Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir

This is a somewhat biased review because I know the author's wife and I adore her. (I also suggested that her husband turn his awesome web comics into a graphic novel because I AM A GENIUS, somebody give me a publishing company.)

But listen, this book is good. All the reviews that say it breaks the conventions of traditional MG graphic novels are correct. There are full-page scenes that welcome you into the Martin family's home, helpful who's who charts, and a stellar infographic about the family Winnebago. There are probably a hundred fart jokes. There are also desperately sad moments that no child should ever have to witness in real life and an absolutely chilling moment of (wildlife) life or death. There's nothing else like this out show more there.

But I think the best part of Mexikid is how deftly it deals with straddling two cultures and not feeling part of either. There are so many kids who experience this -- translating for their parents, knowing how to speak their home language but not write it, looking like they belong to a particular culture but not knowing how it operates . Those kids will find a friend in Pedro, but I think it's just as important of a book for kids who don't have those experiences. Pedro's such an endearing, relatable kid. Anyone, even someone who has never left the continental 48, will empathize with him. And that's what the best books do. show less

One summer, Pedro Martin, along with his 8 brothers and sisters, pile in their parents RV and make the incredible journey from California to Pegueros, Mexico, to visit family there and bring their abuelito (grandfather) back to live with them. It is over a 2,000-mile trip. I thoroughly enjoyed this graphic memoir. It is heart-warming and laugh out loud at times. If you are looking for something fun and refreshing, give this one a spin. It is a Newberry Award winner and a deserving one.

Don’t you think graphic novels about middle-grade years are the best? Mexikid tells the story of Pedro (kid #7 out of 9 siblings), who finds himself crammed into a Winnebago with his big, chaotic family as they head to Mexico to pick up their Abuelito and bring him back to California.

The book is a mix of hilarious, heartwarming, and occasionally heavy moments. Martín gives us little snapshots of what it was like growing up in a big migrant family during the 70s. From laugh-out-loud sibling antics to a couple of more serious, coming-of-age moments, the tone stays light and full of heart.

I like how this novel is sprinkled with references to the 70s pop culture. These little throwbacks add so much charm and will have you grinning, show more especially if you’re a fan of retro pop culture. It’s like a time capsule wrapped up in a heartfelt story about family, identity, and growing up.

The illustrations are bright, expressive, and packed with personality.

Whether you’re here for the retro nostalgia, the big family drama, or just a fun road-trip story, you'll enjoy Mexikid. It’s funny and heartfelt. Highly recommended for fans of graphic memoirs! show less

This is a graphic novel autobiography of a Mexican-American man told from the perspective of his 10-11 year old self. The book begins with Pedro's parents declaring that they are going on a road trip together to Mexico to bring home his Abuelito (grandfather), who he barely knows, and bring him to live in the US with his family of 11 (in a home built for 5). Pedro is not excited. During this hilarious and powerful adventure, Pedro battles with personal and racial identity, his family heritage and culture, and experiencing his family in new ways. Seamlessly woven in are larger themes of Mexican history, the meaning of family, and more. The vivid and detailed illustrations shift with the tone of the text, adding depth and humor.
This book show more made me laugh out loud and tear up. I connected with the idea of having two families because of age and circumstances (my family is like that too). It takes on death in a gentle, but powerful way. I used Google Translate for the untranslated Spanish text, which gave me a small window into the ELL feelings of being "left out" and frustrated by text I can't understand. show less

Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito - a Mexican Revolution crime-fighter! But, that doesn’t mean he’s excited for him to join their already crowded house - between his eight brothers and sisters and his parents, there’s barely enough room now. Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring his abuelito back to America. What follows is a trip of a lifetime.

I loved reading about the family dynamic in this novel - with that many brothers under one roof there is a tone of teasing and arguments. I also liked how the author talked about the divide between the older siblings who were born in Mexico and the younger siblings who were born in the United States; which ones show more were more Mexican or American, and the difference in milk tolerance (which I never knew!).

The art of this graphic novel was amazing and engaging - even if the author had a hard time drawing hands. The pages were always filled with the scenes, panels, and dialog. Some of that helped with showing the chaos of the trip and other times it kept you engaged in the scene.

Though this is targeted towards younger readers, there are plenty of reminiscences of adolescence (bad haircuts, teasing siblings, what you spend your allowance on, etc.) that adults will thoroughly enjoy this as well. The author shares his childhood stories as an adult - so plenty of older readers will also enjoy this. show less

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. show more 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)

-Kirkus Review show less

Mexikid: a kid born in the U.S. to parents from Mexico, a kid who doesn't quite belong in either place. Pedro/Peter Martin is one such mexikid, about to get hauled on a 2,000-mile family trip (two parents, nine kids) in their Winnebago to fetch their grandfather from Mexico and bring him back to the U.S. Pedro learns a lot on the trip from observing his parents, siblings, relatives, and strangers, and crossing the border in both directions. He experiences the joys of Mexican toys, Pop Rocks and soda, and fireworks, and cautiously gets to know his abuelo, learning that there's more hardship and heroics in his family history than he realized.

Some Spanish dialogue is translated with an asterisk at the bottom of the page; other Spanish show more dialogue can be inferred from context. When a character is only speaking Spanish, it's denoted with "".

Back matter includes captioned photos of "my real-life familia!" and Q&A.

See also: Squished by Megan Wagner Lloyd, Ay, Mija! by Christine Suggs

Quotes

This always happened around here. Big decisions were made, and suddenly we all had to adjust our entire lives! You'd think my vote would count for something here in the USA! I'm kidding, we didn't vote in this house. This house was a Mexican-style dictatorship. (14)

"You never know who knows who in any town. It's always a good idea to be nice to everyone, no matter how poor or unlikely they may be. A good reputation is more valuable than money." (Apa, 107)

Apa had been through more than I realized. (losing brothers and mom, 182)

I wasn't in the mood for a party. I wanted to just blend into the background unnoticed like I do every other place in my life. (205)

Maybe I wasn't "Mexican enough." Fancy haircut aside, if I couldn't express my feelings in a real Mexican fashion [el grito], how Mexican was I? This was the kind of introspection I was trying to avoid from the get-go. (212)

"Stop making me grow up! I refuse to come of age!" (driving, 242)

"But you can be sad about leaving and be happy about it at the same time." (Ama, 259)

"That's the happiness and sadness of the avocado." (Ama, 260-261, symbolism)

"This kind of crisis happened all the time in Abuelito's day. He probably thought you were old enough to handle it. He believed in you." (Lila, 301) show less