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I think the fact that it's format is a graphic novel makes such a deep story inviting to young adults because it is easy to read. Many kids think graphic novels and comic books are just superheroes, but there are more options available to them, and I think this is a good example to show.

I think it is important for every student to be educated on all cultures because it is useful in classrooms as well as life after and outside of school. I loved the story of being able to appreciate and respect both cultures. It definitely brought to mind how depending on the demographics, students bring merging cultures.

Driving in the US and its fun roadside attractions and creative billboards is abruptly displaced by the lack of friendly signs. Instead, warnings, traffic, and automatic weapons to be searched are unsettling. La Mordida's possession of goods from travelers is roadside armed robbery. Many characters lose their precious items to La Mordida's bite. The culture of the US is stripped away and replaced with that of Mexico's.

Each character is fleshed out in such tiny but special ways, shown in how they interact with each other and what necessary items are in the grocery store. Or how the narrator loves how his mother tries to relate to him by attempting to name all the characters Superman, because our narrator loves comics. Any reader is bound to find some aspect of each character in a way that they can relate to or admire in their qualities.

There are multiple life lessons sprinkled throughout Mexikid, but one that stuck out to me was this moment of kindness displayed by the father, and I took it literally as I am writing about it, just as Pedro is told to. Time and time again, Pedro's father is shown as a man with a strong and honorable reputation in hopes for providing his children with a role model.

There are bigger things than the what, learning the why gives so much more context and knowledge to the story of everything. This is one of the parts that I thought was a great life lesson to take away, that most people (including me) don‘t think about all the time. Teaching students this in the classroom and setting the stage with this in mind from the get go will build a strong classroom environment.

I did not think would like this since it‘s a graphic novel, they are not my favorite read, but I enjoyed the book for what it was worth. The funny moments, familial aspect, showing history, and bringing attention to more political aspects all brought the book together and made it a fun, easy, and fast read.

Reading “Mexikid“ right after reading other graphic novels like “Baddawi“ and “Zahra‘s Paradise“ for another class really made me think about how different stories use visuals to explore identity and history. Unlike the heavier political themes in those books, “Mexikid“ feels more personal, but still carries a lot of emotional weight. It reminded me how graphic novels can capture these family and cultural experiences in a completely unique way.

Comics in the Classroom

Just wrapped a postcolonial lit class focused on comics, and I‘m more convinced than ever that comics have a powerful place in the classroom. They can be used to explore complex ideas like identity, culture, and resistance in an accessible way. Especially for postcolonial stories, the visual form gives voice to perspectives that are often marginalized. Some books I'd recommend reading are “Baddawi“ or “Guantanmo Kid“.

Martín's memoir is very relatable, especially for students navigating different cultural identities. The mix of humor and vulnerability makes the story so much more meaningful, while the visuals also add such emotional depth. It‘s a great way to explore underrepresented voices and encourage personal reflection. This text also invites students to reflect on their own stories while appreciating voices that have been underrepresented in literature.

Mexikid would be a fantastic scaffold for creative writing in the classroom. After reading the novel, I would have students create their own short visual novel (1-2 pgs.) that captures a meaningful moment or story from their own lives. It would be incredible to see each student‘s writing come to life through their own visual art. It‘s a powerful way to validate their voices and build confidence as both writers and artists.

Set in the late 1970s, this heartwarming graphic novel follows a young boy named Pedro and his family as they journey 2,000 miles to Mexico to bring their grandfather back to the U.S. The story blends humor, culture, and emotion, highlighting the dynamics between family members and Pedro‘s own journey of self-discovery. With its rich illustrations and compelling narrative, Mexikid is sure to keep you engaged from the first mile to the last.

During my college experience, I‘ve been assigned four visual novels. Honestly, in those cases, I found myself more drawn to the visuals than the actual stories. Mexikid, however, was a different experience entirely. I genuinely enjoyed both the artwork and storyline. The illustrations don‘t overpower the text; they enrich it. This book is a fantastic introduction to visual novels and a great starting point for anyone curious about the genre.

Immediately, I think that comic books are so helpful for students! It provides them a visual medium for text, and it is often less intimidating for them. What I really love about Martin's work is that it is quite bright and vibrant. It grabs the eye and is fun to take in as one is reading it. Too, Martin often does unique borders for his art here. Specifically, I liked the scene in the RV where other cells are above them as they travel.

We Need More Diverse Books Website

This website was very insightful. I looked at their programs, and they offer things like mentorships to marginalized authors to help them edit their work and seek publication. When it comes to what our students read, the literary canon has been the same for decades. Organizations like these are extremely helpful in getting material out that will reflect our students and current culture.

“Some of us slip and slide between an American-style name and a Mexican one.“

I thought this quote was very powerful and telling of the conflict that would be found throughout this book. The fact that there are American and Mexican names show a duality in identity found in these characters - the fact that they “slip and slide“ between these names/identities shows how they come and go based on their environment and other factors.

Comics Belong in the Classroom - video
I think what he said about the “permanence“ in comic books is an interesting idea. Giving students the ability to choose their own pace and the ability to go back and read something they did not understand is very helpful for a teacher. Instead of having to “hold the hands“ of the students, they can allow them their own autonomy to go back and reread the things they need to.

As a teacher, I believe Pedro‘s interests as an adolescent can be used to understand our students. He loves reading comics, but often describes a disdain for school. For kids who express similar interests and dislikes, graphic novels, like comics, can be a great way for them to approach literature in a different way. Today, there are so many adaptations of classic texts we can use to better reach our students in English Ed classrooms.

With Cart‘s chapter on YA Literature, Mexikid demonstrates the awkwardness of adolescence. Pedro, the protagonist, is attempting to earn the respect of a man, while still learning from boyish mistakes. Throughout the story, Pedro wants to be included with his older siblings, but is still hesitant to step out of his comfort zone. From learning to drive, to being there for his family, to saving the deer, he learns that growing up isn't always easy.

Something that always impresses me about graphic novels is the author/illustrator‘s ability to develop characterization with so few words in a story. I loved Martin‘s introduction to the Martin family at the beginning, and how his description of each member was reinforced throughout the book. Even in brief interactions, readers can understand Pedro's relationship with different people in as little as a single sentence.

“Comics Belong in the Classroom“ - video
The first time I used a graphic novel in a class was my 2nd year of college. Even then, I was doubtful about its legitimacy as a piece of literature. However, my mind was completely changed after that course, and it continues to evolve as I read more graphic novels. It seems to become more common that students dislike English class, and they need an accessible avenue to literature, which comics/GN provide.

This page represents a moment where the art adds and transcends the written word. The separation of Pedro from the rest of his family in this scene illustrates the themes of otherness and isolation seen throughout the book. Many other moments reflect similar themes through the art itself, and make the book both more insightful and more relatable to students. Seeing themselves in art AND words open doors for belonging among literature.

In connection with Cart's From Romance to Realism, Mexikid depicts the liminality found within young adulthood. The Martín family's journey is funny, heartwarming, and inspiring. Pedro illustrates the joy, confusion, embarrassment, and hilarity of transitioning from childhood to young adulthood. While still interested in “infantile“ games and toys, he understands real-world, “adult“ concepts, which is a beautiful and scary thing for young adults.

Mexikid would be a fun and unique mentor text to introduce students to the world of creative writing. Literature takes so many forms outside of plain words on a page. If I used Mexikid as a mentor text in my classroom, I would encourage students to share their life story with me in words and images like Martín does. This activity would be a great way to introduce students to using mentor texts and get a glimpse into my students' lives!

I admire how Mexikid tackles relevant issues surrounding Mexican-Americans in an age-appropriate way and a truly funny manner. The stylistic choice of a graphic memoir style subverts the humdrum of prose that many students so dread reading while conveying meaningful messages. While the Mexican-American experience is not one-size-fits-all, I feel my students will feel seen and validated in their experiences through Pedro “Peter“ Martín.

There is something so compelling about graphic novels, and this one was so so good! I loved the ways that the art corresponded to the words on the page to create such an interesting and immersive story. Like I mentioned for “Flying Lessons“, using texts such as this that explore new mediums with our students can make such a huge difference in their journey as an English student. Pedro Martin is an amazing storyteller and I loved every second.

I think if it weren‘t for the graphics I wouldn‘t have really enjoyed it at all. As the story continued I started to get a little disconnected because of the dialogue being so young. I can definitely see elementary students eating this story up especially Hispanic kids who can relate to Pedro‘s family dynamic. So, It‘s important to be willing to read about different cultures and their life experiences to have more broad perspective of life.

I love how we are getting to see some of the unfortunate realities of the world through the eyes of a child. For, example when the family is crossing the border into Mexico and they get some of their stuff stolen by the guards and the dad is trying to talk their way through that tense situation. It got so real! To experience something like that as a kid had to of been very frustrating and confusing.

I had never heard of a graphic memoir before and I was so surprised that this isnt done more often! Actually being able to see the family and looking at how their personalities are shown through the images made it much more fun to read! This is a great way to get younger audiences more interested in reading and to stay engaged with the story.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the graphic novel approach the author took to write his memoir. This novel would be a great mentor text for students, as they could then create their own graphic novel/comic strip memoir and see that not all graphic novels have to be fictional! I think it would also be a great alternative for students who don‘t particularly like reading wordy books!

I love the way Pedro thinks about his grandfather, and how their relationship is developing. From someone he was wary about getting to know, and sharing a room with, to his own personal superhero. I also love how his grandfather interacted with him and joined in his drawings. So cute!

From just the summary, this seemed uninteresting to me at first, but I was endeared by this rich story and the Martín family's mission and antics. The characters were so lovable and I felt that they were a very realistic representation of a complex family. There were silly moments but also down-to-earth ones which brought topics like family, identity, war, and loss into the spotlight to learn from. This would be a great graphic novel to teach!

I loved Abuelito's ever-present role. Pedro idolized him, putting his achievements and history (while still noteworthy!) on a pedestal and exaggerating Abuelito's reality. He is someone to look up to for Pedro, but it also created a separation of “hero“ vs. not. When Pedro is in a situation closer to one like Abuelito's past deeds, he suddenly realizes the role that humanity plays, which I think solidified their bond as people, not superheroes.

The Martín family's border experiences sat heavy on my chest as I read, especially considering what is going on in the world now. Even though they are innocent, their experience was still tainted by corruption, and this affected them all later even after learning and growing and enjoying themselves in Mexico. This is very eye-opening to families' worries and traumas as they cross borders today, and it would be good for students to sympathize.

I really like how there is a mixture of Spanish and English in the story. It keeps it accurate to his experiences in his own memoir, rather than having everything in English. It‘s something I don‘t often see and I appreciate it.

The humor in Mexikid was engaging. I did not expect it. I think it was great for me as a teacher/ adult as well as younger students. It eased tension and brought entertainment to more serious implications in the novel. The humor also made the book go by fast and it made the thickness of the novel a lot less intimidating. My favorite funny scene was when Pedro dialed into annoy his older siblings when they left Mexico. Very relatable/ good timing

I loved the commentary on immigration throughout Mexikid. I think this is extremely important to expose ignorant students too, and even more for students who have a personal stake in immigration. The scenes from the border were age appropriate as well as great insight into the anxieties that stem from the U.S. Mexican border through experience and media. If I wasn't allowed to teach this book, I would keep it on the shelf to recommend to students

I was initially worried about this story. I am not artistically inclined and worked myself up about the art aspect as an educator who will teach graphic novels. However, Martin put me at ease in the first chapter and his introduction to the characters alongside the illustrations. They made the first part of the book much easier to read. Martin's story was destined to be a graphic novel. I gained confidence with graphic novels because of this story

After reading, I found that Pedro Martín has created multiple other short stories to go alongside “Mexikid.“ This discovery is impressive, considering how much I enjoyed the consecutive chapters of the memoir and their ability to tell a personalized story that adds up to a larger narrative. I could picture using this work as a Mentor text to assist students in writing narratives. It is easier to work with a vignette and expand further from there.

I found this graphic memoir hilarious! Pedro Martín immerses readers in the antics of his family as they travel to take their abuelito back to the United States. I greatly appreciated how each family moment was interspersed with a cultural practice that they shared, like kissing elders' hands or making birria. Especially in today's climate, this narrative stresses the importance of familial obligation and support, regardless of the circumstances.

I adored this graphic novel—both the print version and the audiobook. How is it possible to make an audiobook from a graphic novel? Listen to it and you‘ll find out! Mexikid was a big winner this year: Newbery Honor, Pura Belpré Award for both author and illustrator, and an Odyssey Honor for the audio version. All well deserved. Hurra for Pedro Martín! (These great photos of his family are from the book‘s backmatter.)

In this fabulous graphic memoir, Pedro Martín recounts the time when he was 12 and his entire family—including 8 siblings—travelled in a motorhome from California to the Mexican state of Jalisco in order to bring his grandfather home to live with them. Adventures, misadventures, and poignant scenes too. I loved it. #MiddleGrade #comics for all ages.

-Do you eat to live or live to eat?
-Are you stupid naturally or naturally stupid?

March Readathons & Recent Reads: Indigenous, Canadian, Queer, Mexican,
Memoir & Middle Grade & Women in Translation,
Audiobook & Comics formats

https://youtu.be/Exc7wbg0uq0

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