Jonny Garza Villa

Jonny Garza Villa
Born
Texas, United States
Writing career
Notable work
    • Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun (2021)
    • Ander & Santi Were Here (2023)
    • Canto Contigo (2024)
Notable awards

Jonny Garza Villa is an American author of queer literature. They are the author of the young adult novels Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun (2021), Ander & Santi Were Here (2023), and Canto Contigo (2024), as well as the adult novel Futbolista (2025).

Canto Contigo won the 2025 Jacqueline Woodson Award for LGBTQ+ Young Adult and Children's Literature, as well as the 2025 Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature.

Jonny Garza Villa was born and raised in Texas.[1]

Writing

Garza Villa published their debut novel, Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun,[2] with Skyscape on June 8, 2021.[3] The young adult romance was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist,[4] Kirkus Reviews,[3] and School Library Journal.[5] Kirkus Reviews described Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun as "an open-hearted expression of love in its many forms".[3] They named Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun one of the best books of 2021.[3] The novel was also a Pura Belpré Award for Young Adult Author honor book.[3][6][7]

Garza Villa's second novel, Ander & Santi Were Here, is also a young adult romance novel,[8] published by Wednesday Books on April 4, 2023.[9] Ander & Santi Were Here was well received by critics, including a starred review from Booklist.[10] Kirkus Reviews described the novel as "a relevant coming-of-age journey for patient readers".[9] Among other honors, Ander & Santi Were Here was an honor book for the Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature.[11][12] The audiobook narrated by Avi Roque was named one of best young adult audiobooks of 2023 by AudioFile.[13]

Canto Contigo, Garza Villa's third novel, is a young adult romance novel,[14][15] published by Wednesday Books on April 9, 2024.[16] Canto Contigo was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist,[17] Kirkus Reviews,[16] and School Library Journal.[18] Kirkus Reviews described Canto Contigo as "a queer love letter to mariachi music and culture".[16] Canto Contigo won the 2025 Jacqueline Woodson Award,[19][20] as well as the 2025 Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature.[21][22] The audiobook narrated by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz was named one of the best young adult audiobooks of 2024 by AudioFile.[23]

Garza Villa's first adult novel, Futbolista, is an erotic romance novel published by Levine Querido in 2025.[24]

Awards and honors

Garza Villa's debut novel, Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun, was named one of the best books of 2021 by Kirkus Reviews.[3] The Young Adult Library Services Association also included it on their 2022 list of the Best Fiction for Young Adults.[25]

Ander & Santi Were Here received multiple honors. In 2023, Booklist included the novel on their annual list of the "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth",[26] and the audiobook narrated by Avi Roque was named one of year's best young adult audiobooks by AudioFile.[13] The following year, the American Library Association included it on their annual Rainbow List, naming it a top ten title for teen readers,[27] and the Young Adult Library Services Association included it on their list of the Best Fiction for Young Adults.[28]

Canto Contigo was included on Booklist's 2024 list of the "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth".[29] AudioFile also named the audiobook narrated by Alejandro Antonio Ruiz one of the year's best young adult audiobooks.[23] The following year, the American Library Association included the novel on their 2025 Rainbow List, naming it a top ten title for teen readers.[30]

Awards for Garza Villa's work
Year Title Award Result Ref.
2021 Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun Pura Belpré Award for Young Adult Author Honor [3][6][7]
2024 Ander & Santi Were Here Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature Honor [11][12]
2025 Canto Contigo Jacqueline Woodson Award Winner [19][20]
Stonewall Book Award for Young Adult Literature Winner [21][22]

Publications

  • Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun. Skyscape. 2021. ISBN 978-1-5420-2705-2.
  • Canto Contigo. Wednesday Books. 2024. ISBN 978-1-250-87575-4.
  • Ander & Santi Were Here. Wednesday Books. 2023. ISBN 978-1-250-84399-9.
  • Futbolista. Levine Querido. 2025. ISBN 978-1-646-14509-6.

References

  1. ↑ "Jonny Garza Villa". Literary Arts. Archived from the original on 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  2. ↑ "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun by Jonny Garza Villa". Publishers Weekly. 2021-05-27. Archived from the original on 2022-05-28. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun". Kirkus Reviews. 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  4. ↑ Cart, Michael (July 2021). "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun". Booklist. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  5. ↑ "Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  6. 1 2 "2022 Youth Media Awards". School Library Journal. Archived from the original on 2023-05-05. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  7. 1 2 Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma (2022-01-24). "Barba Higuera, Chin, Boulley Win Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2022-01-24. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  8. ↑ "Ander & Santi Were Here by Jonny Garza Villa". Publishers Weekly. 2023-02-09. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  9. 1 2 "Ander & Santigo Were Here". Kirkus Reviews. 2023-01-11. Archived from the original on 2026-03-11. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  10. ↑ Cart, Michael (2023-03-01). "Ander & Santi Were Here". Booklist. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  11. 1 2 "2024 Youth Media Awards". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  12. 1 2 Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma; Jones, Iyana (2024-01-22). "Eggers, Harrison, King Win 2024 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2024-03-30. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  13. 1 2 Maher, John (2023-11-29). "'AudioFile' Magazine's Best Audiobooks of 2023". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  14. ↑ "Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa". Publishers Weekly. 2024-01-18. Archived from the original on 2026-01-21. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  15. ↑ Martaus, Alaine (April 2024). "Canto Contigo by Jonny Garza Villa (review)". Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 77 (8): 280–280. doi:10.1353/bcc.2024.a922511. ISSN 1558-6766.
  16. 1 2 3 "Canto Contigo". Kirkus Reviews. 2024-01-05. Archived from the original on 2026-04-12. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  17. ↑ Garcia, Beronica (2024-03-01). "Canto Contigo". Booklist. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  18. ↑ "Canto Contigo". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  19. 1 2 Schaub, Michael (2025-04-18). "Winners of the Publishing Triangle Awards Revealed". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on 2025-05-17. Retrieved 2026-03-19.
  20. 1 2 "Awards: Publishing Triangle Winners; Donner Shortlist". Shelf Awareness. 2025-04-18. Archived from the original on 2026-01-18. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  21. 1 2 "2025 Youth Media Awards". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  22. 1 2 Roback, Diane; Kantor, Emma; Jones, Iyana (2025-01-27). "Kelly, Kunz, Teer, Julia Win 2025 Newbery, Caldecott, Printz Awards". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2025-01-30. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  23. 1 2 Stewart, Sophia (2024-12-04). "'AudioFile' Magazine's Best Audiobooks of 2024". Publishers Weekly. Archived from the original on 2026-05-28. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  24. ↑ "Futbolista by Jonny Garza Villa". Publishers Weekly. 2025-03-06. Archived from the original on 2026-01-16. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  25. ↑ "2022 Best Fiction for Young Adults". Young Adult Library Services Association. Archived from the original on 2022-10-05. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  26. ↑ Hunter, Sarah (2023-10-15). "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth: 2023". Booklist. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  27. ↑ "Rainbow List: 2024". Booklist. 2024-03-15. Archived from the original on 2025-12-02. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  28. ↑ "Best Fiction for Young Adults: 2024". Booklist. 2024-03-15. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  29. ↑ Hunter, Sarah (2024-10-15). "Top 10 Arts Books for Youth: 2024". Booklist. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
  30. ↑ "Rainbow List: 2025". Booklist. 2025-03-01. Retrieved 2026-06-23.
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