Bad Bunny’s halftime show was arguably one of the most impactful of all time. His pride in his Puerto Rican heritage and his love for his country came through loud and clear — both in his performance and in his words: “The only thing more powerful than hate is love.”
We know this to be true. We’ve seen it unfold again and again in our lives, in our communities, and in the stories we read. Without fail, love wins.
If Benito’s words resonated with you, we’ve gathered a booklist of stories where compassion triumphs, hope rises, and love leads the way. Together, these authors remind us that love — for family, culture, and community — can be a powerful act of resistance.
All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson
Candid testimony given through personal essays for young LGBTQIA men from a prominent journalist and activist.
All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Mathews
Warm and tender, Mathews weaves humor and heart into the story of a young immigrant woman finding her way and building a new life in an unfamiliar city.
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV and Desmond Tutu
Two great spiritual leaders come together to share a heartfelt guide on cultivating lasting joy throughout life.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Through Indigenous wisdom, scientific insight, and heartfelt storytelling, discover how the natural world teaches us lessons of reciprocity, gratitude, and healing.
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
A novel-in-verse about two sisters separated by distance who discover each other’s existence only after the tragic death of their father. Through a raw and heartfelt exploration of family, grief, and identity, the sisters—and readers—find hope, healing, and connection.
Don’t Call Us Dead by Danez Smith
A fierce and tender poetry collection that confronts themes of race, queerness, violence, and resilience. Through raw, urgent verse, Smith honors Black queer lives while searching for hope, love, and survival in the face of injustice.
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
A sweeping saga spanning 300 years, following the descendants of two sisters—one sold into slavery, the other left in Ghana. This powerful story explores the lasting impact of history and the enduring strength people draw from their heritage.
The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros
Follow a young Latina girl growing up in Chicago as she explores themes of community, belonging, and the search for a place to call home.
If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery
A Jamaican family flees political violence only to discover that the American Dream is fraught with its own challenges. Yet, even as their world unravels, they are driven by what their youngest son calls “the exquisite, racking compulsion to survive.”
Into the Uncut Grass
by Trevor Noah
From the publisher: “…an illustrated fable about a young child’s journey into the world beyond the shadow of home, a magical landscape where he discovers the secrets of sharing, connection, and finding peace with the people we love.”
Postcolonial Love Poem by Natalie Diaz
“An anthem of desire against erasure” (publisher’s description). Diaz’s powerful poetry collection explores identity and survival from a Mojave American perspective.
Radical Hope: Letters and Dissent in Dangerous Times edited by Carolina De Robertis
From the publisher: “…a collection of letters–to ancestors, to children five generations from now, to strangers in grocery lines, to all who feel weary and discouraged–written by award-winning novelists, poets, political thinkers, and activists.
Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward
Journey through rural Mississippi and witness one family’s resilience in the face of grief and racial trauma. Ward’s lyrical storytelling reveals how the bonds between parents and children hold the power to heal across generations.
The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali
Set in 1950s Tehran, two lovers are separated by war, distance, and decades—but their enduring love guides them back to each other.
This Is the Only Kingdom by Jaquira Díaz
A powerful memoir and “love letter to mothers, daughters, and the barrios that shape them” (publisher’s description), Díaz artfully captures the experience of growing up Puerto Rican with raw honesty and deep affection.
True Biz by Sara Novic
From the publisher: “Absorbing and assured, idiosyncratic and relatable, this is an unforgettable journey into the Deaf community and a universal celebration of human connection.”
