Publishers Weekly
★ 07/24/2023
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.)
From the Publisher
Newbery Honor Book
Pura Belpré Author Award
Pura Belpré Illustrator Award
Odyssey Honor Audiobook
New York Times Best Children's Books of 2023
NPR Best Book of the Year
Booklist Best Book of the Year
Kirkus Best Book of the Year
Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2023
School Library Journal Best Graphic Novel 2023
Booklist Best Books of 2023
ALSC 2024 Notable Children’s Books
Amazon Best Book of the Year
New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
Chicago Public Library Best Book of the Year
“Mexikid is a delightful story packed with family history, culture, closeness . . . and a Winnebago full of laughs.” —Terri Libenson, New York Times bestselling author of Emmie & Friends series
“Mexikid is poignant, laugh-out-loud funny, and masterfully weaves road trip misadventures with history and family legacies. This is one of those books that kids will pass to their friends as soon as they have finished it.” —Victoria Jamieson, creator of National Book Award Finalist When Stars Are Scattered
★ "Full of humor, heart, and a decent amount of gross-out moments, Martín’s coming-of-age memoir hits all the right notes . . . 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." —Kirkus, starred review
★ "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." —Booklist, starred review
★ "[P]otent . . . 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." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "Deep familial bonds, a lovingly chaotic household, and a heartfelt exploration of culture and identity underpin this very memorable debut." —Horn Book, starred review
"Martín’s memoir is an unpredictable fusion of humorous and reflective moments in his early life that gives fascinating insights into his family’s many stories while hinting at larger cultural questions and histories . . . The story’s art is vibrant . . . An always entertaining story about the trials and joys of family." —School Library Journal
"Not only is this a story of family love and discovery, but also a great look back at the 70’s and its music, technology, movies, and TV shows . . . Highlights include the author’s recounting of the past stories he heard about his grandfather fighting in the revolution, the real-life photos of Martín’s family, and several pages of questions and answers about his life. Naturally many of the phrases are in Spanish, some with translations. The art is wonderfully drawn, realistic, flows smoothly, and the use of color to show emotion gives the reader a full understanding of the events." —School Library Connection
"This was such a fun memoir. The illustrations were spot-on and the family hilarious and loving. This is really a life-is-stranger-than-fiction book filled with adventure, discovery, unforgettable people, hijinks, crazy haircuts, and real-life superhero's. A wonderful summer read for kids (and adults!) of all ages.” —Nicole Miller, Barbara’s Books bookseller
"This coming-of-age, middle grade memoir was laugh-out-loud funny and touching. Pedro Martin does a fantastic job of showing the struggle of trying to bridge his Mexican and American worlds together—particularly that of his own generation and his legendary grandfathers. Excellent illustrations and very engaging." —Lucy Corona, Hicklebee's bookseller
"Soaked in a reality that few can master on the page as well, Mexikid may be one of the best comics I’ve ever read for this age range. Consider it an amazing example of how to retell the story of your youth in the most epic (yet shockingly accurate) way possible . . . One of the most enjoyable books you’ll encounter out there. A true modern day classic.” —Betsy Bird’s Fuse #8, Review of the Day
School Library Journal
07/01/2023
Gr 5–8—In 1977, young Pedro Martín is preparing, alongside his eight siblings and parents, to embark on a road trip from California to Mexico to help his abuelito take care of an important task before bringing him back to the U.S. to live with them. Martín's memoir is an unpredictable fusion of humorous and reflective moments in his early life that gives fascinating insights into his family's many stories while hinting at larger cultural questions and histories. Although Martín's siblings and parents are ever-present, the heart of the story surrounds Martín's abuelito and their distanced but invested relationship. The story's art is vibrant, with a retro palette comprised of golds, teals, and oranges with bursts of rainbow-inspired colors in scenes featuring Mexico. Martín plays with the art styles, mixing his lined illustrations with pixel dot art for depicting heroic, largely dramatized family stories and a softer, khaki-tinted style to depict moments from his father and grandfather's past. The Spanish language is regularly featured and is conveyed in multiple ways: directly without translation, directly with footnote translations, and representationally via punctuation. Most characters are Mexican or Mexican American; a U.S. Border Patrol agent appears to be white. Back matter includes photos of Martín's family, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. VERDICT An always entertaining story about the trials and joys of family. Recommended.—Alea Perez
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2023-06-08
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)
