Welcome to AL DÍA READS, your go-to source for monthly book recommendations. From new releases to timeless classics, we’ve curated a collection of books that celebrate diverse voices and stories. This month, we’re diving into worlds of resilience, migration, and magical realism with three unforgettable reads. See the selected September picks below. Happy reading!

Solis by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher

In this highly anticipated companion novel to Sanctuary, activist Paola Mendoza and award-winning writer Abby Sher transport readers to a near-future dystopia. Set in 2033, Solis follows the lives of undocumented immigrants trapped in a labor camp, where they are forced to mine a toxic chemical. At the heart of the story is Rania, a seventeen-year-old girl, and her fellow prisoners who plot a rebellion to escape their nightmarish conditions. Through multiple perspectives, Mendoza and Sher explore themes of xenophobia, human rights, and survival under an authoritarian regime. With raw emotion and a fast-paced plot, Solis is a story of resilience and resistance that feels both urgent and eerily plausible.

Why We’re Reading It: Solis brilliantly tackles issues that resonate in today’s world, offering readers a powerful message about the fight for freedom and the importance of collective action.

The Wind Knows My Name by Isabel Allende

Isabel Allende’s latest novel The Wind Knows My Name weaves together two narratives that span continents and decades, reflecting on the long-lasting effects of displacement. Set during the Holocaust, Samuel Adler is a young boy who flees Nazi-occupied Vienna and finds refuge in England. Decades later, in 2019 Arizona, a young girl named Anita is separated from her mother at the U.S. border. Their lives intertwine in a story of survival, migration, and the hope of reuniting families. Allende masterfully explores the trauma of displacement while shedding light on modern-day immigration policies and the courage it takes to rebuild after loss.

Why We’re Reading It: With Allende’s signature blend of historical fiction and emotional depth, The Wind Knows My Name is a poignant exploration of love, loss, and resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity.

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez

No reading list is complete without a classic, and this month we’re revisiting One Hundred Years of Solitude, the iconic novel by Nobel laureate Gabriel García Márquez. Set in the mythical town of Macondo, this sweeping tale chronicles the rise and fall of the Buendía family over seven generations. Blending magical realism with political commentary, García Márquez’s masterpiece reflects the complexities of Latin American history, culture, and identity. The novel’s themes of love, loss, power, and memory resonate across time, making it a timeless read for any literary enthusiast.

Why We’re Reading It: García Márquez’s masterpiece remains a literary touchstone, captivating readers with its magical storytelling and profound insights into human nature.

That’s what we’re reading this September at AL DÍA. Stay tuned for more recommendations next month, and in the meantime, dive into these incredible reads!