Book Description
for Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta
From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Adjusting to life in Lawrence, Kansas, proves challenging for nonbinary Ave (Mexican American), who has moved there with their mom and younger brother, Ramón. They miss the bustle of Mexicali and long for the day when their older sister and father will join them in Kansas. Stuck in their professor mom’s office during the summer, Ave meets future classmate Rene. Unlike Ramón, Ave doesn’t speak much English and worries that if they learn, they’ll risk losing their native tongue. Although Rene’s Spanish is limited, he and his friends warmly fold Ave into their friend group, even inviting them to be the fourth in their track team’s relay group. Things are just beginning to look up when Ave learns that there were never any plans to reunite the family. Their parents have separated, and Ave feels betrayed and devastated. Repairing the broken trust in the family will require both Ave and their mother to open up about feelings and experiences they’ve been keeping to themselves. This graphic novel inspired by the author’s personal experience deftly depicts a young person trying to hold onto their identity in a place so far—literally and culturally—from home, especially when it seems everyone in their life has a different opinion on what it means to be Mexican.
CCBC Choices 2026. © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin – Madison, 2026. Used with permission.

