Ander and Santi Were Here

By Jonny Garza Villa,

Book cover of Ander and Santi Were Here

Book description

The Santos Vista neighbourhood of San Antonio, TX is all Ander Lopez has ever known. The smell of pan dulce, the laughter of kids hitting a pinata at the park, the mixture of Spanish and English filling the streets. And, especially, their job at the family's taqueria. So as the…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked Ander and Santi Were Here as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

I love a book that pushes my boundaries and allows me to see things from a different perspective in an intimate way, and this book certainly does that.

It features Ander, a non-binary main character who deals with issues of racism and immigration. Despite the heavy topics, the book is filled with tender moments, a wonderful look at Mexican American culture, and is largely a joyous and emotional love story. 

Ander and Santi Were Here is a book that I had been anticipating for a long time. I went to the author’s event and bought a signed copy. Then, I listened to the audiobook. I loved the narrator who did an amazing job. Their voice captured the character and pulled me into the story. 

It is a beautiful love story about a Mexican-American nonbinary teen who falls in love with an undocumented Mexican boy. Ander is an artist, and Santi takes a job at their family’s Mexican restaurant.

The story resonated with me because my family came to the United…

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