Facing Uncertain Futures
The Transformative Possibilities of Latinx Youth Literatures

Cristina Rhodes (Author)

9781496862600

Hardback, published 29 April 2026

144 pages
21.6 x 14 x 1.9 cm, 0.382 kg

"A fascinating, much-needed contribution written in a smart, clear, accessible style." - Cristina Herrera, coeditor of Atravesados: Essays on Queer Latinx Young Adult Literature

Facing Uncertain Futures: The Transformative Possibilities of Latinx Youth Literatures challenges the notion that the futures of Latinx youth are predetermined. While systemic inequities persist, author Cristina Rhodes shows how children’s and young adult literature envision futures filled with possibility, resistance, and renewal. In these stories, young Latinx characters don’t just endure adversity—they reimagine their worlds and empower readers to do the same.

Drawing on speculative fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and the Latin American tradition of magical realism, Rhodes explores how the fantastic becomes a tool for addressing real-world issues. These narratives reveal how the ordinary and extraordinary coexist, illuminating urgent concerns about identity, equity, and transformation.

By centering youth at the intersection of imagination and resistance, Facing Uncertain Futures demonstrates how Latinx youth literatures serve as powerful tools for envisioning more just and inclusive tomorrows.

Acknowledgments
Introduction
Chapter 1. Past, Present, and Future: The Discursive Potential of Time Travel Narratives
Chapter 2. Choosing from Multiple Futures: Interactive Decision-Making Mechanics in Video Games
Chapter 3. Technologies of Advancement (or Decline?): Nonlinear Futures in Speculative Fiction
Chapter 4. The Future Foretold: Storytelling as Resistance and Healing
Chapter 5. On Growing Up: Transformation in Magical Realist Youth Literature
Afterword
Notes
Works Cited
Index