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6 Essential Reads to Celebrate Dominican Heritage Month!

Angélica María Veloz

Books By Dominican-American Latina Authors
Books By Dominican-American Latina Authors

From la Republica Dominicana to the United States, these Dominicanas bring a special and unique look into what the Dominican-American experience is actually like—Julia Alvarez, Angie Cruz, Elizabeth Acevedo, Claribel A. Ortega, Alyssa Reynoso-Morris and Lissette Norman—beautifully contribute to the literary legacy of Dominican Literature, creating stories that connect readers of all ages.


In 2016, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo officially declared Dominican Heritage Month to honor the significant contributions of Dominicans both in New York and across the United States. This recognition followed a similar initiative from 1998, when New York City Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani acknowledged the vital role of the Dominican community in the city's growth and development.


While this month is primarily recognized by New York officials, Dominican-Americans continue to make a profound impact across the entire nation. Their contributions span a wide range of fields, from hard work that strengthens the U.S. economy and society, to influential roles in politics, sports, pop culture, and the arts.


Through the literature written by Alvarez, Cruz, Acevedo, Ortega, Reynoso-Morris and Norman, we can see a glimpse into how wonderfully complex and diverse the Dominican diaspora truly is. Dominican Heritage Month begins on January 21st, with the celebration of La Virgen de Altagracia and concludes on February 27th, the date marking the independence of the Dominican Republic. Reading any of these books is a great way to honor and celebrate Dominican voices!


ADULT FICTION

Cover for Alvarez's The Cemetery of Untold Stories
Cover for Alvarez's The Cemetery of Untold Stories

The renowned Dominican-American author, Julia Alvarez, best known for her iconic novel In the Time of the Butterflies, published her most magical novel, The Cemetery of Untold Stories, this past year. Her literary achievements have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including the 2013 Presidential Medal of the Arts, awarded by President Barack Obama. Alvarez’s remarkable contributions to Latinx literature have left an incredible impact, inspiring countless writers and paving the way for a new generation of Dominican-American authors.


The Cemetery of Untold Stories follows Alma, a writer who retires to the Dominican Republic after spending most of her life in the United States. After creating a cemetery for her unpublished works and burying them, the characters begin to speak to the groundskeeper, demanding that their stories be heard. This novel beautifully encapsulates the unique experiences of Dominicans living in the United States, as well as the complicated history of the Dominican Republic. Alvarez revisits themes of sisterhood and assimilation, which are present in her previous works, but in a fresh way, incorporating magical realism.


Cover for Angie Cruz's How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water
Cover for Angie Cruz's How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz is a hilarious and emotional novel that reflects issues deeply rooted in Dominican culture and the U.S. The story of Cara Romero is told through a series of interviews held by a career counselor trying to help Cara land a job during the 2008 recession. Cruz shows life through the lens of a middle-aged Dominican immigrant in New York City and puts into words an experience I had witnessed, but rarely seen represented in literature or any form of media. Incorporating sweet moments of community between neighbors and the contrast with the rise of gentrification, Cruz brings to light the good and the ugly realities of what life is like for immigrants in this city. My favorite aspect of this book is how raw and real the characters are, making it feel like Cara is genuinely one of my neighbors recounting her stories over a cafecito.


YA FICTION

Cover for Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land
Cover for Elizabeth Acevedo's Clap When You Land

Elizabeth Acevedo’s debut novel The Poet X, was a major success winning her multiple awards and Clap When You Land followed a similar route. Both novels are creatively written in verse and tell the story of a teenage Dominican-American girl living in New York City. After American Airlines flight 587 crashed, the forgotten tragedy of 2001 left many Dominican families devastated. Clap When You Land tells the story of Yahaira and Camino who lose their father on the flight and face the consequences of their father’s double life and him keeping the families a secret from each other. The dual point of view shows how adolescents live in the Dominican Republic and in the United States, showing that some teen experiences are universal while others are cultural and vary based on factors like socio economic circumstance. Acevedo once again writes a beautiful coming of age story that will surely resonate with young adults and adults alike.


CHILDREN'S FICTION

Cover for Claribel A. Ortega's Frizzy
Cover for Claribel A. Ortega's Frizzy

Frizzy  (8-12 years old) by Claribel A. Ortega is a graphic novel about embracing one's natural hair. Claribel A. Ortega creatively demonstrates the longstanding issues surrounding natural curly hair in Dominican culture. Through the eyes of the protagonist Marlene, readers learn about the pressures young women have placed on them from a young age to have “good” looking straight hair. This mindset is deeply rooted in colonialism and the glamorization of Eurocentric features and standards.


Through the illustrations by Rose Bousamra and the captivating storyline written by Ortega, it is no wonder this book has had so much positive recognition. The message of only being proper, pretty and presentable with straight hair is a concept that has brought so much pain and internalized anti-blackness in the Latinx community. I love how Ortega addresses this topic and delivers it to a younger audience with grace and a positive outlook to leave with. Frizzy is for the Dominican girls who know the feeling of a burning scalp in a secadora, it is for the Latina/os who have worn their natural hair with unnecessary embarrassment, it is for all the young girls who have been told how to look by society and for anyone wishing to read a book of empowerment. This graphic novel is an amazing young adult read to celebrate Dominican Heritage Month, frizzy pajóns and all!

 

Cover for Alyssa Reynoso-Morris' Gloriana, Presente
Cover for Alyssa Reynoso-Morris' Gloriana, Presente

Gloriana, Presente (3-10 years old) by Alyssa Reynoso-Morris is a children’s book about a young Dominican-American girl on her first day of school. As Gloriana has only ever known the world through the eyes of her family who is from the Dominican Republic, she is nervous about school and all the English phrases she is not accustomed to. Guided by her abuelas stories from back home, Gloriana bravely learns to find balance between her Dominican and American identity and how to merge the two worlds together.


In her children's book Plátanos Go With Everything (3-10 years old) , Lissette Norman shows how food can connect us to our roots and culture. Through the eyes of young Yesenia, Plátanos Go With Everything shows Dominican culture in as many ways as Plátanos can be cooked. From Dominican baseball players to illustrations of muñecas sin rostro, this short and sweet book connects readers to the Dominican pride that lives on in people in any part of the world.


Although young Yesenia is living in the United States, her Dominican roots are passed down through stories and recipes. Plátanos Go With Everything is a beautiful reminder of how food connects us to our ancestors. It is a wonderful book for children to read and for adults who wish to feel the nostalgic comfort of their childhood meals. Your next read should be Plátanos Go With Everything, not only for the story but the delicious recipe for mangú at the end of the book!

 

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