Hello Hello! It has been a minute since I’ve gotten a chance to post! It was a busy summer for us but I wanted to make sure this memoir had a spot on the blog!
Written and illustrated by Pedro Martín, there is a full SPANISH version of the graphic memoir as well. With the title winning a Newberry Honor Award, Pura Belpré Author & Illustrator Award, Tomás Rivera Children’s Book Award, AMONG MANY OTHER ACCOLADES, you likely already got word to read this title!
Hilarious, vibrant & poignant, this middle grade autobiography is sure to resonate with all of you who took a road trip summer vacation down to México. The Martín family (made up of 9 children and 2 parents) journey from the strawberry-picking fields in LA to Pegueros, Jalisco, this time to retrieve their abuelito & settle him in the United States. Set in the late 70s, the story takes place mostly inside the family’s “luxurious” motorhome with vignettes of the past, & present cultural experiences interspersed throughout.
Pedro Martín’s voice is representative of the “somewhat American/somewhat Mexican” personality split that being children of immigrants produces. The Martín family is portrayed so distinctly in its quirks, such as his mom loving to break bananas in half as a snack, that it stands out in the Chicano/ Latinx genre.
I especially loved the ease with which Martín accepts that he is part of two cultures. Unlike older chicano lit from the 80s-00s, Martín adapts to his surroundings based on if he’s dealing with Americans or Mexicans, without resentments or existential crisis. There’s a whole spread about this simple duality for him and his siblings. As field workers you would think there would be an inferiority complex, but their job is swiftly & matter-of-factly: it does not define their identity.
The book contains legends of his revolutionary Mexican-Hulk-strenght abuelito, exhuming bodies, flies on puerquito pastries, and of course mentions of chorro caused by drinking raw milk jajaja. So much that could be traumatizing in this coming of age road trip is handled with the Mexican practicality/stoicism we find in our elders. Plus lots of laughter!
I truly enjoyed reading this full-color, 300 pg family history & will continue to get more glimpses into Pete’s earthy-toned vignettes at mexikid.com. Recommended for ages 8-12, but adults will love it too. This is a refreshing read that I will recommend especially to boy readers again & again.
Aun no he leído el titulo en español, pero estoy segura que sera igual de entretenido que en Inglés.
My son actually picked this title for his free Summer Reading Book this summer. I’m so glad our local library had it available! My daughter chose the boardbook version of The Lorax.
Biblioterika 