Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15) celebrates the histories, cultures, and contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities whose stories have shaped our community. At the University of Arizona, this celebration holds special significance. As a federally designated Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), more than one in four undergraduate students identifies as Hispanic, reflecting the rich diversity and strength of our campus.

The University of Arizona Press book recommendations

How We Came to Be: An Intellectual Genealogy of Chicano Scholars edited by Teresa Córdova, Aída Hurtado, Francisco J. Hernández and Avelardo Valdez 

Originating from the Reuniónes de Colegas—gatherings of veteran scholars reflecting on their shared histories—the volume features sixteen essays organized into five thematic sections that explore the intersections of activism, scholarship, and institutional change.

Confronting Colonial Legacies: A History of Chicana/o Indigeneities and Transnational Activism by José Luis Serrano Nájera

Nájera takes an in-depth look at the history of Chicana/o indigeneity, starting with the Chicana/o Movement of the 1960s and 1970s and through twenty-first century transnational activism and solidarity movements.

Curandereando: Sacred Decolonial Healing, by Lani Cupchoy

"Sacred" reclaims curanderismo as a living and revolutionary practice of ancestral wisdom, resilience, and renewal. Blending poetry, Spanglish storytelling, oral histories, and testimonios, this hybrid work illuminates healing as both a sacred tradition and a decolonial act of resistance. 

Chicana Spiritual Activism: Making Change, Making Soul by Brenda L. Sendejo

In another book about healing, "Making Change" explores the profound impact of spiritual activism within the Chicana feminist movement in Texas. It illuminates how a cohort of Texas Chicanas embraced spiritual activism in pursuit of social change during the movement and into the present day. This book will be published in October 2026.

Flourishing Shadows / Sombras Florecientes: A Chicano Howl by former U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera

A searing bilingual collection that speaks directly to America and all its peoples, "Howl" is a lyrical journey through migration, memory, and resistance—an urgent address to a nation grappling with its identity. This book will be published in October 2026.

Two Vatos Talk Pop Cultura by Frederick Luis Aldama and Peter Murrieta

Books, film, and TV collide in to examine how Latinx representation has evolved—and stagnated—across seven decades of American TV, film, and pop culture. This book will be published in October 2026.

The University of Arizona Press (UA Press) is the premier publisher of academic, regional, and literary works in the state of Arizona. UA Press disseminates ideas and knowledge of lasting value that enrich understanding, inspire curiosity, and enlighten readers; and advances the University of Arizona mission by connecting scholarship and creative expression to readers worldwide.

Hispanic Heritage Month LibGuide

Our collection (LibGuide) highlights books and other resources that explore Hispanic and Latino histories, identities, cultures, communities, and experiences. We invite you to discover new voices, deepen your understanding, and celebrate the stories that enrich our campus and communities.