CALL ME IGGY

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.