Mexikid | Review

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir By Pedro Martín Dial Books for Young Readers , August 2023, $24.99 Grades 7 and Up



I was immediately drawn to this book when I saw it listed in School Library Journal. I know they say not to judge a book by its cover, but actually, that’s what pulled me into the book. The busy cover does give a feel for the frenetic feel of the story. And despite the energy of the cover, this story is carefully crafted.



Pedro Martín tells of growing up in California. He is the 7th of 9 children and he describes a loving and wacky family in the late 1970s. He loves comic books, collecting action figures, and Happy Days.



Peter’s grandfather didn’t move with his family from Mexico. He stayed behind with his family. But now his grandfather needs them, and the family is going to travel down to Mexico and bring him back to the USA.



The family gets an RV and heads to Mexico. There are so many laugh-out-loud moments throughout the story and many poignant ones too. This story is about family, culture, history, and so much more.



The artwork feels as energetic as the story. The artwork spills out of the panels and the pages alternate sizes in the panel art. The earthy tones are bright. At times the characters just jump off the page. The artwork is as wild as Peter’s imagination.



This title has been on every best book list this past year; New York Times , SLJ , NPR , and many others. By now most libraries will have purchased it. But if it’s just sitting on the shelf, grab a copy, read it, and then share it with young readers. They will be grateful for it.