Latino Literature: An Encyclopedia for Students

Gr 7 Up–It is a daunting task to offer a historical and political overview of the rich and complex history of Latinx literature in the United States, yet Soto van der Plas and Cunningham have attempted to do just that. They have collected a thorough group of essays introducing historical protagonists, their movements, and significance for Latinx literature. The editors claim that the book is not a traditional encyclopedia, but more of a compass, establishing the “main coordinates of what Latino literature has been historically and to trace the current trends within the field.” Each entry—from Oscar “Zeta” Acosta to Helena María Viramontes—is written by a scholar in the field and contains a summary, chronology of significance, a bibliography, and additional resources. The book also contains a brief time line from 5,000 BCE to 2007.