"Cuentos de cipotes" by Salvador Salazar Arrué

Central America has a rich storytelling history. Yet, authors from the isthmus do not get the visibility they deserve. (And yes, we know the beloved Rubén Darío gets plenty of love, but there are many more authors who deserve shine beside Mr. Modernismo himself.)

For the last few months, we have turned La Joya Nicoya’s Instagram account into a tribute to Central American stories. From poetry to fiction and more, we have scoured the internet to find books that deserve a place on your reading list. These stories will give you a look at Central America by those who most know it – which, is incredibly necessary right now as Central Americans continue being maligned in the media – and as a bonus, some of them will help you work on your Spanish, too.

1. "In Times Like These" by Zee Edgell

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In "In Times Like These" by Zee Edgell, Pavana Leslie returns to Belize after a visit to the United States. With the announcement that Guatemala and Belize are working out an agreement to end Guatemala's claim to Belizean territory, it's a time of turmoil. Belize's reject the terms, and Pavana finds herself in the center of the conflict. • • • #belize #zeeedgell #centralamericanliterature

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Sep 12, 2019 at 9:58am PDT

2. “Asfalto” by Luis Chavez

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"Asfalto" by Costa Rican poet Luis Chaves follows a man and a woman who take a road trip. Told through vignettes, we see their relationship unravel. ⁠ •⁠ •⁠ •⁠ #luischaves #asfalto #costarica #centralamericanliterature

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Jan 16, 2020 at 7:01am PST

3. "The Beggar's Knife" by Rodrigo Rey Rosa

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"The Beggar's Knife" by Rodrigo Rey Rosa is a collection of short stories, which ties in myths and beliefs that are important to Central Americans. ⁠ •⁠ •⁠ •⁠ #centralamericanliterature #centralamerican #literature

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Dec 17, 2019 at 7:00am PST

4. "El país de las mujeres" by Gioconda Belli

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In "El país de las mujeres," a 2013 novel by Gioconda belli, Faguas (a make-believe Latin American country) sees the Partido de la Izquierda Erótica gain power. The party attempts to change the course of the direction of the country through female leadership. But not everyone is OK with a country run by women, and in an attempt to overthrow the government, someone shot President Viviana Sansón. • • • #nicaragua #giacondabelli #elpaisdelasmujeres #vivianasansón #centralamericanliterature #literature

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Aug 27, 2019 at 7:50am PDT

5. "Cry Among the Rain Clouds" by John Alexander Watler

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"Cry Among the Rain Clouds" by John Alexander Watler uses Belizean history to tell the story of six people. Watler dedicated himself to telling the stories of Belize's Kriol culture. • • • #belize #belizeanwriters #kriol #johnalexanderwatler

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Aug 20, 2019 at 4:05pm PDT

6. "Síncopes" by Alan Mill

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"Síncopes" by Guatemalan poet Alan Mills is a micro-novel, where he raises questions about identity in the Americas. • • • #centralamericanliterature #alanmills

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Jul 29, 2019 at 10:57am PDT

7. "Cuentos de cipotes" by Salvador Salazar Arrué

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"Cuentos de cipotes" is a collection of short stories from Salvador Salazar Arrué. They first appeared in the Patria de Alberto Masferrer newspaper before they were made into a book. H/T @culturakuskatan • • • #elsalvador #centralamericanbook #centralamericanliterature #salvadorsalazararrue

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Jul 8, 2019 at 11:39am PDT

8. “The World in Half" by Cristina Henriquez

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"The World in Half" by Panamanian writer Cristina Henriquez tells the story of Miraflores, a woman who had never known her father and thought he didn't want anything to do with her. One day, she learns the truth and decides to make her way to Panama to find him. • • • #cristinahenriquez #theworldinhalf #panamanianwriter #Panama #panamaliterature

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Jul 2, 2019 at 5:29am PDT

9. "Land of Childhood" by Claudia Lars

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"Land of Childhood" by Claudia Lars is an intimate look at life in rural El Salvador inspired by the author's own upbringing. • • • #claudialars #elsalvadorauthor #centralamericabookclub #centralamericanliterature #landofchildhood #tierradeinfancia

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Jun 19, 2019 at 12:45pm PDT

10. “Narenga” by Felicia Hernandez

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Written by Belizean author Felicia Hernandez, "Narenga" is a Garifuna children's book, which follows a young girl's typical day. • • • #garifuna #feliciahernandez #narenga #belize #belizean #centralamericanliterature #centralamerican #centralamerica

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on May 27, 2019 at 6:13am PDT

11. "Knitting the Fog" by Claudia D. Hernández

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Claudia D. Hernández's "Knitting the Fog" is a highly personal book that follows the poet and author's journey from Guatemala to the United States. Central Americans hardly ever get to tell their own immigration stories, which makes this book especially necessary. If you're looking for a book that's funny, smart, and a little heartbreaking, then you need to check it out. • • • #lajoyanicoyabookclub #centralamericanliterature #literature #centralamerica #guatemala #claudiadhernandez #knittingthefog

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Apr 17, 2019 at 7:29am PDT

12. “La isla de los hombres solos” by José León Sánchez

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José León Sánchez’s "La isla de los hombres solos" is inspired by the Costa Rican author's experience being incarcerated at the San Lucas Penitentiary, which was located on Isla San Lucas from the 1870s to the 1990s. He spent 30 years on the island accused of committing a religious crime that he always denied he committed. In 1998, the Supreme Court of Justice absolved him of the crime. José learned to read and write while in prison, which is when he produced this book, his best-known work. • • • #JoséLeónSánchez #laisladeloshombressolos #costarica #costaricanliterature #centralamericanliterature

A post shared by La Joya Nicoya (@lajoyanicoya) on Jun 4, 2019 at 10:50am PDT

12 Central American Books You Should Read