Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed

July 1, 2021
Grades 10-12 This compilation of candid essays offers nuanced depictions of the Latinx experience. From the Bronx to El Paso, this collection brings together writers from across the vast Latinx diaspora in the U.S., a setting which itself complicates the journey of coming to terms with that identity. As editor, Fennell's commitment to showcasing myriad experiences is evident in the selection of contributors, which includes household names, such as Meg Medina and Ibi Zoboi, alongside other talented writers who elevate the intersections of their Black, Indigenous, or queer identities, as well as cultures not often represented, like Panamanian and Honduran. The pieces vary in tone and structure and range thematically, including connecting with culture as a transracial adoptee (Mark Oshiro's "Eres Un Pocho"), identifying with an Afro-Latino Spider-Man (Julian Randall's "#JulianforSpiderman"), and living with mental illness (Lilliam Rivera's "More than Nervios"). Each theme is worthy of its own volume, but the standout is undeniably colorism, a crucial topic within the Latinx community, herein brought to light with strength and vulnerability. The deeply personal approach of each contributor will connect with readers of all backgrounds and empower those seeking to define their own experiences.

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Starred review from October 4, 2021
In her introduction to this exquisitely curated nonfiction YA anthology, editor/contributor Fennell writes, “Too often individuals from the Latinx diaspora are placed into a box, into stereotypes, that society deems necessary to define us. But we are so much more than the myths, than the stereotypes, than what white people and Western ideals, want us to believe.” Featuring 15 personal essays and poems from members of the Latinx diaspora, including Elizabeth Acevedo, Meg Medina, and Ibi Zoboi, this anthology not only presents newer voices alongside “old favorites” but also dismantles the idea that there is a single way to express one’s Latinx identity or to write about diasporic experiences. From Mark Oshiro’s skillful use of repetition and second-person narration in “Eres un Pocho” to the visceral, sharp-edged free verse of Natasha Diaz’s “Caution Song,” each contributor experiments with structure, narration, and language to candidly explore the complexities of identity and culture. With its inclusion of historically underrepresented Latinx voices, including Afro-Latinx, Caribbean, and Central American perspectives, the book uplifts and celebrates breadth and diversity within a broader community. A standout array of talent. Ages 12–up. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary & Media. (Nov.)■

Starred review from February 4, 2022

Gr 9 Up-A collection of 15 incisive entries by authors from the Latinx diaspora that will resonate with readers long after the last page is turned. The authors featured hail from Panama, Haiti, Mexico, Cuba, and more, and the topics covered include family identity, grief, immigration, and irreparable loss. The heartbreaking essays delve into the racism that exists against Afro-Latinxs, the desire to seek acceptance from those who will never give it, the pursuit of a past that is now only accessible through memories, and the unbearable pressure of trying to keep one's mental health from shattering. Among the heartache, readers will also find inspiration to seek out who they are, accept and embrace their roots, push away the people and thoughts that are causing them harm, and control who they want to be. This anthology will help young people gain the confidence to use their own "wild tongues," gnash their sharp teeth, and liberate their fierce hearts. Short biographies about contributing authors, including Elizabeth Acevedo, Ibi Zoboi, and Julian Randall, are also included. VERDICT Unique, beautiful, and inspiring, this essay collection is a must-purchase for young adult collections in school and public libraries.-Selenia Paz

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August 15, 2021
Fifteen Latinx writers lend their voices and experiences to acutely personal narratives and poetry. In her introduction, editor and contributor Fennell provides a mission statement, one centered on "letting our truths run wild, and pushing against whatever it is you think is the ideal Latinx individual." The truth, it seems, is undefinable and utterly human, with recurring themes cropping up throughout the collection: questions around mental health in Latinx communities, colorism and racism, the boundaries of language (known and unknown), and finding comfort and familiarity in food. Mark Oshiro's "Eres Un Pocho" opens the anthology with an interrogation of what "it means to be Latino, what it means to be queer," and the drawbacks of assimilation. In Meg Medina's "The Mark of a Good Man," the heartbreaking tale of a Cuban uncle's arrival in the U.S. underscores the potency of migration and the limits of the American dream. Meanwhile, Kahlil Haywood's "Para�so Negro" recounts the writer's numerous trips to Panama and a slow examination of Afro-Latinx identity, while Ibi Zoboi's "Haitian Sensation" complicates and explores what it means to be Haitian, Black, and perhaps (not) Afro-Latina. This volume presents an impressive roster of voices from an array of cultural backgrounds claimed and unclaimed. The contradictions and interplays that emerge between essays serve to illuminate the immeasurable realities of the Latinx diaspora. A tremendously thought-provoking (re)construction of Latinx experiences. (about the authors) (Nonfiction anthology. 12-18)

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