In keeping with my resolution to spend the third quarter of this year reading works in translation, I am pleased and proud to be able to offer this blog's first-ever book giveaway. Hachette Book Group, in recognition of Latino Book Month and Asian Heritage Month, is offering two groups of five books each -- one group of five books by Latino/a authors, and one group by authors of Asian heritage. Each contest will have three winners. The contest will last for the entire month of May, with winners to be chosen and announced on June 1, 2009.

The books are:

Latino Book Month:

B as in Beauty by Alberto Ferreras
Into the Beautiful North by Luis Urrea
Hungry Woman in Paris by Josefina Lopez
The Disappearance of Irene Dos Santos by Margaret Mascarenhas
Houston, We Have a Problema by Gwendolyn Zepeda

Asian Heritage Month:

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Trail of Crumbs by Kim Sunée
The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer Lee
Transparency by Frances Hwang
Strangers from a Different Shore by Ronald Takaki

In order to enter the contest, send an email to readingtheleaves(at)gmail.com, replacing the (at) with the appropriate symbol, of course, with your name and mailing address. In the header, put LATINO BOOK MONTH or ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH, depending on which contest you're entering; if you're entering both, send two separate emails, both with complete name and address information. No post office boxes, please. Only U.S. and Canadian residents are eligible for this contest.

I'm really happy to be able to make this offer, and am most grateful to Hatchette Book Group for the opportunity. These are great books, and I envy the winners! I hope to hear from oodles of people. Good luck!