Publish Date: September 13, 2022)

Viva la Cultura! Celebrate Latinx and Hispanic Heritage Month with Penguin Teen!

(National Hispanic Heritage Month runs from September 15 – October 15, 2022.)

Book 1: Azar on Fire by Olivia Abtahi – I absolutely loved the sample I had I of this book! It’s laugh-out-loud hilarious, completely relatable, and perfectly age-appropriate. I definitely will be picking up this book to read the whole story!

Book 2: Chasing After Knight by Heather Buchta – This book had a very intriguing story with several flashbacks in the sample chapters I received. I‘m dying to know more about the main character and where this story goes, so I will be getting this book to find out!

Book 3: Diamond Park by Phillippe Diederich – This book had a compelling story in the sample I received, but the rampant profanity was just too distracting for me to continue.

Book 4: Flirting with Fate by J.C. Cervantes – I loved so many things about the sample I received of this book! It was exciting, mysterious, magical - I really want to know what will happen next, so I will be seeking out this book to find out!

Book 5: It Sounds Like This by Anna Meriano – I had a difficult time getting into this particular sample since the book focuses on teens in band camp – which is something I don’t have any interest in. However, I did find the characters interesting and could see teens that love band really getting into this book.

Book 6: When We Make It by Elisabet Velasquez – The sample I received read like a journal with various topics ranging from details about the people in the main character’s life and quick entries from her school day. I found the sample I was given a bit confusing to follow and somewhat vague at times.

Overall, this sampler was fantastic at offering a diverse mix of stories to appeal to the masses. While I wasn’t a fan of all six books, I really enjoyed most of them and can’t wait to read those books in their entirety!

I loved this digital sampler. It's always great to read stories about my Latinx & Hispanic culture. I am really looking forward to reading Chasing After Knight and Flirting with Fate. These two in particular really piqued my interest. But overall they all look like I would enjoy them.

I liked this sampler, we get some diversity and different stories about teens in different areas and dealing with different things. I am definitely adding a bunch of these to my TBR and will be reading the full book.

Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for this sampler!

I really enjoyed this digital sampler for Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month.
I am particularly looking forward to reading It Sounds Like This. I am glad I got a sneak peek of so many upcoming great books and I am adding it to my TBR.

I love the titles featured here! This sampler shares a couple of chapters from 6 wonderful titles and definitely makes me want to pick up the actual novels. I've read When We Make It and really enjoyed it, so I can't wait to check out the rest.

I really enjoyed this digital sampler for Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month! I am particularly looking forward to reading Flirting with Fate and It Sounds Like This. This was my first time hearing about Azar on Fire (which made me laugh in the opening line!) and Chasing After Knight. I’m now looking forward to reading them both! It was delightful to get a sneak peek of so many upcoming great books and have added many to my TBR! Thank you to all the authors, Penguin Group, and Netgalley for a free digital sampler in exchange for honest feedback.

Viva La Culture is an excellent sampler of Latinx & Hispanic Heritage month YA titles. I especially enjoyed Flirting with Fate and Diamond Park. Highly recommended.