The Book of Awesome Latinas

The Book of Awesome Latinas: From Passionate Pioneers to Unstoppable Innovators

By Ashely K. Stoyanov Ojeda + Mirtle Peña-Calderón

Now available for pre-order.

The book goes live on March 17, 2026.

Support local bookstores by buying from Bookshop.org, or get it on Amazon.

About the Book

Trailblazing scientists and revolutionary activists fill these pages, each one shattering barriers and rewriting the rules in their communities and fields. Their courage, resilience, and unwavering determination light the way for the next generation, showing that when representation is missing, it is up to us to step forward boldly and become pioneers.

This book is a celebration of Latina and Latine femme excellence across a wide range of fields, including but not limited to medicine, literature, politics, civil rights, space exploration, and the arts.

Among the incredible women featured are:

June Beer: An Afro-Nicaraguan naïve artist, who gained national and international acclaim for her works depicting African and feminist themes. She was also the first woman poet of Nicaragua's Atlantic coast and produced works in Moskitian Creole, English and Spanish.
Rigoberta Menchú: An Indigenous Guatemalan woman and human rights activist, who made history as the first Indigenous woman to run for president of Guatemala.
Chiquinha Gonzaga: A Brazilian composer, pianist, and the first woman conductor in Brazil. She was the first pianist of "choro" and author of the first carnival march, "Ó Abre Alas."
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz: A philosopher, poet, and advocate for gender equality in New Spain (now modern-day Mexico) during the Baroque period (1600-1750).
Marta Vieira da Silva: Known mononymously as Marta, is a Brazilian-Swedish professional footballer and regarded by many as the greatest female footballer of all time.
Rita Moreno: A legendary actress, singer, and dancer who is the only Latina to have won a PEGOT (Peabody, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Award), solidifying her legacy in the entertainment industry.

If you liked books such as Jenni Rivera: The Incredible Story of a Warrior Butterfly by Leila Cobo, ¡Viva Latina! by Sandra Velasquez, Mamá Didn't Raise a Pendeja by Carolina Acosta and Aralis Mejia, Rad Women Worldwide by Kate Schatz, Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo, or The Book of Awesome Asian Women by Karen Wang Diggs, you will want to read The Book of Awesome Latinas.

Endorsements

"For too long, Latinas have been made to believe we don’t have a history or heroines to be proud of, just the same few names and faces endlessly recycled by media that was never interested in telling the whole story.

The Book of Awesome Latinas breaks that pattern. Spanning Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Latina diaspora, this book celebrates the oft-forgotten change-makers, artists, innovators, barrier-breakers, and freedom fighters who shaped our past and are redefining our future. These are the stories that were overlooked, minimized, or never taught at all — until now."

- Raquel Reichard, author of “Self-Care for Latinas” and Deputy Director at Somos by Refinery29

"As timely as it is urgent, The Book of Awesome Latinas arrives at a moment when our community needs, more than ever, to take control of the narrative.

These stories remind us that our legacy has always been built in real time, through resilience, imagination, and sheer will. For every woman of color looking for inspiration or a reason to keep showing up, this book belongs on your shelf.”

- Yamily Habib, author of "Joni Mitchell - Chords of Inquiry: Her Life and Music" and Editorial Director at mitu

“Latinas’ achievements are VASTLY under celebrated. With this book, we’re reminded of how remarkable Latinas are and have been, and we’re reclaiming our mark in history across every industry. It’s a must-read!"

- Liz Rebecca Alarcón, Founder & CEO @ProjectPulso

"I wasn’t even through the first page when I knew I was going to love this book. As someone whose day job is to amplify the voice of Latinas, this book made my heart sing.

What a beautiful homage to who we are, what we’ve accomplished, and the ways we’ve made our presence known in a world that too often dismisses our contributions. Thank you to Ashley and Mirtle for writing a book that truly celebrates us!"

- Hady Méndez, author of "Calladita No More" and Host of the LinkedIn show, Latinas: Front & Center

“More than ever, we all need to be reminded of the Latinas who not only dreamt of a better world, but committed their lives to ensure it became a reality. This book will inspire Latinas everywhere to believe that they, too, can be the change!”

- Cat Lantigua, author of “Build It and They Will Come: A Guide to Architecting Intentional Community"

Events

PORTLAND, OR: Book Launch event, Thursday, March 19, 2026, at 7 PM at Annie Bloom’s Bookstore

CORAL SPRINGS, FL: Meet + Greet, Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 1-3 PM at Barnes & Noble