Yeah, there’s a reason Pedro Martin’s Mexikid graphic memoir was on the finalist list for the National Book Award and is on so many Best Books of 2023 lists. It’s fantastic, on so many levels.
Martin weaves a rich story of his family and his own connection to both America and Mexico, as the graphic novel tells the tale of his entire, large family traveling to Mexico in a mobile home and an old truck (there are too many of them to fit in one vehicle) to bring his elderly but still very spry grandfather (Abuelito) to America to live with them. They also need to find a new burial site for the remains of his grandmother, creating a real moment of drama as the family scrambles to remove her bones from a flooding cemetery. (They succeed, but the impact of caring for his Abuelita’s remains is impactful on Martin).
With a deft emotional touch and plenty of humor, Martin’s illustrations and storytelling skills are top notch, and very engaging for the reader. What comes across is the love of family and of the stories of cultural heritage, and how a Mexikid (Martin’s title for someone like him, born in America but with deep roots in Mexico) can thrive by connecting to the stories of elders.
I highly recommend Mexikid for any classroom, but it would have the most impact on middle and high school classrooms, I think.
Peace (and Story),
Kevin