The University of Arizona Press
December 11, 2024
Yaguareté White by poet Diego Báez, appears on several end-of-year “best of” lists. Starting in the United Kingdom, Leo Boix of The Morningstar Online chose it as one of the “2024 Best Books by Latinx and Latin American Authors.” Boix wrote, “Yaguarete White by Latinx poet Diego Báez, was one of my favourite poetry books of the year. The book evokes Guaraní mythology through personal narratives and migrant experiences, skillfully weaving a tapestry of cultural appreciation and diasporic resonances. Baez uses Paraguayan Guarani, Spanish, and English to create a multilayered poetic world where the jaguar reigns supreme in all its forms.” Also, Rigoberto Gonzalez, editor of the University of Arizona Press’s Camino del Sol series, made this Best Books list with his edited volume: Latino Poetry: The Library of America Anthology.
Báez’s book was also included in Debutiful‘s list of “The Best Debut Poetry of 2024.” They wrote, “This is an eloquent and introspective collection that explores diaspora, belonging, and heritage. The poems are beautifully written and also pack a bite to them with a sprinkling of absurdist and humor.”
Yaguareté White is a finalist for two awards in the Chicago area. The Chicago Review of Books placed the book on the poetry shortlist for the CHIRBy Award. The CHIRBy Awards honor the best fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and short essays and stories that feature Chicago and its strong literary community. The winners will be announced on December 12. Chicago Reader Magazine also nominated Yaguareté White for “Best new poetry collection by a Chicagoan” award. If you loved this book, you can vote for Báez here.
What a great collection of lists—congratulations, Diego!
