Review by Booklist Review
Perfectly blending hilariously brazen kid confidence with a poignant multigenerational story of growth and change, Martín's graphic memoir explores his childhood in a big "somewhat American" and "somewhat Mexican" family, centered on a road trip to Mexico to bring their abuelito from Jalisco to their house in America. The seventh of nine children, Pedro (American-style name: Peter) is mostly oblivious to the serious conversations among the adults and older siblings in his family, but in between arguments with brothers, terrible haircuts, and witnessing his father's incredible ability to find just the right person to help, he gradually realizes there's a much more important purpose to their journey. Martín packs each page with self-deprecating observations about himself and his family, and while they're nearly all wry, they're also touched with genuine affection. His bright and colorful artwork is also a sheer delight: while mythologizing his abuelito, he switches to a classic superhero-comic art style, complete with benday dots, while more somber scenes are rendered in a softer palette and line quality. There's much to savor here, from the thoughtful exploration of bicultural identity to the good-natured snarky teasing of siblings to pivotal moments of growth amid guileless kidhood. It's a tightrope balancing act of antic humor and genuine pathos, and Martín pulls it off with tremendous flair.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
In this intergenerational graphic novel memoir, a solo debut adapted from a webcomic, Martín (Don't Know Much About the Presidents) chronicles his 1970s childhood growing up as the seventh of nine children in a bustling Mexican American household. Tween Martín is having a tough time trying to overcome his insecurities surrounding his Mexican heritage; his older siblings, who were born in Mexico, often imply that U.S.-born Martín isn't as Mexican as they are. When he learns that his abuelito will be moving into the Martíns' already packed home--and that he and his family will be making the 2,000-mile-long journey from Watsonville, Calif., to Jalisco, Mexico to pick up Abuelito--he revels in the opportunity to connect with his heritage. Tense interactions with border guards, emotional tumult over bad haircuts, and other happenings ensue as the Martíns embark in this potent work. Equal parts hilarious and tear-jerking moments abound, rendered in a cartoon style with vibrant color palettes that shift depending on the sequence's tone. This artistically inventive read, which teems with lively characters and emotion, is a joy to behold. Ages 10--14. Agent: Dan Lazar,Writers House. (Aug.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
Gr 5--8--Martín's energetic debut memoir features his extended family, in which he's the seventh of nine children. They're "100% authentic Mexican" (the parents), "somewhat American" having been born in "Old Mexico" (oldest five), and "somewhat Mexican" born in the U.S. (youngest four). Personalities, accents, ages, cultures are many. Martín gets blessed with a stellar audio adaptation, with remarkably distinct characters easily recognized without awkward transitional clarifications. And so the convoy road trip commences via "fancy, bargain-priced Winnebago Chieftain" motor home and a customized pickup truck camper. The goal? Bring "Revolutionary War--era abuelito" from Jalisco, Mexico, back home to Watsonville, CA. Stopovers, surprises, shocks are guaranteed, underscored by refrains of "Shipoopi" from The Music Man on relentless repeat. VERDICT The exuberance of the vast cast (with credits at recording's end!) is a contagious gift. Hand the Martín-illustrated print and the audio to all reluctant readers.
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Review by Horn Book Review
Martin's humorous and heartfelt memoir recounts a momentous 1977 road trip with his "big Mexican American family." Apa and Ama gather the nine Martin children to drive to Jalisco to pick up Apa's father. The younger four "Somewhat Mexican" boys, including the author, travel in the family motor home, while the older "Somewhat American" siblings follow in a pickup truck. Martin captures each family member's quirks -- Ama's habit of offering half bananas, or Apa's whistling call -- to bring their distinct personalities to life. Panels smoothly transition to splash pages with added visual guides and gags to create a dynamic flow. A full-color palette gives way to soft watercolor hues as the narrative evokes the past or, as Pedro learns more about his abuelo, integrates Ben-Day dots to lend a vintage comic vibe to Abuelito's imagined adventures. Bits of Mexican Revolutionary history are integrated, reminiscent of the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series, and myriad pop culture references, from Star Wars to superhero action figures, reflect contemporary nerdom. Spanish is integrated throughout, with translations and comical addenda provided at the bottom of the page. Deep familial bonds, a lovingly chaotic household, and a heartfelt exploration of culture and identity underpin this very memorable debut. Jessica AgudeloSeptember/October 2023 p.99 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Martín brings his successful Mexikid Stories online comic series to print. Living in California's Central Coast as a first-generation Mexican American, Pedro (or the "American-style" Peter) struggles to find his place. As an American kid growing up in the 1970s, he loves Star Wars and Happy Days but dislikes the way his five oldest siblings, who were born in Mexico, make him feel less Mexican just because he and the three other younger siblings were born after his parents immigrated to the U.S. to work picking strawberries. A family trip to Jalisco to bring their abuelito back to California to live with them presents Pedro with an opportunity to get in touch with his roots and learn more about the places his family calls home. Told from Pedro's perspective, the panels read as a stream-of-consciousness travelogue as he regales readers with his adventures from the road. Along the way, Pedro has fresh encounters with Mexican culture and experiences some unexpected side quests. Full of humor, heart, and a decent amount of gross-out moments, Martín's coming-of-age memoir hits all the right notes. Though the family's travels took place decades ago, the struggles with establishing identity, especially as a child of immigrants whose identity straddles two cultures, feel as current as ever. The vibrant, action-packed panels offer plentiful details for readers to pore over, from scenes of crowded family chaos to the sights of Mexico. A retro yet timeless story of family and identity. (family photos, author's note) (Graphic memoir. 9-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
