¡Manteca! An anthology of Afro-Latin@ poets

¡Manteca! is a welcome addition to the cornucopia of books sharing the poetic voices of the Americas, specifically, the Latin countries. Castillo-Garsow has convened a vibrant selection of 40 Afro-Latin poets, both established and emerging, whose collective work spans 50 years. Evenly divided by gender, this acute convergence of poems inspired by lives lived and minds shaped by social and cultural complexities reflects the multiple consciousness bestowed by African, Latin, and American heritages. Castillo-Garsow's editorial keenness has resulted in a poetry collection rich in musicality, from mambo to hip-hop, as well as vibrant and entertaining observations. In her introduction, Castillo-Garsow writes that she simultaneously centered blackness as an important aspect of Latin poetry and Latinidad as crucial to African American poetry. This unique anthology succeeds on each count. Readers, drawn by a love for poetry and/or an interest in diverse literature and history, will find that ¡Manteca!, like its English translation, butter, will melt delectably in the mind, creating flavors and nuances to ponder again and again.--Niño, Raúl Copyright 2017 Booklist