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From Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)

Pedro Martín’s exuberant graphic memoir about growing up the seventh of nine kids in a Mexican American family in the 1970s is full of teasing and love, poignancy and laugh-out-loud humor. His account details the summer his family traveled to his parents’ hometown of Pegueros, 2,000 miles away from their California home, to bring Abuelito back to live with them. Pedro’s perspective on Mexican life and culture is filtered through dual lenses of cultural outsider and family insider: He is one among the four youngest siblings born in the United States, while his older sibling were born in—and have memories of—Mexico, a fact they happily exploit with the younger kids. These and other family dynamics are marvelously drawn with singular characterizations and a collective dynamic of warmth and good humor. Pedro, a lover of TV, drawing, and superheroes, doesn’t know Abuelito, but the stories he hears about him as younger man during and after the Mexican Revolution become superhero exploits in his imagination and sketchbook—his grandfather as a courageous force of good fighting soldiers and bandits alike. That sketchbook becomes a means of connection between the two on the long journey home. Funny and tender and aching by turn—and sometimes all at once—this is a work of generous spirit and marvelous honesty that will leave readers longing to spend more time with Pedro and his family. (Ages 8-13)

CCBC Choices 2024 © Cooperative Children's Book Center, Univ. of Wisconsin - Madison, 2024. Used with permission.

From Horn Book

January 1, 2024
Martin's humorous and heartfelt memoir recounts a momentous 1977 road trip with his "big Mexican American family." Apa and Ama gather the nine Martin children to drive to Jalisco to pick up Apa's father. The younger four "Somewhat Mexican" boys, including the author, travel in the family motor home, while the older "Somewhat American" siblings follow in a pickup truck. Martin captures each family member's quirks -- Ama's habit of offering half bananas, or Apa's whistling call -- to bring their distinct personalities to life. Panels smoothly transition to splash pages with added visual guides and gags to create a dynamic flow. A full-color palette gives way to soft watercolor hues as the narrative evokes the past or, as Pedro learns more about his abuelo, integrates Ben-Day dots to lend a vintage comic vibe to Abuelito's imagined adventures. Bits of Mexican Revolutionary history are integrated, reminiscent of the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series, and myriad pop culture references, from Star Wars to superhero action figures, reflect contemporary nerdom. Spanish is integrated throughout, with translations and comical addenda provided at the bottom of the page. Deep familial bonds, a lovingly chaotic household, and a heartfelt exploration of culture and identity underpin this very memorable debut.

(Copyright 2024 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Horn Book

Starred review from September 1, 2023
Martin's humorous and heartfelt memoir recounts a momentous 1977 road trip with his "big Mexican American family." Apa and Ama gather the nine Martin children to drive to Jalisco to pick up Apa's father. The younger four "Somewhat Mexican" boys, including the author, travel in the family motor home, while the older "Somewhat American" siblings follow in a pickup truck. Martin captures each family member's quirks -- Ama's habit of offering half bananas, or Apa's whistling call -- to bring their distinct personalities to life. Panels smoothly transition to splash pages with added visual guides and gags to create a dynamic flow. A full-color palette gives way to soft watercolor hues as the narrative evokes the past or, as Pedro learns more about his abuelo, integrates Ben-Day dots to lend a vintage comic vibe to Abuelito's imagined adventures. Bits of Mexican Revolutionary history are integrated, reminiscent of the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales series, and myriad pop culture references, from Star Wars to superhero action figures, reflect contemporary nerdom. Spanish is integrated throughout, with translations and comical addenda provided at the bottom of the page. Deep familial bonds, a lovingly chaotic household, and a heartfelt exploration of culture and identity underpin this very memorable debut. Jessica Agudelo

(Copyright 2023 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

From Publisher's Weekly

Starred review from July 24, 2023
In this intergenerational graphic novel memoir, a solo debut adapted from a webcomic, Martín (Don't Know Much About the Presidents) chronicles his 1970s childhood growing up as the seventh of nine children in a bustling Mexican American household. Tween Martín is having a tough time trying to overcome his insecurities surrounding his Mexican heritage; his older siblings, who were born in Mexico, often imply that U.S.-born Martín isn't as Mexican as they are. When he learns that his abuelito will be moving into the Martíns' already packed homeâ€"and that he and his family will be making the 2,000-mile-long journey from Watsonville, Calif., to Jalisco, Mexico to pick up Abuelitoâ€"he revels in the opportunity to connect with his heritage. Tense interactions with border guards, emotional tumult over bad haircuts, and other happenings ensue as the Martíns embark in this potent work. Equal parts hilarious and tear-jerking moments abound, rendered in a cartoon style with vibrant color palettes that shift depending on the sequence's tone. This artistically inventive read, which teems with lively characters and emotion, is a joy to behold. Ages 10â€"14. Agent: Dan Lazar,Writers House.

From School Library Journal

July 1, 2023

Gr 5-8-In 1977, young Pedro Mart�n is preparing, alongside his eight siblings and parents, to embark on a road trip from California to Mexico to help his abuelito take care of an important task before bringing him back to the U.S. to live with them. Mart�n'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. Although Mart�n's siblings and parents are ever-present, the heart of the story surrounds Mart�n's abuelito and their distanced but invested relationship. The story's art is vibrant, with a retro palette comprised of golds, teals, and oranges with bursts of rainbow-inspired colors in scenes featuring Mexico. Mart�n plays with the art styles, mixing his lined illustrations with pixel dot art for depicting heroic, largely dramatized family stories and a softer, khaki-tinted style to depict moments from his father and grandfather's past. The Spanish language is regularly featured and is conveyed in multiple ways: directly without translation, directly with footnote translations, and representationally via punctuation. Most characters are Mexican or Mexican American; a U.S. Border Patrol agent appears to be white. Back matter includes photos of Mart�n's family, as well as answers to frequently asked questions. VERDICT An always entertaining story about the trials and joys of family. Recommended.-Alea Perez

Copyright 2023 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

From Kirkus

Starred review from July 1, 2023
Mart�n brings his successful Mexikid Stories online comic series to print. Living in California's Central Coast as a first-generation Mexican American, Pedro (or the "American-style" Peter) struggles to find his place. As an American kid growing up in the 1970s, he loves Star Wars and Happy Days but dislikes the way his five oldest siblings, who were born in Mexico, make him feel less Mexican just because he and the three other younger siblings were born after his parents immigrated to the U.S. to work picking strawberries. A family trip to Jalisco to bring their abuelito back to California to live with them presents Pedro with an opportunity to get in touch with his roots and learn more about the places his family calls home. Told from Pedro's perspective, the panels read as a stream-of-consciousness travelogue as he regales readers with his adventures from the road. Along the way, Pedro has fresh encounters with Mexican culture and experiences some unexpected side quests. Full of humor, heart, and a decent amount of gross-out moments, Mart�n'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. (family photos, author's note) (Graphic memoir. 9-14)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

From Booklist

Starred review from July 1, 2023
Grades 5-8 *Starred Review* Perfectly blending hilariously brazen kid confidence with a poignant multigenerational story of growth and change, Mart�n's graphic memoir explores his childhood in a big "somewhat American" and "somewhat Mexican" family, centered on a road trip to Mexico to bring their abuelito from Jalisco to their house in America. The seventh of nine children, Pedro (American-style name: Peter) is mostly oblivious to the serious conversations among the adults and older siblings in his family, but in between arguments with brothers, terrible haircuts, and witnessing his father's incredible ability to find just the right person to help, he gradually realizes there's a much more important purpose to their journey. Mart�n packs each page with self-deprecating observations about himself and his family, and while they're nearly all wry, they're also touched with genuine affection. His bright and colorful artwork is also a sheer delight: while mythologizing his abuelito, he switches to a classic superhero-comic art style, complete with benday dots, while more somber scenes are rendered in a softer palette and line quality. There's much to savor here, from the thoughtful exploration of bicultural identity to the good-natured snarky teasing of siblings to pivotal moments of growth amid guileless kidhood. It's a tightrope balancing act of antic humor and genuine pathos, and Mart�n pulls it off with tremendous flair.

COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.