Sabrina & Corina

Sabrina & Corina is a collection of eleven short stories set primarily in Denver, Colorado. The stories center on Indigenous Latina women and their experiences across generations. The characters navigate complex family relationships, cultural identity, and the realities of life in the American West. Most protagonists are connected to their Chicana/Indigenous roots while living in contemporary urban and rural Colorado settings. The narratives explore themes of inheritance, both cultural and physical, as well as violence against women and the bonds between mothers and daughters. Female friendship, cultural displacement, and the impact of gentrification on long-established communities emerge as central concerns through these interconnected tales. The collection examines how place and ancestry shape identity, while questioning what it means to belong in a rapidly changing landscape. Through these stories, Fajardo-Anstine creates a portrait of women finding their way between traditional values and modern realities.

Readers praise the authentic portrayal of Indigenous Latina women in Colorado and the focus on multi-generational family relationships. Many highlight the raw emotions and sense of place in the stories. Positive reviews note: - Strong character development - Vivid descriptions of Denver and the Southwest - Cultural insights without feeling didactic - Seamless weaving of history with modern stories Common criticisms: - Several stories have similar themes/plots - Some characters feel underdeveloped - Pacing issues in certain stories - Dark/heavy tone throughout Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (22,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,100+ ratings) LibraryThing: 4.1/5 (500+ ratings) "The writing pulls you in immediately and doesn't let go," writes one Amazon reviewer. A frequent Goodreads criticism notes that "the stories start to feel repetitive halfway through." The collection received the American Book Award and was a finalist for the National Book Award.

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🌵 The collection draws heavily from Fajardo-Anstine's own Indigenous Chicana heritage in Denver, Colorado, featuring stories passed down through generations of her family 📚 "Sabrina & Corina" was a finalist for the National Book Award in 2019, marking the first time a Latina author had been nominated in the fiction category since 1985 🏔️ The book's setting in Denver's North Side and the American West challenges the typical narratives of the region by centering Latinx and Indigenous women's experiences 💫 Many of the stories explore mother-daughter relationships and generational trauma through the lens of Southwestern Latinx culture, influenced by the author's close relationship with her great-grandmother 🎨 The cover art features "La Guadalupe of the Rockets," a painting by Latina artist Artemio Rodriguez, chosen specifically to reflect the book's themes of feminine power and cultural identity