Mexikid

A poignant, hilarious, and unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican-American boy’s family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico to live with them.

Pedro Martin has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito—his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn't mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.

Pedro Martín is a former Hallmark artist and the creator of Asteroid Andy. He chronicles his life growing up Mexican American online in a comic series, and in his debut graphic memoir, both called Mexikid.

“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. 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." —Kirkus, 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