Call Me Iggy

by Jorge Aguirre, Rafael Rosado (Illustrator), John Novak (Colorist)

Ignacio "Iggy" Garcia is an Ohio-born Colombian American teen living his best life. After bumping into Marisol (and her coffee) at school, Iggy's world is spun around. But Marisol as too much going on to be bothered with the likes of Iggy. She has school, work, family, and the uphill battle of getting her legal papers. As Iggy stresses over how to get Marisol to like him, his grandfather comes to the rescue. The thing is, not only is his abuelito dead, but he also gives terrible love advice. The worst. And so, with his ghost abuelito's meddling, Iggy's life begins to unravel as he sets off on a journey of self-discovery.

Call me Iggy tells the story of Iggy searching for his place in his family, his school, his community, and ultimately—as the political climate in America changes during the 2016 election— his country. Focusing on familial ties and budding love, Call me Iggy challenges our assumptions about Latino-American identity while reaffirming our belief in the hope that all young people represent. Perfect for lovers of multigenerational stories like Displacement and The Magic Fish.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Romance, Comics, Realistic Fiction, Latinx, Family

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2023

About the author

Jorge A. Aguirre is an East Coast-based writer born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He wrote the graphic novel, GIANTS BEWARE (First Second Books/Macmillan), which the New York Times called, a "rollicking fun story." He also wrote its sequel, DRAGONS BEWARE (May 2015). He has already written the third book of the CHRONICLES OF CLAUDETTE. Besides books, Jorge also produces and writes TV for kids. He's worked for Disney, Junior, Nick, Jr., and PBS.

Reviews

[Tawfek · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've seen one dictator, you've seen em all.

First of all thanks eternally to Jorge Aguirre and Rafael Rosado and First Second books, And finally NetGalley for the opportunity to read this beautiful Graphic Novel.
I Delayed this because i was a little tired of reading ARCs, i still am, and will probably not ask for any for the rest of the year, So Nothing wrong with the Graphic Novel, i actually read it quite fast for someone who is supposedly in a slump!

if you are Latino this is for you, if you think your ancestors watch over you this is for you it has many beautiful ancestry scenes, if you are interested to see how Trump America hit Latino families who were scared of getting deported this is for you, and more much more, it's a beautiful story i loved it!

Regarding the first sentence Abuelito was awesome, and it doesn't seem that he was bad at giving love advice either, he was way more preceptive than Iggy, and i think it's really important to be preceptive in your relationship, or entering one, preceptive of will the relationship even have a chance to work, preceptive of who might be interested in you and you both can make a way better couple, i honestly think (and this is probably an unpopular opinion) that if it's too much work probably it's not a good idea, if you are going above and beyond just to make someone even notice you or be interested in you, it's probably not a good idea, i love my relationships more when the interest is mutual, our minds align, and i don't care at all if our activities align because i think that would be asking for way too much lol
i saw many of my Egyptian friends saying "we need to marry someone who reads" no you don't, people change, you need way more than sharing a recreational activity with the person you love, because something could happen that make them not even think about it anymore, and not only love honestly friendship too, while it's way easier to make friends with people who do the same activities that you do, friends who shared life with you are way more probable to survive the years, and the winds of change.

And Yeah believe it or not, the above paragraph is coming from reading this Novel, and more actually much more.

- Ugh, wish i was old enough, to vote against that idiot.
- Don't worry, Iggy, Trump will never, ever win.

Famous last words, I don't live in America, i wasn't really interested in American Politics at the time, i am actually still not, but i am watching specially the American/Chinese/Russian situation because it's world ending situation, and more recently, The American/Israeli situation as well because it's close to home and how it's being handled is quite literally catastrophic, There is Suffering in our collective futures for letting this situation go as long as this, and reach a new low after a new low, I Just hope the innocents lost on both sides are in peace right now, or in a better place if there is one.
And i got a little far, because i don't live in America, i didn't see how Trump winning really affected the people he was racist and obnoxious towards, Trump is quiet literally a demagogue, he uses hate to surround himself with ordinary people by catering to their prejudices and desires, Kind of like The Prophet of Islam Muhammad (I am really sorry i can't pass an opportunity without busting that guy's nuts, he lead us all into deep shit, that we can't get out of to this day)
Trump will live a happy life surrounded by his supporters, people who are attracted to his success and so on, What Trump and demagogues like him don't get to see is their effect on people they are verbally harming, and lighting the fires of hate in people's hearts against them, he doesn't get to see it, he doesn't get to see Latino Kids being bullied in school by kids who bought into his bullshit, he doesn't see the genuine fear these people had of getting deported losing their jobs and the lives they made, he doesn't see all the effects the hatred he is sowing is going to have on this country for years, just to be a president, and i am honestly not sure if this guy is just smart and knows what buttons to click to get what he wants, or if he is really that horrible.
But Guess what Trump America is most probably going to happen again, the way Biden is dealing with all this Israeli aggression he lost support of The Muslim community in two states who tipped the scales in his favor in the first place (divine comedy) But here is the Thing, i don't think Trump is even anti-isreal he is just a smart guy who saw a situation to shit on his adversary by taking the opposite side and he took it, and if he does get elected again he will give even more leeway to Israel to kill however many people it wants, America is in the palm of AIPAC, and Israel is in the palm of the far right party, and we are in for a lot of ugliness as long as this continues sadly.

Okay i gave you love advice, i spoke my opinion on current political scene, i ll just say Rafael Rosado did an amazing job in illustrating this Graphic novel, artists are more often than not forgotten from our praise sadly, and on to the last quote and the last rant lol

There aren't any Colombians in Columbus Ohio, they named it wrong.

The Latino culture is present and vibrant in this Graphic novel, there was a lot of Spanish i learned gringo amigo novio? i mean i always knew amigo so let's just i learned two new words that i ll forget in 3 days working time!
Spanish is the language of love, Abuelito kept repeating this a few times, and i really love that, i love when a language is synonymous with a certain beautiful thing, the language of art, the language of music, the language of love and so on.
We explored our deep connection to our culture, how going far from it could effect you and your children who might be more interested to going back to their roots, which is the opposite actually of what happened in the Graphic Novel Carole: What We Leave Behind where the grandparents stayed true to their roots, and it benefited their grand children when they wanted to explore their culture better.
Overall amazing experience, glad this was my last ARC, and adios from Tawfek de ARC, or was it ARCade Master? ARCtic storm? ARChitect? i had so many goofy names ready for you all, it's really sad i stopped changing my name all the time 😭

[Bookishrealm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve had this checked out for a while and I FINALLY got the chance to sit down and read it.

Call Me Iggy has a little bit of everything in it: culture, identity, politics, romance, familial dynamics, and more. I wasn’t sure what to expect diving into it but it did not disappoint. Iggy was an interesting character who had trouble figuring out his identity. His parents came from Colombia but as someone who was born and raised in the US, he had no ties to his cultural background. As he goes through his Spanish class and meets other students like Maria, he brings to learn more about himself and his family. I really enjoyed the idea that his abuelo was leading him through most of this book. There aren’t enough YA centric books that talk about the cultural importance of ancestors to some communities especially communities of color. While his grandfather wasn’t always right, it prompted him to do some further introspection and help heal some old wounds that his father had. There is a background conversation about the implication of Trumps election which is even more relevant today as we find ourselves in an election year. The illustrations were vibrant and rich. And I appreciate that Spanish was so freely incorporated into the text. Overall, this was a great read and I definitely recommend checking it out.

[Esme · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐

a beautiful story! I loved the message that was presented. It's set in 2016 when the elections where just about to happen and we see the impact it had.

I really loved Iggy as a character he goes through tremendous character growth, learning to love and embrace his Colombian heritage.

it wasn't always an easy read there are some sensitive topics such as trump supporters, racism and a few others.

would recommend!

thank you Netgalley, Jorge Aguirre and First second for an arc in exchange for an honest review!

[christinac_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

"America wastes its resources taking care of the rest of the world"

Call Me Iggy tells the story of an Ohio-born Colombian American teen struggling to reconcile his cultural heritage while trying to fit in. Full of first crushes, family drama, ghostly ancestors, and a biting social commentary, this novel is perfect for any first generation American or those of mixed heritage who are exploring their own identity and why family history and culture are important. It opens conversation on how politics affects those of any age and how we can be more cognizant of our impact. I will admit this took a while to get into but I very much enjoyed the story and the messages presented in this beautifully illustrated graphic novel.

[Michelle Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very fun and whimsical trail of intergenerational advice, as well as the complications of real life stuff. I really enjoyed this!

[Jaida °•In my heart Is a christmas tree farm°• · Rating 3 out of 5]

˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺˚⋆｡°✩₊✩°｡⋆˚⁺

This was pretty good. I liked the art style and in general it was pretty good.

The characters
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ignacio "Iggy" ~ I liked him well enough.

Marisol ~ I liked her, she was nice.

Grabowski ~ he was pretty annoying.

Albuelito ~ he was alright.

Kristi ~ I didn't like her much.

Billy ~ I really didn't like him.

What to expect
🏺Very Light Romance
🏺Columbian Culture
🏺 Spanish Speaking Families
🏺 Friendship
🏺 Tough Topics

Quotes
~~~~~~~
“If you've seen one dictator, you've seen em all.”

Content
~~~~~~~
❤️‍🔥Romance| Iggy tells Kristi to use her “S-xy voice” (prompted by his abuelito)

🤬Language| Hell, S-xy,

🗡️Violence|

🏳️‍🌈LGBTQ| Iggy's abuelito asks if Iggy has a boyfriend.

✝️ Religion/spirituality| mentions of God and his will etc., Iggy's abuelito Is a ghost who only Iggy can see,

⚠️Other| This takes place in 2016 during the Trump election so there are mentions of deportation and I.C.E, racism,

[Eram Hussain · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ignacio (Iggy) Garcia is an Ohio-born Columbian teen. He decides that he wants to know more about his culture. Although he is clueless at first, he gradually starts to learn more about his heritage.

Iggy has a rough first day of high school, his older brother Billy wants nothing to do with him, he bumps into a girl, Marisol and spills coffee over her papers, and he finds himself in Spanish class instead of French. But even though he hasn't learned Spanish from his Colombian parents and would rather learn French, he sticks with Spanish in order to impress another girl, Kristi.

[Lost in Book Land · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome Back!

I have been a busy audiobook reader this week. I have finished two audiobooks so far and I am a decent way into my third one! However, I have not read nearly as many manga or graphic novels yet this week. So I decided it was time to pick up a graphic novel E-ARC I had on Netgalley. I picked up the E-ARC of Call Me Iggy (thank you so much to the publisher for an E-ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinions). So without further ado, let’s jump into Call Me Iggy.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Iggy lives in Ohio with his older brother, mom, and dad. Iggy does not really know a ton about his heritage but he knows his dad was born in Columbia and left to go to school in America and never visited again. All of this changes when Iggy decides to take Spanish in school this year instead of a different language. He begins to learn more about Columbia, his dad, and even his grandfather (who has passed). But what if he learns things that make his relationship with his family complicated? On top of that, Iggy slowly becomes friends with another student who is an illegal immigrant. She is helping him study his Spanish but with the election looming, things may become very complicated for her.

I absolutely loved Iggy’s story. We got to see Iggy transform and learn so much in a short span of his life. We also got to see Iggy endure something many of us went through (the election in America in 2016). Even if you were not in America it was a stressful time for all. We see a special perspective with Iggy and his new friend, and how the election directly impacted their day-to-day lives. Outside of the story I loved the art style. The colors used really highlighted certain elements of the story nicely. Call My Iggy hits shelves in paperback on February 13th, 2024, I highly recommend picking up a copy!

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

***Thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

[ashley marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a surprisingly involved narrative to unpack. Not only did the text fully embrace the experience of being Latino, appealing directly to those who feel their ancestors watch over them, but it was also anchored in a period of intense political anxiety. The story suffers from the overwhelming weight of Trump's America, focusing on the genuine fear of deportation. The dedication to showing this vulnerability and vibrancy of the culture simultaneously feels essential to help counter the relentless political framing that feels heavy and dominates the emotional core.

Abuelito emerges as a truly insightful figure, offering relationship advice that feels far more intuitive than the main plot allows. The narrative struggles to follow a real linear path, often diverging into disjointed musings on love. The core lesson, that relationships thrive on mutual interest rather than one person going "above and beyond," is a poignant piece of wisdom. This is coupled with the idea thatshared recreational activities, like reading, create long-term connection.

The extensive focus on political analysis is frequently disruptive. While the author’s voice is undeniably passionate, these extended political dives often pull the reader entirely out of the central drama. Rafael Rosado's illustrations, however, deserve extraordiary praise; the artistry is easily the most coherent and consistently beautiful element.

If you approach this purely for the vibrant Latino culture and the recurring, charming notion of Spanish as the language of love, you will find those moments resonate. The in-betweens and the political detours, however, weren't anything I felt were worth expanding upon so aggressively.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable graphic novel about a 2nd generation immigrant teen finding his path by reconnecting with his family ties to Columbia and his relationships with those around him, in particular his love interest.

The story moves well. Iggy learns some valuable lessons. And overall, I didn't mind Iggy as a character despite him being a bit short sighted at times and disrespectful. All in all, he is a good person and the story works to reveal that. I do think that there were some aspects of the story that didn't quite tie together like the ICE and Trump election aspects, but maybe that's to come in a future book or not truly necessary. Just felt, to me, like there was a full circle moment of sorts that never happened.

The artwork is nice. Iggy's reconnecting with his grandfather works. And his ability to bring his father back to his roots is a lovely touch, especially since it seems to be triggered by a swear word.

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent coming of age story that also looks at connecting with your past/cultural background. I loved seeing Iggy grow as a character, learning Spanish and discovering what he personally values. The background of MAGA protestors and the 2016 election was disturbing, but also realistic. Marisol’s DACA status and her families worries add a personal touch to that time and Iggy’s development of personal beliefs. Abuelito as a mentor was delightful and his presence, while vital, was not overused.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you’ve seen one dictator, you’ve seen 'em all.

a nuanced, timely portrayal of second generation immigrant life within the modern day US and how it intertwines with assimilation and the culture loss that can sometimes come with that. I really appreciated how multifaceted the narrative was. there's identity discovery, reconnection with your heritage and ancestors, microaggressions, complex political dynamics within families--what works best is how seamlessly these facets work together. gorgeous artwork to top it all off!

[Andrew Eder · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up. I read this for a student and I’m really glad I did. While I can’t speak to the authenticity of being part Colombian living in Ohio, it was a cute story with some light teenage romance heavy on the embracing cultural identity. I’m really glad I found this randomly and that there’s this specific representation for the Columbus Colombian community written by one of their own!

The end did make me choke up a little, nothing less than an “awwwww”.

Definitely recommend!

[kaitlphere · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the main character, Marisol, abuelo, and the mom character. I was annoyed by the brother, the dad, and a number of the kids at school.

I liked the plot overall. For having a supernatural element, parts of this book a very real. The challenges Marisol and Iggy's abuelo went through show that politics and economics are very important to our real lives.

The art worked well for this story. I particularly liked the last few pages.

[Microwave Oven · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Kat is Reading]

Please NetGalley!! I want this one! It looks so good!

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual rating: 3.75

[Ashley Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC

[Sarah Ressler Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Columbus Ohio right before the 2016 election. Thoughtful and healthfully drawn and funny a definitely read. Some politics but makes sense. High school and up.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

SUPER fun graphic novel - Abuelo is the best and I loved the exploration of culture and language and family heritage that this book explores!
contains characters having romantic feelings for each other, racism, talks about deportation

[Doha · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a nice, quick read. There was a lot going on all at once but it wasn't too much. I really liked watching Iggy's growth, his understanding of his heritage and how his Abuelito led him towards this understanding. It was beautiful. It also made me really want to learn Spanish!

I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Kaitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a fun graphic novel to read, despite some heavier elements. I laughed and smiled several times which is rare when I’m reading. Normally I find something funny but keep moving along and I actually stopped to reread certain parts that made me laugh. It was very much needed!

Iggy has grown up in Columbus, Ohio though his family is from Colombia. It rooted that history in the foundation of the story, with him being disconnected from it until he stumbles upon his abuelito’s urn in the basement. We see him learning spanish, learn traditional dances, and how to cook, among other things with his abuelito’s guidance.

I loved Iggy as a character, and I loved seeing him as a pair with his abuelito. They are really dynamic, and I’m personally a fan of grandparent/grandchild relationships in books so this was exciting for me anyway, but their chemistry was amazing. They bounce off eachother really well and they grow a lot together. Abuelito is also a funny character, with his teasing and good humor.

Marisol is another character in focus and I think she’s another great representation of culture, and a great pairing to Iggy in terms of connectivity. She is beyond her culture/home country as well but she’s connected. And still, she’s a bit out of place in a way that Iggy both is and isn’t.

All of this is in the midst of the 2016 election, not at all shying away from commentary on Trump and MAGA, and mirroring real opinions people had in favor of him during the election. The foundation of the country is shifting amongst Iggy’s reconnecting journey and Marisol’s determined efforts to gain citizenship while being a DACA recipient.

There is so much to this story like heritage, connectivity, impacts of assimilation, political changes, and guidance from your ancestors. It’s a beautiful novel and I will be recommending it highly.

Rep: Colombian (Wayuu) MC, plus size SC, Mexican DACA SC.

[sel · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, I want to thank NetGalley and First Second Books for sending me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This book was very fast-paced and easy to read while still covering important topics. I read it all in one sitting.

Iggy was born in Ohio and is not in touch with his Colombian heritage, and when the ghost of his abuelito appears after knocking over his ashes, he gets the chance to learn not only more about his heritage, but about his father as well.

It was fun to read about how Iggy would learn from his abuelito and the small mishaps that would sometimes occur. There were also the typical high school things that occurred, like Iggy wanting to impress a girl he liked and his older brother thinking he was “too cool” to be seen with him. But we also saw the way the outcome of the 2016 elections affected the Latine community. Iggy saw how Marisol and her family feared what would happen if Trump became president due to them being undocumented. We also saw how there were different views on Trump even within the Latine community, like with the more neutral stance Iggy’s father had and the way that his brother thought. I think it had a great balance between showing the great things about culture and the Latine community while also showing the issues we have and how we could be more united.

The graphic novel also showed how complicated family can be with how Iggy’s father and grandfather viewed their relationship. There are things that went unsaid between them that neither of them knew, and they have different ways of looking at what the other did wrong, as well as the importance of passing on their tradition and culture onto Iggy and his brother. But we see how assimilation plays a big role in Iggy’s upbringing. Many Latines who immigrate to America choose to assimilate as a way of surviving, and this can affect how they raise their children. However, what we see is that it is never too late to learn more and reconnect with your culture.

Overall, it was a great, quick read. I give it 4.5/5 stars!

[BPL YA Department · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review by our YA Librarian

Call Me Iggy is the kind of graphic novel that sneaks up on you—in the best way. Jorge Augusto Aguirre takes what could’ve been a simple coming-of-age story and turns it into something heartfelt, timely, and incredibly relevant, especially considering the world we’re living in right now.

At the center of it all is Ignacio “Iggy” Garcia, a Colombian-American teen just trying to survive high school. When a scheduling mix-up lands him in Spanish class instead of French, Iggy suddenly has to face a truth he’s been avoiding: he doesn’t feel “Latino enough,” and he’s terrified people will notice.

And then things get wild.
A small accident in the basement leads to Iggy spilling his grandfather’s ashes—and summoning Abuelito’s ghost, who decides to stay and “help” him navigate high school, heritage, and romance. (The advice is… questionable. The chaos is top-tier.)

As Iggy tries to reconnect with his identity, he meets Marisol, a classmate dealing with struggles far heavier than his. Through her, the book gently but powerfully shows how drastically different life can look depending on where you stand. It really puts into perspective the privilege some of us don’t even realize we have.

The tone shifts beautifully between humor, cultural exploration, awkward teen moments, and serious real-world issues like immigration, belonging, and the pressure to fit into multiple worlds at once.

And the ART? Absolutely perfect. Vibrant, expressive, and full of life. Every panel feels intentional—whether it’s delivering a joke, a punch of emotion, or a moment that just makes you stop and soak it in. The visuals add a level of depth that makes the story feel even more personal and powerful.

I genuinely enjoyed this graphic novel—its heart, its honesty, and the way it speaks to real experiences without ever losing its charm, warmth, or humor.

Final Score: 4 out of 5 stars.
A thoughtful, stylish, and beautifully told story that manages to be both fun and deeply meaningful.

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Ignacio's (Iggy) first day of High School and his popular big brother gives him some advice, which boils down to - don't embarrass him.

From the very first day, things don't go to plan. He has been entered into Spanish class instead of French class. He tries to object but soon realises there might be a good reason to stay in Spanish class. That reason is a girl called Kristi.

At home with his family, his dad asks him to fetch something from the basement for him. Iggy comes across an urn and quickly realises it's his grandfather's (Abuelito) ashes.

Creeped out he fumbles and the urn smashes - with horrifying results. His abuelito is now with him constantly. Not only with free Spanish lessons advice, but advice about impressing Kristi. Most of it, it turns out...is terrible.

Iggy turns to someone else who might be able to help with Spanish. Marisol is someone he bumped into (literally) on is first day. As he gets to know her, he learns that she works hard - at her studies, and after work in a cleaning job with her parents. She does not have legal papers for their country of USA.

This becomes much more stressful as the 2016 US election looms and Trump slanders families like Marisol's.

Division occurs both in school and home as the election looms, and Iggy learns even more about Marisol.


This full colour graphic novel is the perfect window into a divisive and stressful time for many during the 2016 US Election. Many issues were thrown about as electoral promises and lies, and Call Me Iggy shows the human toll of it, even in high school.

It's essentially a story about belonging, identity, and being proud of it. Iggy prefers this nick name to his full Ignacio which his Columbian parents named him - but through a ghostly connection with his grandfather, begins to dig deeper into his roots.

Although set in America around the historic 2016 elections, Iggy's identity journey is the same around the world.

[Alix · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic novel on family, new beginnings, and understanding of immigrations. Iggy initially started taking Spanish class for a girl he had a crush on, but he ended up finding a part of himself he never knew he had. Discovering his abuelito’s ashes, he was able to connect to his abuelito’s ghost and learned Spanish through him. Not only did Iggy learn a new language, he learned what grudge his abuelito had on his father, which resulted in him finding out that all he ever wanted was his father to return to Columbia and spread his ashes on the orchard gardens, to return to his first home. Even though Iggy was raised Americanized with hardly any knowledge of Spanish or his heritage, he still connected with his ancestors and grown to love that part of himself.

I find this book quite beautiful because honestly being the next generation in America, it’s hard to teach children where they came from when you start living in a country different from your ethnicity for a long time. You start to assimilate into the new country’s way of living and you grow used to that lifestyle. It’s not that you abandon your heritage, but it is just a different way of life that naturally happens.

What I don’t like about this book though is the fact that they brought Donald Trump into the book. I don’t think bringing politics to books should be presented the way the author did because it projects only a biased opinion and to growing children, they will always believe everything they see/read. I know that the author intended to mention Donald Trump in order to bring a point about how a president was against illegal immigrants and all that, but I think not naming anyone would have benefitted the author more. It can really lead to bad press and a lot of mess with this book.



Thank you to NetGallery for providing me an advanced digital copy for review.

[Sierra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reader’s Notes:

– this is told from Iggy’s point of view

– this occurs during the 2016 election/beginning of the school year (so there is some talk of politics – specifically about Donald Trump & Hillary Clinton, as well as how the resulting vote affected/would affect the Latino community)

– there is one Spanish curse word used a few times (maybe 5 uses?)

Review:

I had kinda thought that this would be mainly focusing on Iggy’s developing romance, and while it is a big part of the storyline, I was actually happily surprised that something else was a bigger part of this story. I loved learning more about Iggy’s heritage through his abuelito, as well as the struggles some Latinos in America face/have faced. I really enjoyed abuelito’s commentary on the things others would say or do around Iggy. Some of the things he said made me laugh. I really liked that this was a quick and enjoyable read!

Summary:

Iggy is starting his freshman year of high school, but is off to a rough start. Between being placed in Spanish instead of French, accidentally running into a girl causing coffee to spill on both of them, and dealing with his older brother things aren’t the best. But with the issues comes opportunities. By being placed in Spanish, Iggy has a chance to talk to his crush and have conversations with her, but with his limited knowledge of his ancestor’s language he doesn’t have a great time keeping her interest. Until one day, Iggy accidentally finds his grandfather’s ashes and meets his ghost. His abuelito wants to learn about his grandson’s life in America and help him with his daily struggles. Only, Iggy will find that his abuelito isn’t as all knowing as he seemed, and maybe there’s more to life than Iggy once thought…

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ignacio (Iggy) Garcia has a rough first day of high school: his older brother Billy wants nothing to do with him, he bumps into a girl (Marisol) and spills coffee over her papers, and he finds himself in Spanish class instead of French. But even though he hasn't learned Spanish from his Colombian parents and would rather learn French, he sticks with Spanish in order to impress another girl, Kristi. A mishap in cleaning at home leads Iggy to discovering his dead abuelito's ashes -- and speaking with his ghost -- and soon his abuelito's advice has Iggy succeeding in class and in impressing the girl. Until the advice turns sour, that is, and Iggy must turn to Marisol to plead for her tutoring in Spanish. And along the way, Iggy might just learn a little more about himself and his heritage.

Set in 2016, this graphic novel not only captures the daily drama of high school, it also provides a look at how the political atmosphere affected communities in different ways. Iggy's brother and father seem inclined to support Trump, while Iggy's distaste for the future president becomes a deeper concern as he learns more about Marisol's situation as an undocumented person (one of the DACA Dreamers). The story explores the different struggles of different immigrants and reveals that their lives are much more multifaceted than political soundbites can portray. A poignant story, beautifully illustrated. 4 stars.

Thank you, First Second Books and NetGalley, for providing an eARC of this book. Opinions expressed here are solely my own.

[Courtney☆ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel is so touching, funny, and truly a story I think everyone can enjoy and should read. It follows the life of a teenage boy, Iggy, who is just starting high school. Iggy is first generation Columbian-American and his parents immigrated from Columbia in the 80s. Iggy starts school and ends up placed in Spanish class instead of French. Who better to tutor him than his abuelito? Except his abuelito is dead so I guess his abuelito's ghost? And his abuelito might not be the best tutor or love advice expert, which leads to Iggy making an agreement with a girl, Marisol, to tutor him in Spanish in exchange for helping her with her work.

This story pulls at your heart strings and also makes you laugh. It both covers typical high school teenager issues while also going into important and more serious topics like immigration and the impact of intolerance and harmful stereotypes, such as those that were loudly shouted during the 2016 Trump campaign, and how they can impact the Latine American community, especially those undocumented. The story was beautiful and let's the reader in on this family's feelings across generations from abuelito, to father, to son. Iggy's abuelito is hilarious and provides so much life to the story, which is ironic given he's a ghost. I truly enjoyed the graphic novel from beginning to end, from the characters to the plot to the overall message.

I'm so thankful to have received an earc of this graphic novel and cannot recommend this graphic novel enough. It will not disappoint!