TIn Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir by Pedro Martin (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2023), the author shares a pivotal time from his childhood, specifically when he traveled to Mexico to retrieve his ailing grandfather and return with him to the United States. Pedro, who is also called Peter, feels conflicted by his half-American, half-Mexican identity, especially in the midst of his very busy family of nine children, where he is seventh. As one of the younger kids, he was born in the U.S.A. and didn’t face the challenges of living in Mexico that his older siblings faced. He is also not as comfortable in speaking Spanish all the time,as they are. Plus, he is worried that he’ll be a disappointment to his exciting grandfather, of whom he has heard stories his whole life.
The half-and-half identity the author discusses isn’t just about American versus Mexican. He feels the need to be a big kid versus being one of the youngest. He worries about being brave enough instead of fearful. And with the stories from his older siblings, this consideration of bravery is very important to him. His grandfather spent time serving during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1917). In his mind, his siblings’ stories expand and grow until he imagines his grandfather as one of the superhero characters in his beloved comic books. Meeting his grandfather seems a bit different from his imagination, but can Pedro reconcile his expectations with the real man? And, can he get his father to tell him more details so he can lengthen his own comics, which feature his grandfather?
Pedro, the kid, draws and sketches throughout his road trip story. Pedro the author-illustrator imitates those two kinds of art — the comic-cartoon style of the story as well as the more detailed glimpses of Pedro-the-kid’s drawings in his notebook. And it turns out that Grandfather has drawing skill too! Flashbacks have a different background and style too, and when the events in the flashbacks are exaggerated, the reader can also see this due to the obviously exaggerated comic-book style. These differences in art throughout the graphic novel’s story contributes to making this book worthy of the Pura Belpre Award for illustrations.
Mexikid was also awarded not just a Newbery Honor but also a second Pura Belpre Award for the writing, and Martin’s story has a clear arc that ties all of Pedro-the-kid’s worries together. He has always wanted to have a loud laugh-cry like other Mexican men, and it takes a unique show of courage — and also embarrassment — to be able to get to that point. The themes are growing pains, reconciling imagination with reality, elderly grandparents, and (over all) identity.
I can’t say Mexikid is a favorite of mine; I better related to the European setting in A First Time for Everything, which explored similar theme of identity and understanding yourself. But that is the point of having a variety of books featuring personal stories. The unfamiliarity with this busy and Mexican family style and unique Mexican setting provides me with a window to glimpse a different kind of world from my own. For someone else, this will be a perfect mirror that makes them laugh at their own family traditions and memories.
Mexikid was awarded a Newbery Honor for 2024. I rate it “Really Good” and say “Keep it and read it!”
Newbery rating scale: FANTASTIC | REALLY GOOD | PRETTY GOOD | OKAY | BLAH
What to do with this Newbery: KEEP IT AND READ IT | MAYBE IF YOU HAVE TIME | DON’T BOTHER
Get Mexikid at Amazon
