A pitch-perfect example of teenage explorations of cultural identity.
Ignacio “Iggy” Garcia doesn’t often think about his heritage, until a ghost shows him what he’s missing.
Iggy, who’s Colombian American and from Ohio, is starting high school. He wants to take French, because he’s a Francophile like his father. When he’s placed in a Spanish class instead, Iggy is forced for the first time to really think about his family background. Things get even more interesting when the ghost of his paternal grandfather, who died in Colombia when Iggy was a baby, appears to him. Abuelito has a lot he wants to teach Iggy about the Spanish language and the Garcias’ history, not to mention helping him impress the girl he likes. Set against the backdrop of the 2016 election, this evocatively illustrated graphic novel delves into the cultural alienation that can happen to the children of immigrants when their parents try to erase humble beginnings and realize the so-called American dream. As Iggy sees the beauty in the language, art, and music of his ancestors, he also recognizes problems with how immigrants are being discussed—especially as he befriends Marisol, an undocumented Mexican American classmate. This powerful, timely story delicately balances an authentic teenage voice with a nuanced message about embracing and straddling multiple identities while thoughtfully portraying racism, microaggressions, and anti-immigrant ideology. The dynamic, expressive artwork draws readers in and emphasizes the characters’ complex emotions.
A pitch-perfect example of teenage explorations of cultural identity. (Graphic fiction. 13-18)Pub Date: Feb. 13, 2024
ISBN: 9781250204134
Page Count: 256
Publisher: First Second
Review Posted Online: Nov. 4, 2023
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2023
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head.
The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.
Autumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart; their mothers are still best friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like[s] him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations.
There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. (Fiction. 14 & up)Pub Date: April 1, 2013
ISBN: 978-1-4022-7782-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2013
BOOK REVIEW
SEEN & HEARD
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind.
In this companion novel to 2013’s If He Had Been With Me, three characters tell their sides of the story.
Finn’s narrative starts three days before his death. He explores the progress of his unrequited love for best friend Autumn up until the day he finally expresses his feelings. Finn’s story ends with his tragic death, which leaves his close friends devastated, unmoored, and uncertain how to go on. Jack’s section follows, offering a heartbreaking look at what it’s like to live with grief. Jack works to overcome the anger he feels toward Sylvie, the girlfriend Finn was breaking up with when he died, and Autumn, the girl he was preparing to build his life around (but whom Jack believed wasn’t good enough for Finn). But when Jack sees how Autumn’s grief matches his own, it changes their understanding of one another. Autumn’s chapters trace her life without Finn as readers follow her struggles with mental health and balancing love and loss. Those who have read the earlier book will better connect with and feel for these characters, particularly since they’ll have a more well-rounded impression of Finn. The pain and anger is well written, and the novel highlights the most troublesome aspects of young adulthood: overconfidence sprinkled with heavy insecurities, fear-fueled decisions, bad communication, and brash judgments. Characters are cued white.
A heavy read about the harsh realities of tragedy and their effects on those left behind. (author’s note, content warning) (Fiction. 14-18)Pub Date: Feb. 6, 2024
ISBN: 9781728276229
Page Count: 416
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Review Posted Online: Jan. 5, 2024
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2024
BOOK REVIEW
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