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Xolo Score 5/5
Jonny Garza Villa’s Canto Contigo is a Young Adult romance novel that screams Queer and Mariachi Pride. Seventeen-year-old Rafael ‘Rafie’ Álvarez is the prodigal Mariachi lead vocalist. He’s a third-generation musical force of nature that lives and breathes Mariachi culture. Each year Rafie and his team win the National Mariachi Extravaganza, and Rafie’s Senior year will be no different. He doesn’t care that the Mariachi director at his new performing arts school selects shy but bold Afro-Mexican Rey Chávez as lead vocalist. Or that he finds himself pulled in by Rey’s tenderness and love for the art. Rafie makes it his mission to snag the lead vocalist spot for himself and prove he is worth inheriting his grandfather’s legacy.
*** SPOILERS AHEAD ***
The characters in Canto Contigo are richly drawn, diverse, and relatable. Rafie jokes that to be a member of the Todos Colores Mariachi, you had to be a member of the alphabet mafia. The group members capture the Latine community’s diverse personalities and gender identities. Seeing the group thrive in a school that embraces their authentic selves and seeing them stand by each other whenever they inevitably encounter queerphobia is empowering. At its core, Canto Contigo is a celebration of cultural heritage and the importance of embracing one’s identity. Rafie is out and open about his Queer identity and has so much love and support from his family. But he still endures microaggressions from peers in his former school who call his gayness palatable. Rafie refuses to tolerate regressive thoughts and consistently stands up for himself and his new friends.
Jonny Garza Villa’s prose is lyrical and provocative, capturing the emotions and experiences of these characters with tact. The dialogues are authentic, and the descriptions of music and dance are vivid, immersing the reader in the world of Mariachi. You’ll find yourself laughing at Rafie and Rey’s banter and sexual tension. As well as have your heart swell during the most tender moments between Rafie and his family. Garza Villa explores the heart-wrenching pain of losing the grandparent that inspires Rafie to become a Mariachi star. Rafie’s grief is messy. He lashes out and refuses to bottle these emotions and desperately wants validation for his anger and sadness. Throughout Canto Contigo, Rafie discovers that honoring his grief can coexist with new love.
Canto Contigo is an emotional romance novel that celebrates the Queer and Latine community through the extravagance of Mariachi culture.
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| To what extent are there BIPOC leading characters or perspectives? | How well does the author avoid writing BIPOC experiences through the white gaze? | To what extent does the author challenge white-centered beliefs? | How well does the book explore nuances between intersectional identities? |
Score | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
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