Episode 507: YA Latinx Fantasy

Welcome back to Reading With Libraries Season Five!

We are the Central Minnesota Libraries Exchange, and we support libraries of all types: schools, publics, academics, and special libraries and archives. We started this podcast to provide useful information for library people doing Reader’s Advisory work. There are so many books out there that it’s tough to be an expert on all of them. So we pick a new genre each week to chat about and hopefully provide you with some insight into what may be an unfamiliar genre!

(CMLE edit: please note the author Anna-Marie McLemore uses they/them pronouns. We apologize for using the incorrect pronouns)

This week we’re welcoming Returning Guest Host Leah Larson from State Library Services! Thank you for joining us to chat about YA Fantasy with a Latinx focus!

Beverages:

Each week we like to connect the theme of our books with our beverages, and we each came prepared with our own drink to enjoy while we talk about our books. Today we’ll be enjoying traditional beverages to go along with our discussion:

Atole 

  • ½ cup masa (corn flour)
  • 5 cups water
  • 5 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • Place the masa, water, cinnamon and piloncillo in a blender. Blend until smooth, about 3 minutes.
  • Pour the contents of the blender into a sauce pan and bring the mixture to boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. When the mixture reaches a boil, turn the heat to low and continue to whisk for 5 minutes.
  • Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Pour into mugs and serve hot.

Mangonada

  • 2 cups frozen mangoes
  • 1 ½ cups mango nectar
  • 2 cups ice cubes
  • 1 lime, halved
  • 4 tablespoons apricot chili sauce (chamoy)
  • 2 teaspoons tajin seasoning
  • Place frozen mango chunks, mango nectar, and ice into a blender and blend until smooth.
  • Juice half of lime into each glass then add 1-2 tablespoons of chamoy and 1 teaspoon of tajin to each glass. Swirl the chamoy and lime together and up the side of each glass.
  • Pour the frozen mango mixture into each glass and top with fresh diced mango, more chamoy, and a sprinkle of tajin seasoning.

Paloma

  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt (optional)
  • Grapefruit or lime wedge (optional)
  • Ice
  • 1/4 cup 100% agave blanco or silver tequila (2 ounces)
  • 1/4 cup freshly squeezed grapefruit juice (2 ounces, from 1/2 grapefruit)
  • 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice (1/2 ounce)
  • 1/2 cup grapefruit soda (4 ounces), such as Jarritos
  • Fill the glass with ice. Pour in the tequila, grapefruit juice, and lime juice, and stir to combine. Top with the grapefruit soda, stir, and garnish with the grapefruit or lime wedge.

Genre Discussion:

Wikipedia has this definition of fantasy: “Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction set in a fictional universe, often inspired by real world myth and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became fantasy literature and drama. From the twentieth century it has expanded further into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga and video games.

Most fantasy uses magic or other supernatural elements as a main plot element, theme, or setting. Magic and magical creatures are common in many of these worlds.”

Merriam-Webster gives us this definition of Latinx:
“of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage —used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latino or Latina”

From the article “13 Latina Fantasy Books For the Sci-Fi Lover in Your Life:”
“Fantasy literature by Latinx authors is it’s own kind of genre with commentary on the Latinx experience and culture imbued in the magical elements.”

Suggested Reading Resources:

Our Book Discussion

We have our beverages, we are familiar with this week’s genre, let’s get to the book discussion!

Conclusion:

Thank you so much for joining us on Reading With Libraries! Our book group is always better when you’re enjoying it along with us. 

And a special thanks to Guest Host Leah for being willing to come chat with us and share recommendations!

Join us next Thursday with another genre, more guest hosts for our book group, and more books to share and discuss. Be sure to subscribe to our podcast so you don’t miss a single episode! And if you want to hear more about the work we do in libraries – which is always interesting! – subscribe to our podcast Linking Our Libraries.

Bring your book ideas, bring your beverages, and join us back here on Thursday!