15 Books to Read for Caribbean American Heritage Month

This debut picture book is a delight that celebrates the magic of memory and the power of imagination. When Lola’s teacher asks all the students to draw a picture of where each of their families immigrated from, all the kids except Lola are excited. They left The Island so long ago that she can’t remember it, but using the memories of her family and friends, Lola’s imagination brings The Island to life.  

A thought-provoking, humbling debut from Hilda Eunice Burgos and Gaby D’Alessandro. This celebration of community, humility and finding the silver linings in life is a must-read for any child, especially with the spotlight on essential workers during the pandemic. It’s a beautiful portrayal of the Dominican American experience that we all can appreciate. 

From bestselling middle grade author, Tracey Baptiste, comes her picture book debut, Looking for a Jumbie. It’s the perfect blend of childhood imagination, adventure and confidence, all told through the lens of Caribbean folklore. Vibrantly illustrated by Amber Ren who created the art for Mo Willem’s Because, this is a fun read-aloud that works on many levels, including removing the stigma of the supposed scary creatures that come out at night. A fresh, creative story that everyone will fall in love with. 

Fall in love with the innocence and insight of Anita, a young girl from the Dominican Republic, as she prepares to move to the United States. Hannah Carmona and Anna Cunha create a truly special and unique story about bravery and the power of imagination and family. 

A little bit spooky and a whole lot of fun, Ghost Squad is the story of two young girls who accidentally cast a spell that stirs evil spirits in their Florida town. With the help of one witchy grandmother and a naughty feline friend, it’s up to the girls to reverse the curse and save the day. This sweet and not-too-scary ghost story is perfect for spooky season — or any season, for that matter.

Giggle inducing and mind boggling, this sci-fi romp gives odes to its Cuban influence, and readers will be delighted as they follow Sal and Gabi in their time-bending, space manipulating shenanigans. We can’t recommend this hilarious and brilliant duology enough! 

This historical fiction story will captivate readers’ hearts as 10-year-old Gabrielle moves from Haiti to Brooklyn in 1985 and works hard to try to learn the language and fit in. When her best efforts still aren’t good enough, she makes a deal with a witch for the ability to speak English perfectly and be “American.” Unfortunately, she begins to see how much she gave up to fit in and embarks on an epic battle against the witch alongside her two new friends to reverse the spell.  

Lila Reyes is about to graduate and, like most teenagers, thinks she has it all figured out. Unfortunately, the universe has other ideas, and her plans come crashing down around her without warning. Suddenly, Lila finds herself moving to England, worlds away from the life she knows and loves as a Cuban girl living in Miami. While sweet and charming, this story also explores loss, grief and the growth we experience when we get out of our comfort zone and embrace the unexpected. 

Brimming with both grief and love, this story of loss, forgiveness, and bittersweet bonds told in verse will capture readers’ hearts in the perfect summer read. Camino and Yahaira Rios lose their dad in a plane crash, and in the midst of their grief discover that their beloved Papi had many secrets. With Camino in the Dominican Republic and Yahaira in New York City, the two are separately grieving, but in everything they’ve lost, they discover each other. 

Another perfect summer read, Juliet Takes a Breath is a coming out and coming-of-age story that will take your breath away. Juliet is Puerto Rican, queer, and from the Bronx, and she comes out to her parents right before flying to Portland, Oregon for a writing internship. When her coming out goes wrong, she hopes that Harlowe Brisbane, the legendary writer she’s interning with, will be able to help, but Juliet quickly figures out that her experiences are different and learns what it truly means to come out.  

Hurricane Summer is a gut-wrenchingly emotional book about the deeply complex journey into womanhood and all that it entails. Readers will be swept away by Bromfield’s lyrical storytelling and thought-provoking insight into social issues like racism, classism and sexism. 

For a debut that knocked us off our feet, you’ll want to pick up this stunning story about family heritage and secrets. Alaine’s always been told stories about Haiti, but when her life goes a bit haywire, she finally gets to visit. She suddenly finds that she’s not only learning about Haiti’s history and her family’s history, but also, she’s learning her mother’s secrets—particularly a family curse that has spanned generations! 

This story of familial duty, the immigrant experience, and a young woman finding her voice will captivate your heart. It follows 15-year-old Ana Cancion who marries Juan, a man twice her age, so that her entire family can immigrate to America someday. Her life is lonely and miserable until Juan returns to the Dominican Republic to protect his family’s assets, leaving Ana in the care of his younger brother, Cesar, a free-spirited man who gives Ana the companionship and freedom she craves. When Juan returns, Ana must decide between following her heart or her loyalty and duty to her family. 

A breathtaking novel full of grief, crises, and living in a broken world, Afterlife is a rich story about an immigrant writer, Antonia Vega, who, after retiring from teaching English at a college, her husband dies, her sister disappears, and she finds an undocumented and pregnant teenager on her doorstep. She can’t even find comfort or direction from the authors and books that have burrowed their way into her heart because this time, the world demands more than just words.  

If you loved Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, then this debut is perfect for you. Stanford Solomon faked his own death and stole the identity of his best friend, and 30 years later, his firstborn daughter, Irene Paisley, has unknowingly shown up to take care of the father she thought was dead. This layered story of family, identity, and overcoming ghosts from the past will captivate readers.  

This historical romance is perfect for fans of the marriage of convenience trope, steamy romance scenes and diverse casts of characters. When Luz sails from Santo Domingo to Paris to sell her family’s rum, she finds that people refuse to do business with her because she’s a woman, and she can’t access her inheritance until she’s married. Then there’s James, an Earl who has built a whisky brand that’s his biggest passion … until he meets Luz.