Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed - by Saraciea J Fennell

About the Book

"'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 . . . an essential celebration of this rich and diverse community"--Provided by publisher.

Book Synopsis

Edited by The Bronx Is Reading founder Saraciea J. Fennell and featuring an all-star cast of Latinx contributors, Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed is a ground-breaking anthology that will spark dialogue and inspire hope

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.

Review Quotes

A Must-Read Book of the Year (Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Oprah.com, Glamour, Refinery29, Good Morning America, HipLatina, New York Times, Publishers Weekly, Latino Book Review, Al Día, Be Latina, Bustle, PopSugar, and more)!

An Indie Next Pick
A Bank Street Best Book of the Year

"A standout . . . an inspiring book for those who will see their own struggles with identity and belonging reflected within these pages. Above all, it is a book that will make many feel seen, heard and empowered." --Reyna Grande, San Francisco Chronicle

"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

"The Bronx Is Reading founder has compiled an anthology of original nonfiction revealing a vast spectrum of Latinx experiences." --The New York Times

"By turns joyful, tear-jerking and an excellent addition to any well-stocked bookshelf." --People Magazine

"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

"[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

"Intimate, joyful. . . This groundbreaking anthology offers readers a vibrant tapestry that highlights and celebrates the richness and diversity of the Latinx and Afro-Latinx diaspora (a population often left out of discussions of Latinx identity)." --SELF Magazine

"Poignant. This book challenges stereotypes and myths about Latinx communities." --Refinery29

"A powerful anthology of diverse Latinx voices." --HipLatina

"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

"This anthology will help young people gain the confidence to use their own 'wild tongues, ' gnash their sharp teeth, and liberate their fierce hearts. . . . Unique, beautiful, and inspiring, this essay collection is a must-purchase." --School Library Journal, starred review

"Wild Tongues Can't Be Tamed offers a wide scope of personal essays ranging in narrative voice and structure, the stories unflinching in their earnestness but also filled with music and food and joy. This collection is necessary reading. A remarkable collection of essays depicting the joys and sorrows of the Latinx diaspora." --Shelf Awareness

"Tremendously thought-provoking . . . an impressive roster of voices from an array of cultural backgrounds claimed and unclaimed. The contradictions and interplays that emerge between essays serve to illuminate the immeasurable realities of the Latinx diaspora." --Kirkus Reviews

"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

"A thought-provoking collection of literary essays from 15 Latinx authors touching on identity, ghosts, music, sexuality, and more." --Zibby Owens, Katie Couric Media

"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

About the Author

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