A phenomenal story of a teen growing up and not only finding herself and understanding her queerness but coming of age in a world and country that doesn't necessarily want to see her thrive. She experiences heartbreak and hope amidst a politically tumultuous backdrop. I will admit that I did not know much about the Honduran political landscape going into this and to once again be reminded how devastating the US has been in Latin America is something I need everyone to remember and acknowledge. But Libertad was so well fleshed out and such a wonderful snapshot of finding yourself and your community when the world around you feels suffocating. Someone make this required reading. Please!

Thank you to @penguinteen for providing an ARC.

This was a great debut and I am so happy that more authors from Central America are getting published these days. I’m always on the lookout for YA books to read from that part of the world because of the students I serve in my district.

Libertad is set in 2017 Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is a time of political unrest and the main character, Libertad is entering her senior year as the president is threatening not to step aside after the election.

There are so many elements to relate to in this debut novel. Despite the political unrest, it is mid-paced. Just like in real life, despite the craziness of a revolution hanging over everyone’s heads, life must go on. For Libertad, that means figuring out her feelings for her best friend in a culture that does not accept queerness. Over one year, Libertad experiences love, develops as a political poet and must decide whether Honduras is the home she wants to stay in.

There are some portions that move a little slow. But I tend to lean towards the action packed scenes in books. The protest and police scenes early on in the book really pulled me in, as I’m not familiar with that time period in Honduras so I didn’t know what to expect.

Home, family and acceptance are constant motifs throughout the book. Several chapters are even in her mother and older brother’s point of view. I really appreciated hearing from both of them, but especially Maynor. Since he is the oldest by more than 5 years, he has insight into family dynamics that Libertad does not, and it adds depth to the story. It thought it was a unique touch to the narrative.

I listened to the audiobook and read the physical copy. The narrator did an excellent job at voicing the characters. There is Spanish language throughout the book so if you need help with pronunciation or just want to hear how it is supposed to sound for non-native speakers, I definitely recommend.

I look forward to reading more of Zaldivar’s work.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I received a copy of this through a publishers event at the library for young adults. This book covered some tough topics that we need to see more of in the library. I loved every page of this book and believe it will make a great addition to our collection.

I've been writing, thinking about this review since I was halfway through this book, something just told me I would need a lot of words to be able to convey what it made me feel.

In simple words this book feels like home, it feels like asambleas estudiantiles waiting to start while listening to Latinoamérica, is muros pintarrajeados and the dream that if you scream loud enough the world will listen and change. Other things are familiar too: the fear and uncertainty that comes every elections, the half joke half truth of saying that they will cut down power and come back winning if they don't like the results, the wish of fighting for a country that you don't even know if it will have a future.

Libertad takes all of that and it slaps you in the face.

I have lived in Latin America all of my life, aquí nací y aquí me criaron, and this same land will probably see me die one day, I have many many complaints about it, as we all do, and also so much love. Reading Libertad was like all of that, laughing to not cry about the injustices we all face, crying when I saw my own life reflected in the pages of the book. I can't describe the experience to those who have not lived it, but it feels like that moment of grace when a protest starts, walking with a group of people who believe in change, chanting, jumping and laughing, reading the signs and telling to the people "vecino mirón, únanse al montón, su hijo es estudiante y usted es trabajador." the joy and hope one feels before the police appears in front of you.

The prose and the poetry captures it perfectly, the Spanish, the glimpses to other people's POVs that immerses the reader deeper into the world, it's a beautiful work.

When I got this book in my email it felt meant to be, and I'm so glad I was able to read it, I'm so glad I got to know Libertad and I'm looking forward to what the author does next.

Y espero algún día vernos a todos libre, y viviendo la vida que siempre nos hemos merecido.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book. This book has my whole heart. I absolutely adored this! From the incredible characters, to the plot, to falling in love with everything so quickly- I couldn’t put this down. I highly recommend this! It really just sucks you in and makes you never want to leave. In my opinion, those are the best books and I couldn't get enough.

Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar is a beautiful queer coming of age story set in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Libertad is a high school student who is thinking about her future there are protests in a lot of areas due to the presidential election. She’s figuring out her stance on politics comparing what her family believes versus what the young people of Tegucigalpa are fighting for. One of them being her older brother. Libertad is finding her voice through poetry and is on the verge of a budding romance which all comes crashing down when her mother discovers some texts between her and a girl, a girl she shared a kiss with. She understands that being queer and living in Honduras is not going to be the easy. “What do you do when the country you love, doesn’t love you back?” This was such a wonderful surprise for me I think we have all had that moment when we become disheartened but out country and government. The injustices that happen not only to us but people everywhere. Libertad is going through a lot and as I said she’s finding her voice and place in it all. This book was heartbreaking but so hopeful. I found Libertad so relatable and honest and I’m so happy (especially at this time) that this book exists in the world. I am looking forward to reading more from this author and I definitely recommend picking this up. 5⭐️

this novel takes place during the 2018 election in Honduras that was rigged. honduras is under a right wing government and has been for a very long time, “through unconstitutional and anti-democratic means that resulted in death and destruction.” in february of 2022 that changed for Honduras a lot happened in order to rectify this situation.

following libertad and her quest of understanding who she is in a drowning country, it’s an amazing read. i knew after the first chapter that i was going to fall in love with it. it gives you such warmth around culture, family and the family outside of your family. it is also heartbreaking because yes, Libertad is adjusting to understanding her queerness. but there’s also civil unrest, tons of protests and uncomfortable situations.

there was a part in the novel that made me so emotional i just had to put it down.

so please pick this up. i can’t even begin to encompass how important and lovely this novel is.

This queer coming of age story was well written and bitter sweet. It takes place in Honduras mostly in 2017 during a rigged presidential election. The main character is Libertad, a young girl finishing high school and contemplating who she is and who she will be. A few chapters are told from her older brother’s perspective Maynor. As the story progresses the reader understands last year Libertad and her best friend kissed but she didn’t want to talk about it and now is now dating another boy at school. It isn’t a safe time or place to be queer and Libi is trying to figure out who she is. It’s also not a safe time or place to be with political unrest, a rigged election and protests growing. This book was full of well developed characters and the writing was excellent. This book is a bit of an emotional roller coaster and I definitely cried while reading it. I will definitely be looking for what this author brings next.

Here is a queer coming-of-age novel that examines social and political intricacies at a new level. We follow 17-year-old Libertad through her senior year of high school, her 18th birthday, and her very first romantic encounters with…girls. All of these events are sweet and exciting parts of growing up, but unfortunately, they are marred by a backdrop of political violence.

Libertad is set in Honduras, a country in Central America whose history is tainted by colonialism, western imperialism, political violence/instability, and at times, blatant homophobia. Unfortunately for Libertad, all of these facts cast huge shadows over a period in her life that should feel full of promise and hope. The book illustrates what living in Honduras was like during the real-life 2017 presidential election of Juan Orlando Hernández, whose presidency was marked by allegations and a subsequent conviction of conspiring with drug traffickers across Honduras in exchange for monetary bribes.

What I appreciated most about my experience with this title was the opportunity to step outside of the demographics that I am most familiar with in a very accessible way. As an American, I am largely unaware of a lot of the political climate and instability across Central American countries. Therefore, following Libertad through all of the instances of political violence whilst she also navigates her daily life felt like a very tangible way to grasp how a country’s larger political atmosphere also impacts the lives of everyday citizens. It also provided an opportunity to examine another perspective of Western imperialism over smaller nations.

The censorship, the military police violence, the curfews, the electricity blackouts—I felt real anxiety while reading about all of these events from Libertad and her family’s perspective. Their fear and sense of helplessness felt palpable.

“Months ago, Juan Orlando Hernández ordered the military police—the MP—to take to the streets in major cities like Tegus and San Pedro to “mantener el control.” When I still had my phone, I saw videos all over Twitter and Instagram of the MP beating protestors, firing tear gas and rubber bullets.”

“I think of the coup nearly a decade ago now. The way I understand it, one morning the US government decided our democratically elected president wasn’t fit to rule anymore. They drove him out, imposing a military state and right-wing government instead. How can we be independent if another country—bigger, richer, more powerful—can swoop in at any time and upend everything?

Despite the risks of violence, there is such a notable sense of community throughout this novel that really brings each character to life and allows them to shine individually. I felt the heartwarming moments between Libertad and her older brother Maynor as they got to know each other as people and not just as siblings. I felt Libertad’s sorrow and confusion when her mom found out about her being gay and urged her to hide it at first. I felt her classic moments of annoyance with her younger brother Alberto, and her opposition to the traditional viewpoints of her Abuela. I empathized with each character trying to make sense of very complicated family dynamics, including absent parents and physically abusive ones.

Zaldivar expertly crafted emotions and relationships in this book that felt genuine. All of the characters have flaws. All of the characters have moments that they come to regret. Through the conflicts, Libertad unearths a deep understanding of the power of empathy, forgiveness, and growth in interpersonal relationships. It felt special to watch the character relationships grow and change throughout the novel. Here are a few moments of character connection that I loved:

“"It’s what every mother wants, I think. For life to be a little less hard for our children than it was for us.””

“As the two of us breathe in and out, slowly, I remind myself that this shit is hard. She has her own process to go through. I asked her a question, and she answered me as honestly as she could.”

“I stare into Alberto’s soft, dark eyes, both of us hardly blinking. “I love you so much that sometimes, it feels like if I look at you for too long, I’ll pass out. You know?”

Alberto giggles. “I don’t feel like I’m gonna pass out when I look at you.”

I laugh. “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. One day you’ll get it.””

In all, Libertad is an honest depiction of what it’s like to come of age and come to terms with your identity at a time when the world around you feels unsafe. It is raw, honest, and incredibly introspective. It depicts first love and heartache, grief, and the eldest sibling’s guilt of being the first one in your family to leave home. I highly recommend this title for all of its social and political commentary, as well as its exemplary character relationships.

Libertad is an evocative queer coming of age story set in Honduras during the political turmoil of 2017.

I knew very little about Honduras before reading this book and Zaldívar does an incredible job situating the reader in all that the setting entails: the anxiety of the political tension, the weather of Honduras, the people and smells and day to day rhythm of living in Tegucigalpa. I was immersed in Libertad's story from the first page.

I cried steadily through the last hundred pages. Libertad's journey, without spoiling anything, is incredibly emotional and beautiful - and as a queer reader, I loved the moments of queer joy, love, and possibility woven into the narrative. I also believe that being queer means being open to all the possibilities and seeing the beauty in what can be instead of what is - a powerful message that counterbalances the overwhelming political turmoil Libertad is living through.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I firmly believe it should be on everyone's TBR - it's a beautiful narrative that tells an important story, illuminating experiences that most Westerners have little understanding of.

Thank you to Penguin Teen and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Zaldívar and I shared an office during grad school and I was honored to receive an early copy of one of my most anticipated reads of the year.

Libertad tells the story of a high school senior, Libertad, as she navigates life in Tegucigalpa, Honduras during a presidential election that is causing protests across the city. During this Libertad is also navigating her queer identity and what that means for her in relationship with her family and friends. Libertad is dreaming of a future in which she doesn’t hide who she is or worry about her loved ones being killed for speaking up, a life outside of Honduras. As this is happening, Libertad's family faces a tragedy in the midst of the presidential election and she has to learn how to move forward when she’s lost someone so important to her.

What I Liked: This is a book that I was skeptical about opening up just because of the length of the book and the topic. I knew that this was going to be a heavy book from the description of it but I never expected it to cover so many things. This book covers political corruption, queerness, friendship, family, and more.

I appreciated the way the author handled sensitive topics and kept everything realistic. I liked the initial response that we receive from Libertad’s mom when she finds the texts from another girl about a kiss that they shared. I found that the response spoke directly to me and said so many of my family's concerns out loud that they never shared. I appreciated getting to follow as Libertad figured out her queerness and feelings for both Dani and Cami but that this wasn’t central to the story. The story was so much more than just about these relationships so I appreciated that it wasn’t overshadowed by this.

I loved the relationship that Maynor and Libertad had throughout the story, because of this the loss was felt much stronger. I loved how much Libertad relied on Maynor and how he taught her a lot about the political sphere and what was happening. I loved that he shared things about himself with her that he didn’t trust others with, like how he shared his love for journalism.

I liked how the author included some pieces in the book from Maynor’s perspective so we got to know him as well. We also got to know a little about Maynor from the grandma’s point of view and his mom’s point of view too.

Final Verdict: Libertad is a great story that shows what politics can look like in another country, and sometimes we forget how privileged we are to be in the United States. This book is a great book for teenagers who are interested in social justice and/or political climates.

Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar is a compelling and evocative novel that explores themes of freedom and identity through a richly woven narrative. Zaldívar’s vibrant prose and deeply developed characters offer a profound and immersive reading experience. The book’s poignant reflections on personal and cultural liberation make it a standout work in contemporary literature.

This is an important book with a lot of parallels to the political climate in the US despite taking place in Honduras which is very different.
The story took nearly 40% of the book to really get going and give me more than a little bit to get invested in, and I think it could have set up the story with less that was *just* setting up, but once it got going it introduced such a tumultuous time in recent history. Intense elections, other major political events that people think might be staged as distractions from other major political events, an anti-queer government and a queer girl’s story in the middle of it.

Amidst a tumultuous presidential election in Honduras and widespread protests, high school senior Libertad (Libi) Morazán finds solace in her political poetry and a new romance. But her world unravels as she navigates family tensions over her sexuality, discovers her brother’s involvement in protests, and faces online threats. Ultimately, tragedy forces Libi to consider leaving behind everything she loves in search of a safer future.

I just finished this book and cried my eyes out. Normal Thursday night. It took me several days to finish this book and it’s not for lack of interest. It was very heavy on my heart.

*spoilers*

I loved watching Libi learn about herself, and I truly thought the family dynamics were incredible to read about. I loved her brothers and her close relationship with both, along with her mother and Abuela. I wanted to hug Alberto, he was so sweet. I also loved her group of friends and how they interacted. Again, it was a really great dynamic to play out in the book.

I was absolutely devastated when Maynor died in the protests. We are talking sobbing. Tears running down my face. He was just figuring himself out, in love, and had so much hope. My heart broke and I could FEEL the grief coming off of these pages. So many incredible quotes about grief and how it feels.

I recovered and then by the end with the poem and mural I was a mess again. But - I was so hopeful for Libi and her future. She had figured out a good balance and got into a school she was hopeful for. It was a really full circle ending.

I loved the culture and language and prose and beauty of this book. Absolutely stunning. The author’s note had me tearing up as well - don’t miss it.

*I was provided a digital copy of this book for review from the publisher and NetGalley, all thoughts are my own.*

Libertad is the wrenching and inspiring story of Libertad, a queer high schooler coming of age during the illegal presidential reelection of JOH in Honduras. I haven’t read (much? Anything?) about this time period in Honduras before, which made this book especially interesting to me. Libertad’s character is endearing from the start—she’s a smart, family-focused teenager who also lets loose on the weekends. Libertad finds a creative outlet in poetry, and we get to read some of her writing. Libertad is close with her older brother, Maynor, who we find out is an active participant in the JOH resistance. As the energy around the election heightens, it becomes increasingly impossible for Libertad to stay quiet about who she is, politically and socially. We see Libertad struggle with who and how to tell people she is queer, but really no confusion about the fact that she IS queer, and then how to engage safely in what’s happening politically. Within her multi-generational home, these are struggles for the family, too.

This book moved slowly for me, but I’m not sure why. The content is good and I liked the writing, but it took a long time to get through. It’s possible it was me and a distracted mind! There is a lot of sadness in this book, but it was also an education for me. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story is deep. Even though it is fiction it tells the story of Honduras being under a unconstitutional president and the protest of the people of that country. I really felt for the main character who couldn't be who she wanted to due to being under the right wing rule. Definitely a book to read to learn more about a place I know nothing about

This queer YA novel takes place in 2017. High school senior Libertad is the protagonist of this coming of age drama set during the rigged presidential election in Honduras. It follows her discovering her voice through poetry, her navigating family and friend expectations, and living through political unrest.

This book is compelling and vivid. I enjoyed reading and learning about the past events in Honduras. The story feels relatable- political unrest, a sense of despair about the future, student action and protests. The author does a great job with pacing and balancing struggle with hope and belonging.

This was a fabulous read, which I devoured in one sitting. I could not put it down. I highly recommend this book; while it is identified as YA, adult readers will surely enjoy this amazing book.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for the ARC.

This book was an incredible read. Not only did I get to connect with these characters and root for them, but I also learned about the history of these events, what led up to them, and what happened as it was occurring. I love books like this which not only tell me a story about characters with heart and determination to make a change but also teach me the history of someone or something that I do not know a lot about. This book was a great example of mixing together the art of storytelling while also telling history, and it was balanced in a way that is great for readers of various ages.

Libertad is a heartbreaking story about generational trauma in an oppressed Honduras during the 21st Century.
This book left me speechless. At first having no Spanish I was hesitant with the occasional use, but began to really understand the necessity of so. Set in 21st Century Honduras in a politically oppressed country Libertad navigates family self identity and the desire to escape to find a better life for herself. The use of family in this book is honestly one of the most empowering aspects of the story. Knowing the author based Abeula off her own grandmother only made me love her more. I enjoyed the twists in this story although I’ll never forgive the author for that one (no spoilers). Although I chose to read this book after seeing Libertad’s character I instantly fell in love with others Maynor especially. His drive for change not only for himself but his family was truly inspiring. As someone who lives in a safe country having heard basically nothing about Honduras’s presidential and political struggles I was shocked that things like this still happened so recent. Overall I loved this book as it portrayed exploring ones self identity in a religiously and politically oppressed country and how a family unit can whilst struggling be there for each other not matter what.