Mexican American Rafie fully expects to be appointed lead vocalist of Todos Colores, the mostly queer mariachi group at his new high school in San Antonio. After all, Rafie led his former group to victory over Todos Colores at the Extravaganza Nacional competition two years in a row. But when he auditions, Rafie’s extreme arrogance is off-putting to the maestra, who assigns Rafie backup to their current lead singer, Rey—a trans, Afro-Mexican American boy Rafie made out with at Extravaganza last year. Rafie is outraged and worried that if he’s not the star of the show he won’t be able to uphold his beloved late abuelo’s mariachi legacy. When Rey messes up their first competition, Rafie doesn’t hesitate to jump in, leading to a minor performance disaster but also the discovery that their voices complement each other beautifully. For his part, Rey is struggling to square his first impression of Rafie, who had been so kind to him when they met, with the rude (yet attractive) boy in front of him now. Rafie will have to learn to set his ego and insecurities aside, making way for his grief over his abuelo’s death and for the talent of his fellow mariachi group members, if he wants a chance at winning Extravaganza—and Rey’s heart. Bursting with colorful details of lively mariachi performance, this novel centering queer Latine teens offers flawed characters who are passionate about their music and one another.

STONEWALL BOOK AWARDS – MIKE MORGAN & LARRY ROMANS YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE AWARD WINNER

THE PUBLISHING TRIANGLE AWARDS – JACQUELINE WOODSON AWARD FOR LGBTQ+ CHILDREN'S/YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE WINNER

When a Mariachi star transfers schools, he expects to be handed his new group's lead vocalist spot—what he gets instead is a tenacious current lead with a very familiar, very kissable face.

In a twenty-four-hour span, Rafael Alvarez led North Amistad High School’s Mariachi Alma de la Frontera to their eleventh consecutive first-place win in the Mariachi Extravaganza de Nacional; and met, made out with, and almost hooked up with one of the cutest guys he’s ever met.

Now eight months later, Rafie’s ready for one final win. What he didn’t plan for is his family moving to San Antonio before his senior year, forcing him to leave behind his group while dealing with the loss of the most important person in his life—his beloved abuelo. Another hitch in his plan: The Selena Quintanilla-Perez Academy’s Mariachi Todos Colores already has a lead vocalist, Rey Chavez—the boy Rafie made out with—who now stands between him winning and being the great Mariachi Rafie's abuelo always believed him to be. Despite their newfound rivalry for center stage, Rafie can’t squash his feelings for Rey. Now he must decide between the people he’s known his entire life or the one just starting to get to know the real him.

Canto Contigo is a love letter to Mexican culture, family and legacy, the people who shape us, and allowing ourselves to forge our own path. At its heart, this is one of the most glorious rivals-to-lovers romance about finding the one who challenges you in the most extraordinary ways.