Graphic Novels for National Hispanic Heritage Month | Reviews

We celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month from mid-September through mid-October. It’s a time to celebrate Latino culture and the great accomplishments that have come from our country.

When pulling together a library display… I realized that several graphic novels deserved a prominent spot in my display. I share them here with you.

Frontera by Julio Anita and Jacoby Salcedo
HarperAlley, July 2023, $18.99

After living in the United States illegally since he was three, Matteo and his parents are deported back to Mexico. He and his parents decide that he should cross back alone and go live with his grandmother in Phoenix. While crossing the border and the Sonoran Desert Matteo is nearly caught by the border police and is saved by the ghost of a young man who died crossing the desert many years before. Conditions are brutal, and Mateo must be smart to make the border crossing. Despite the heavy-handed political message, the story’s momentum is suspenseful and full of tension. The artwork bursts with warm, vibrant colors that blend seamlessly. The varied panels are action packed, with detailed expressive figures, and vivid natural scenery rounds out the story.

Call Me Iggy by Jorge Arguirre & Rafael Rosado
First Second, 2024, $18.99

Though Iggy is aware he is of Spanish descent, he’d prefer to take French in school. But a mix-up lands him in Spanish class and he decides to stay in the class to catch a girl’s attention. When the ghost of his dead grandfather appears and offers to help Iggy, he readily agrees. But the Spanish lessons are limited and the love advice is mediocre. So Iggy seeks out Spanish help from Marisol. Through Spanish lessons from Marisol and life lessons from his abuelito, Iggy learns much about himself, his family, and his heritage. Clear, crisp artwork with bright vivid colors pulls this story together to stand out among many new titles this year.

Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia
Versify, 2024, $18.99

When Almudena’s mother has to leave the country for the summer, she is dropped on the doorstep of her Guatemalan father, whom she has never met. Their summer project is to renovate the brownstone her father has bought. Not only does Almudena learn about her father (despite her lack of Spanish and his lack of English), but she also learns much about the neighborhood he lives in and the people there, so she has a greater awareness of her Spanish heritage. This is a refreshing story about coming of age, forming bonds, and learning to navigate difficult times. Earthy tones and bustling city streets capture the urban feel of the novel.

Previously Reviewed on Good Comics for Kids

This Land is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story
Frizzy
Miss Quinces
Mexikid

Filed under: Book List, Graphic Novels, Reviews