Today’s Featured Book of Color is America Libre, written by Raul Ramos Y Sanchez. Sanchez’s debut novel delves the reader into an L.A. barrio and follows Manolo Suarez. Manolo is a husband and father, as well as a decorated war vet.
When a Hispanic liberation movement erupts in his barrio, Manolo desperately hopes for peace. In an effort to keep the peace, Manolo joins forces with Ramon Garcia to create La Defensa del Pueblo, a group for Hispanic unity. When violence increases in the barrio, the US creates camps to segregate the Hispanics from the general population. In turn, Manolo is forced to look at his patriotism and a love for his people.
Sanchez was the winner of the 2008 International Latino Book Award for the original version of America Libre, which he self-published. The new version, published by Grand Central Publishing, is updated with more content.