Women’s History Month, an annual observance first initiated in the U.S. in 1987, presents an opportunity to celebrate the voices and stories of women who have shaped history, culture and society.
For El Paso book lovers, that notion sits well as the city has long been home to influential women authors whose works explore themes of identity, resilience and justice. From memoirs to historical narratives, these books provide insight into the lives and struggles of women in the borderland and beyond.
The work produced by these women is often the focus of the El Paso Matters Book Club, a group devoted to celebrating the vibrant and unique culture of the border region by exploring incredible stories from authors connected to the community.
Late last year, the club took on “Swallow the Ghost,” a debut novel by Eugenie Montague. The Los Angeles transplant who now lives in El Paso, met with book club members at the Irving Schwartz Library in December to discuss her book, which tells a murder mystery in three parts, each with a unique approach – including a story within a story that develops on social media.
Join the El Paso Matters Book Club: Find our bimonthly picks, events and author interviews
Here are five more books by women authors with El Paso connections to add to your reading list this Women’s History Month:
‘A Story of Stories: The Texas Border Barrio Life and Writings of Doña Ramona González’ by Cristina Devereaux Ramírez
In 2015, Cristina Devereaux Ramírez discovered a box filled with over 750 pages of her grandmother Ramona González’s poems, stories and fables that had been hidden for decades. Born in 1906 in El Paso’s historic Chihuahuita neighborhood, González was a writer, store owner and community activist. “A Story of Stories” explores her literary legacy and its significance to El Paso history, Chicano literature and border folklore. Ramírez, an associate professor at the University of Arizona, brings both scholarly analysis and personal devotion in her book.
‘The Nutcracker Chronicles: A Fairytale Memoir’ by Janine Kovac
Janine Kovac’s memoir, “The Nutcracker Chronicles,” blends the magic of the beloved holiday ballet with the real-life journey of a professional dancer. Raised in El Paso, Kovac was cast as Fritz in Ballet El Paso’s “The Nutcracker” as a child, training under the strict guidance of Ingeborg Heuser, a German ballet director with an uncompromising approach. Kovac’s ballet career took her from El Paso to San Francisco, Iceland and Italy before she transitioned into new roles as a mother, writer and cognitive science researcher. This poignant memoir intertwines backstage experiences with broader themes of resilience, artistic ambition and life beyond the stage.
Discuss on Fable: Join us on the Fable app to chat about the book as we read.
‘Fighting for Control: Power, Reproductive Care, and Race in the US-Mexico Borderlands’ by Lina-Maria Murillo
“Fighting for Control” examines nearly a century of reproductive struggles in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez, where women of Mexican origin navigated pressures from the Catholic Church, activists and eugenics, a controversial population control movement that sought to improve the genetics in humans, often through forced sterilization. Despite these forces, they fought for health care access, forming their own clinics and advocating for broader community needs. Lina-Maria Murillo, an assistant professor at the University of Iowa, highlights their resistance in the face of shifting reproductive policies.
‘Birth in Times of Despair: Reproductive Violence on the US-Mexico Border’ by Carina Heckert
Carina Heckert examines the maternal harm caused by restrictive U.S. policies in the border region, tracing how immigration laws, health care barriers and social crises impact pregnant women in El Paso and Ciudad Juárez. Drawing on interviews, surveys and medical records, she reveals how these challenges exacerbate obstetric violence and contribute to poor health outcomes. Heckert, an associate professor at the University of Texas at El Paso, advocates for humane policy changes to address the suffering of women and families in the region.
‘Street of Too Many Stories’ by Denise Chávez
Denise Chávez, author, playwright and stage director, sets “Street of Too Many Stories” in a fictionalized New Mexican town, capturing the essence of border life and community. Chávez, who grew up in Las Cruces, New Mexico, just a short drive from El Paso, has long been an advocate for Chicana identity and storytelling. She runs Casa Camino Real, a bookstore and cultural center in Las Cruces dedicated to Latinx and border literature.
If you haven’t already, check out these other titles by women authors previously selected by the El Paso Matters Book Club:
- “Thirty Talks Weird Love” by Alessandra Narváez Varela
- “Educating the Enemy: Teaching Nazis and Mexicans in the Cold War Borderlands” by Jonna Perrillo
- “¡Ándale, Prieta!” by Yasmin Ramirez
- “Trash” by Sylvia Aguilar Zéleny
- “Swallow the Ghost” by Eugenie Montague
The post Books with El Paso ties to read for Women’s History Month appeared first on El Paso Matters.
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