Though Hispanic culture should be celebrated everyday, Hispanic Heritage Month brings special attention to the history and achievements of the Latino community.

There are so many great books by Latino authors that go in depth into the struggles of being a person of color and stereotypes that are automatically labeled. Many of these books are also inspired by true stories, making them even more heart wrenching to read. Being able to visulize the story as if looking through someone else’s eyes is what makes a book a great way to escape reality for a while. 

Interested in reading more about Hispanic culture? Check out authors such as Jennifer De León (“Don’t Ask Me Where I’m From”), Silvia Moreno-Garcia (“Mexican Gothic”), Gabriel García Márquez (“One Hundred Years of Solitude”) and Paola Ramos (“Finding Latinx: In Search of the Voices Redefining Latino Identity”). For this semester’s Living Writers Series, the class is reading “Dominicana’’ by Angie Cruz in preparation for the author’s visit in October. Living Writers Series is a course designed for students interested in writing and going into publishing to learn about the effort behind the scenes between writing the book and then deciding to publish. 

“Dominicana” was the first Good Morning America Book Club pick back when it first launched in Oct. 2019. The book was inspired by Cruz’s mother’s story that takes place in the 1960s. It follows 15-year-old Ana Cancion, who immigrates to New York City from the Dominican Republic. She leaves everything that has been familiar to her in hopes of building a new life for herself and her family. To make that happen, she has to marry Juan, who has enough money to provide for this new life. Soon, she will start to question if she has made the right choice. If not,  she will be left wondering if pursuing her dreams would be worth it. 

This book talks about sacrifice, bravery and picks into the brain of a Latina afraid to be a disappointment to her family, especially to her mother, but who also wishes to prioritize herself. She is isolated from her family and friends in an unfamiliar home with someone she does not truly love. All she wants is to be the savior her family needs to help them leave the Dominican Republic once and for all and find work in New York. 

However, she also has dreams she personally wishes to pursue, rather than live the new life she was forced into. This book has readers contemplating along with Cancion on what is the best choice and if personal dreams can be above family in this certain scenario. 

“Dominicana” is a phenomenal book to read whether or not you are taking Living Writers. It contains pleasant writing, in addition to an even better story to be told. Knowing it is based on Cruz’s mothers story makes it even more precious; a daughter telling her mother’s story and keeping it alive. 

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