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Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed

15 Voices from the Latinx Diaspora

Edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

Flatiron Books

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ISBN10: 1250763436
ISBN13: 9781250763433

Trade Paperback

288 Pages

$12.99

CA$16.99

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In Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed, bestselling and award-winning authors as well as up-and-coming voices interrogate the different myths and stereotypes about the Latinx diaspora. These fifteen original pieces delve into everything from ghost stories and superheroes, to memories in the kitchen and travels around the world, to addiction and grief, to identity and anti-Blackness, to finding love and speaking your truth. Full of both sorrow and joy, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community.

The bestselling and award-winning contributors include Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Julian Randall, Lilliam Rivera, and Ibi Zoboi.

Reviews

Praise for Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed

“Above all, [Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed] is a book that will make many feel seen, heard and empowered.”—Reyna Grande, San Francisco Chronicle

“[An] anthology we’d gladly wait all year for. In fifteen works of poetry and essays—from tales of the supernatural to takedowns of anti-Blackness—this collection offers something for just about every kind of reader.”—Harper’s Bazaar

“A beautifully edited collection of reflections on the Latinx diaspora. With writers like Naima Coster, Kahlil Haywood, and Lilliam Rivera, it highlights a vast variety of identities and writing styles.”Elle

“In a time when far too many Latinx authors, among other writers of color, are too often overlooked, Fennell’s poetic anthology collection not only tells authentic stories but does away with the monolithic definition of Latinidad we’re often accustomed to seeing. It instead speaks to the wide-range of diversity that very much exists within Latinx culture while amplifying the voices and the stories that often aren't given the attention they deserve."—POPSUGAR Latina

“Saraciea J. Fennell is making history in the Latinx community by creating spaces to share Latinx literature and to spread literacy, both in her own community in the Bronx and beyond. Wild Tongues Can’t Be Tamed showcases the richness of the community, exploring everything from Afrolatinidad to her own Garifuna (indigenous Honduran) heritage.”—Angie Cruz, Good Morning America

“This wonderful and deeply personal look into 15 experiences from the Latinx diaspora will give readers plenty to think about and will surely make many readers feel seen and understood as they encounter authors whose lives, feelings, and experiences echo their own. A great collection.”—Teen Librarian Toolbox

Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a raw and unapologetic collection of essays and poetry that dismantle stereotypes about people from the Latin American diaspora. With anecdotes that span generations of pain and joy, this collection uplifts a new generation of Latinx writers who know the power of story and aren't afraid to use it.”—Zoraida Córdova, Shelf Awareness

“Candid . . . nuanced . . . 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.”—Booklist

“Exquisitely curated . . . 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.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

Reviews from Goodreads

BOOK EXCERPTS

Read an Excerpt

Eres Un Pocho



Mark Oshiro

Eres un pocho.

You are seven.

They will ask you many questions. Why is your hair like that? Why are your eyes so dark? Are you a demon? How come you are so tan? There...

About the author

Edited by Saraciea J. Fennell

Saraciea J. Fennell is a Black Honduran American writer, founder of The Bronx is Reading, and creator of Honduran Garifuna Writers. She is also a book publicist who has worked with many award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors. Fennell is board chair for Latinx in Publishing Inc., as well as on the Advisory Board of People of Color in Publishing. She lives in the Bronx with her family and dog, Oreo.


Contributors: Elizabeth Acevedo, Cristina Arreola, Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Naima Coster, Natasha Diaz, Saraciea J. Fennell, Kahlil Haywood, Zakiya Jamal, Janel Martinez, Jasminne Mendez, Meg Medina, Mark Oshiro, Lilliam Rivera, Julian Randall, Ibi Zoboi

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