The Latina voice is not only evident in literature or music, but also through paintings. Here are five Latina artist that show the world what our experiences and culture is about! Carmen Lomas Garza: Carmen is a Mexican- American artist from Texas, through her work she seeks to depict her experiences and memories of living [...]

Over the past decade, an artist named Lance Aaron has collected artwork that dates three decades before the Mexican Revolution. Some artwork dates back as late as 1892. In 1920, Mexico made its artwork a national priority, causing a lot of artists to begin to collect and print their artwork, knowing that it could hold [...]

All the young Latinas in the room were mesmerized by the message these women represented. “Good Mexican daughters don’t ignite revolutions…This princess Chicana can scale walls with ease…I am a woman with no apologies,” were part of the spoken word performance presented by Griselda Munoz at the Latinitas Teen Media Academy. The poem was full [...]

Murals have been called one of the oldest art forms.  They have been around since the era of cavemen, but the term became famous with the Mexican “muralista” art movement in the 1920′s.  Diego Rivera (husband of the infamous Frida Kahlo), José Clemente Orozco and David Alfaro Siqueiros, a few of the most popular Mexican [...]

Can you imagine being removed from your home, your family and the country that you call your own? That is exactly what is happening to thousands of Latino kids and teens who have lived in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. Michelle Paez, a visual artist, has used art to give these youth a voice and [...]

Check out the awesome artwork of talented Latinitas! Drawing By: Yolanda, age 13 Drawing By: Valerie, age 14 Send us your best drawings, photos, and other art pieces

Rubber Shoes… A Lesson in Gratitude by Gladys Elizabeth Barbieri is a children’s book which tells the tale of young Gladys Elizabeth. Gladys learns her first lesson of humility and gratitude at a ripe age, after her mother is unable to afford the shoes that Gladys has set her young, little heart on and buys [...]

Our main form of communication is verbal. The way we express ourselves with our word choice expresses who we are. Dr. Shale Preston’s book, Getting Beyond Whatever, explains how teenagers use the specific word, “whatever,” to show an apathetic attitude towards life. Getting Beyond Whatever creates different outlets for a new way of thinking. It [...]

I call myself a Latina because I am of Mexican descent, but Mexican history and traditions are the extent of my Hispanic knowledge. Of course there are the commonly known events in Latino culture which may make into textbooks or common knowledge among Americans such as Cuba’s Bay of Pigs, the fact that the Portuguese [...]

Book Review by Alexis Garcia What is the title of the book you are reviewing? Marcelo in the Real World. Who is the author of the book? Francisco X. Stork. What would you rate the book? 5 stars: Excellent book! What is this book about? (Tell us about the theme of the book and major [...]

Good news for all you Latinitas out there who aspire to be ambitious businesswomen, entrepreneurs, marketing experts, CEOS, or who just want to make more money. You don’t have to wait until after college to turn your talents and ideas into hard-earned cash. You can start today! The Start It Up! business handbook for teens [...]

Dear Bully is a book by Megan Kelley Hall & Carrie Jones. This book was inspired by a tragic event that happened on January 14, 2010 related to bullying.  That year in Massachusetts (hometown of the author of the book) a girl name Phoebe Prince committed suicide after months of being bullied by nine students [...]

Working in the journalism world with a steady career, Melinda Palacio felt there was more for her to do in life. When moving to Arizona, her aspiration to become a novelist became a reality. “Writing found me. I have worked as a reporter, a writing instructor, an editor, and various other jobs before I decided [...]

Why would a teen pretend to be pregnant?  Gaby Rodriguez got a movie and book deal to share her story of how she pretended to be pregnant. If you haven’t already read The Pregnancy Project by Gaby Rodriguez, I suggest you get your happy self down to the nearest library or bookstore and do so!  It’s one of [...]

A hip, coming of age book, Amigas: Fifteen Candles by Veronica Chambers, tells the tale of four friends who spend the summer sharing quite a few interesting adventures, struggles, as well as finding success in their party planning business. This is a lively book, culturally influenced with Latin roots. It is a fun read that [...]

Vea este artículo en español aquí It may sound incredibly cliché, but there is only one word to describe the novel “Soul Surfer” – inspirational. Bethany Hamilton’s tragic but incredibly rousing story will without a doubt lift your spirits. Since the novel is written by Bethany, reading it feels as if you are simply having [...]

Jessica Spinella, also known as Jessy J, is an emerging Latina musician. Her father is from Mexico and her mother is from Texas. She began playing the piano and the saxophone at a very young age and went on to studying jazz at the University of Southern California. After graduating, she toured with artists such [...]

Declared to be one of the most important figures of Latino music by Los Angeles Times and one of the top 100 most influential personalities by Time magazine, Juanes is known as the #1 rock Latino artist around the world. Even though many people still think that Juanes is a band conformed of 2 or [...]

At the front of Radio La Chusma, a band that blends together Afro-Mexica beats, Reggae and Cumbias to create a vibrant border-world beat sound, stands Selina Nevarez at no more than 5′ 1”. Her small statue is misleading to her big role in the border band. Not only does her powerful voice provide the high [...]

Rhythmic beats, Spanish lyrics, and rock and roll with a Latin touch define the independent music movement in Mexico and Latin America. For decades, bands such as Café Tacuba and Jaguares have been able to crossover in the United States and Europe, bringing attention to Latin America’s indie scene. And now all eyes are on [...]

Ceci Bastida joined her first band, Tijuana NO at age 15 as lead vocalist, keyboardist and songwriter and became one of the first women to rise in the ranks of Latin rock. One of Mexico’s most important ska-punk bands of the 1990s, Tijuana NO performed together for 12 years and recorded three albums NO, Transgresores [...]

David Garza, pronounced dah-VEED, is a singer-songwriter based in Austin, TX. Though he sings in English, there is a Latin touch to his indie rock music. He describes his music as “loud and funky.” After playing in various high school bands, Garza headed to the University of Texas at Austin and formed his own trio [...]

When Ha*Ash, one of Mexico’s top pop/rock groups, rocked out last summer in an outdoor concert known as “Mi Círculo, Mi Música” (Mi Circle, My Music), we had the opportunity to interview them.  The duo of sisters Hanna Nicole and Ashley Grace Pérez Mosa make up Ha-Ash. The band talked about the meaning of their [...]

What artist, band, or album are you reviewing? Eighteen Visions – Obsession How would you rate it? I would give the album a nine. It is a good CD. What do you like about it? I don’t have to skip to the next song. I can listen to the whole thing. What do you dislike [...]

When some folks in downtown Austin, Texas may have thought that things couldn’t get any hotter with the 90-degree October weather—they did! Punked in a black shirt with flaming sleeves, and let’s not forget those dark shades, one of Mexico’s rising stars tuned up backstage to rock the state capital as part of the 25th [...]

Music: I love the sound, the vibrations of each note, so lovely, harmonious, and calm. It’s been almost two years since my fingers turned calloused, red and swollen, when I couldn’t even play Ode to Joy as fast as I can now. When I started to play guitar, when I got one… my music taste [...]

It is never too early to start thinking about your future.  First of all, congratulations on deciding to think about your education and possible career path.  The following quiz should help you reflect on your talents and abilities. Please don’t over think the questions too much. There is no right answer only an honest one, [...]

What makes your shine? Girls everywhere believe that being creative is simply about being art smart or a musical genius. However, every single Latinita out there has a special skill, talent that makes her shine or a special creative strength. Latinitas have to find and emphasize these talents in order to make the most out [...]

“Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres,” a very popular and accurate Spanish saying that means, tell me with whom you hang out and I will tell you who you are. Friends are not just the people who we hang out with, or at least they shouldn’t be, friends have bits and pieces [...]

Are you gossip obsessed? Can you be trusted with important or embarrassing information? What do you do when others turn their backs? Take this quiz to find out! Jot down your answers and quiz yourself. 1. Your crush finally asks you out, you… A. Send out a bulletin on MySpace. B. Call your BFF immediately. [...]

Are you gossip obsessed? Quizzes by Quibblo.com Can you be trusted with important or embarrassing information? What do you do when others turn their backs? Take this quiz to find out! Jot down your answers and quiz yourself. 1. Your crush finally asks you out, you… A. Send out a bulletin on MySpace. B. Call [...]

Match these winning Latinas with their accomplishments! 1. In her second year of racing, she won the Venezuelan Auto Racing Driver of the Year. She has also become the first woman ever to win a major international auto race in North America. A. Lorena Ochoa B. Jenifer Rodriguez C. Milka Duno 2. From Guadalajara, she [...]

1. Jennifer Rodriguez was the first Latina to win a medal during the Winter Olympics. What sport does she play? A. Ice Skating incorrect B. Softball incorrect C. Speed Skating correct 2. This Mexican-American from El Paso, Texas was the first Latina to win the title of Miss America. A. Laura Herring-Martinez correct B. Justine [...]

Sports are a great after-school activity. There can be many sports to choose from at your school, but one great sport to consider is Karate. The art of karate arrived in the United States after World War II. Karate became popular with service men in the 1930s stationed in Japan, and they brought it back [...]

Ever sat next to that cute, sporty boy in class, wanted to strike up a conversation, but had no idea what to talk to him about?  You racked your brain endlessly for ideas, but nothing came to mind except yesterday, when you attempted to watch a football game with your dad. But you cannot remember [...]

Chicas, now that the weather is beautiful it’s time to get out of the house! Seriously, go, play outside, take a bike ride or a hike, or jump into a pool (with a natural rock bottom, por supuesto). Summer is almost here and you don’t want to be sitting at home. Explore the great outdoors! [...]

Blessed by Ultima By Cemelli De Aztlan It’s rare to call a movie a blessing, but in this case, it truly is. The recently banned book– “Bless Me, Ultima”- by Rodolfo Anaya has defied censorship and has propelled itself onto the cinematic scene. Re-birthed through film, “Bless Me, Ultima” accomplishes what it did many years [...]

Breaking new ground in American film, again, director Patricia Riggen, known for critically-acclaimed La Misma Luna (Under the Same Moon, 2007), starring Kate Del Castillo and America Ferrara, brings another a heart-warming story to screen.  This time, Riggen spotlights the timeless and complex mother-daughter dynamic. An original and thoughtful rite of passage story Girl in Progress [...]

Review By Alexis Garcia, age 16 New York, NY What is the name of the TV show? Smallville How would your rate the TV show? 5 stars: Excellent What is this show about? This show is about the adolescent life of the man we came to know as Superman. It starts off with Clark Kent [...]

By Helen Rodriguez If you want a good laugh and love “telenovela” (soap opera) happy endings, From Prada to Nada is the movie for you. From Prada to Nada, a Televisa and Lionsgate Films co-production, is “a modern twist” of one of Jane Austin’s most famous novels, Sense and Sensibility. Nora, played by Camila Belle, [...]

Have you ever dreamed of having the ultimate quinceañera (sweet fifteen) where you’re treated like a princess and surrounded by all your family and friends? Duelo de Princesas is a reality TV show based in Chicago that is giving teen girls, ages 14 and 15, the opportunity to compete for the title of ultimate Princess [...]

Former best friends turned rivals in a common life passion, Josh Ayers and Omar Davila (along with Romeo Navarro) star in filmmaker’s Marcy Garriott’s 2007 Audience Award South by Southwest Film Festival winner, Inside The Circle. The breakthrough documentary captures B-boy and girl culture, a blend of music, hip- hop, and “b-lives”. The film captures [...]

I’m sure many of us have heard of the MTV hit show “Teen Mom.” Now in the second season of this production, it has attracted many young teenage viewers like myself. It is a reality series dealing with teenage motherhood. The show features four teen moms. On December 8, 2009, the show first aired on [...]

Almost every girl dreams of her wedding, about the white dress, the bridesmaids, the cake. It’s one of the most exciting events in a girl’s life. But what happens when a girl wants to marry outside of her culture and her family is adamant in sticking to traditions? Our Family Wedding, starring Forest Whitaker and [...]

Latinitas Teen Reporters Provide Their Summer Movie Picks (and a music video review!) My Picks by Deborah C., age 17. The Killer Inside Me Released June 18 Inception Released July 16 Salt Released July 23 Beastly Released July 30 Machete Released September 3 My Picks by Stephanny C., age 17 Iron Man 2 was lame [...]

Batman – The Dark Knight Review by Ariel Brasel, age 16 5 stars PG13 Action What is the movie about? Remember not to give away the ending) It was about the joker and Z-face criminal territory Gotham City Who were the main actors and actresses in this movie? Keith Ledger, not sure about others What [...]