Here are 10 books to read to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, offering a mix of Mexican history, culture, fiction, and voices from the Mexican-American experience:

10 Books To Celebrate Cinco De Mayo

1. Cinco de Mayo: What Is Everybody Celebrating? by Donald W. Miles

A concise historical overview that explains the true origins of Cinco de Mayo and its significance, especially in the U.S.

2. Mexico: A History by Robert Ryal Miller

A well-rounded introduction to Mexican history, covering the events leading up to the Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo) and beyond.

3. A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico by Amy S. Greenberg

A well-rounded introduction to Mexican history, covering the events leading up to the Battle of Puebla (Cinco de Mayo) and beyond.

4. Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel

A beloved magical realism novel set during the Mexican Revolution, blending romance, food, and culture.

5. The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

A coming-of-age classic reflecting the Mexican-American experience through poetic vignettes.

6. Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya

A foundational Chicano novel that explores identity, culture, and spirituality in New Mexico.

7. Mexican Enough: My Life Between the Borderlines by Stephanie Elizondo Griest

A powerful memoir about navigating bicultural identity and reconnecting with Mexican roots.

8. Borderlands/La Frontera: The New Mestiza by Gloria Anzaldúa

A groundbreaking exploration of border culture, language, gender, and resistance.

9. Chicana Falsa: And Other Stories of Death, Identity, and Oxnard by Michele Serros

A funny, sharp-witted poetry and prose collection examining growing up Mexican-American in California.

10. Lowriders in Space by Cathy Camper, illustrated by Raúl the Third

A vibrant graphic novel that blends Latino car culture with sci-fi and Spanish vocabulary — fun for all ages.

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