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Almudena - Le temps d'un été
Almuneda a toujours vécu avec sa mère. Sa vie bascule lorsqu'elle apprend qu'elle doit passer un été chez son père qu'elle n'a jamais rencontré. Alors qu'elle pensait passer ses vacances dans l'ennui le plus total, la voici qui découvre avec stupeur que son père ne parle que très peu anglais. Un vrai challenge se présente alors à eux, car Almuneda, elle, ne connaît que quelques mots d'espagnol...
320 pages, Paperback
First published June 11, 2024
92 people are currently reading
9014 people want to read
About the author
Samuel Teer
3 books44 followersSamuel Teer was born to a deaf maintenance worker and an immigrant that spoke English as a distant second language. Obviously he became a writer. He was raised outside of St. Louis, MO. He currently lives outside of Denver, CO with his wife Andrea (an educator) and their two dogs Roxie and Olive.
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August 2, 2024
Fixing up a house is not the same as fixing up a home, but for 14 year old Almudena the three months she spends fixing up an old Brownstone with her father might be the opportunity to make both happen. An adorable coming-of-age graphic novel centered on family and identity, Brownstone from Samuel Teer and artist Mar Julia is a heartwarming hit. When her mother has to leave for a dance tour for the summer, Almudena is sent to stay with her father for three months, the catch is that she has never before met him. Suddenly immersed in a Guatemalan culture she was previously unaware of and unable to speak Spanish, Almudena navigates the frictions of her new community in this excellent story with plenty of space to breathe and let the nuance shine through explorations of community, gentrification and family.
A big shout out to Hope and their review for inspiring me to read this as they are always correct when recommending a book. This was an adorable graphic novel and I was pleased to see how much space it gave to exploring the topics within while keeping the pace comfortably forward moving. Mar Julia’s artwork is wonderful with excellent depictions of city life and characters that are able to display a wide range of emotions quite effectively. In a story where the main character is outside the culture and language and must rely on visual cues and translation, the book using a strong sense of visual literacy to tell the story was nice. Suddenly dropped into a culture she had no idea was her own is a lot to Almudena, struggling to not feel like a fraud while her neighbors teasingly call her “off-brand” and trying to make sense of her new identity. It is empathetically presented with a good use of humor, particularly around her finding the food too spicy and being told she needs to check the “white people aisle” of the grocery store.
There is an excellent cast of characters here that allows the story to wind through a lot of other examinations of identity, such two characters coming to terms with their queer identities in a community that isn’t always the most accepting or supportive. There is also the issue of gentrification closing stores and whitewashing the predominantly Guatemalan area as well as her father’s backstory of coming to the United States. It makes for a very well-rounded story that gives a lot of room for character development and understanding that I quite enjoyed. It does occasionally feel like issues or disputes are resolved rather quickly, though with a cast of teenagers it is easy to dismiss, especially as it is the collective cast coming together and interacting that makes this such a charming story.
Brownstone is a gorgeous tale of family and identity and quite a heartwarming read. Almudena spends much of the story trying to fix not only the house with her father, but also everyones problems and relationships and has to learn she can’t do everything herself. But her efforts and the changes she can make mean a whole lot A cute read that will charm readers of any age.
4/5
A big shout out to Hope and their review for inspiring me to read this as they are always correct when recommending a book. This was an adorable graphic novel and I was pleased to see how much space it gave to exploring the topics within while keeping the pace comfortably forward moving. Mar Julia’s artwork is wonderful with excellent depictions of city life and characters that are able to display a wide range of emotions quite effectively. In a story where the main character is outside the culture and language and must rely on visual cues and translation, the book using a strong sense of visual literacy to tell the story was nice. Suddenly dropped into a culture she had no idea was her own is a lot to Almudena, struggling to not feel like a fraud while her neighbors teasingly call her “off-brand” and trying to make sense of her new identity. It is empathetically presented with a good use of humor, particularly around her finding the food too spicy and being told she needs to check the “white people aisle” of the grocery store.
There is an excellent cast of characters here that allows the story to wind through a lot of other examinations of identity, such two characters coming to terms with their queer identities in a community that isn’t always the most accepting or supportive. There is also the issue of gentrification closing stores and whitewashing the predominantly Guatemalan area as well as her father’s backstory of coming to the United States. It makes for a very well-rounded story that gives a lot of room for character development and understanding that I quite enjoyed. It does occasionally feel like issues or disputes are resolved rather quickly, though with a cast of teenagers it is easy to dismiss, especially as it is the collective cast coming together and interacting that makes this such a charming story.
Brownstone is a gorgeous tale of family and identity and quite a heartwarming read. Almudena spends much of the story trying to fix not only the house with her father, but also everyones problems and relationships and has to learn she can’t do everything herself. But her efforts and the changes she can make mean a whole lot A cute read that will charm readers of any age.
4/5
January 9, 2025
One of my best friends has a daughter from Guatemala, so I initially discovered this book on her behalf. (Once a language arts teacher, always a language arts teacher).
I wanted to read it, before recommending it, so I read it aloud to my 14-year-old (who thought it was pretty hilarious that I dropped a few "F" bombs--this is YA, not a middle grades read), and she was happy I was at the helm, as I'm the Spanish speaker (rusty as I am) in this family.
And that leads me to point out: this is a bilingual book. It doesn't mean that a non-Spanish speaker wouldn't enjoy it; I suspect most teens would appreciate this graphic novel, published in 2024. It is written, primarily, in English, but there is quite a bit of Spanish in it (without translation).
I think this would be an excellent book, both for bilingual teens and for English speaking teens who are studying Spanish.
It is also a visual feast, a graphic novel with gorgeous art, a palette that was easy on my tired eyes, and my teen audience didn't want to miss a page.
Thematically, it's dynamic, too. Yes, it covers a lot of territory (racism, homosexuality, single-parenting, gentrification), but it does so with ease, and doesn't feel forced, with an agenda.
If the author and/or the illustrator ever stumble upon my review of their work, I would like to extend my gratitude to them, for something in particular: there's a scene in the book when a young man "comes out," regarding his sexuality, to the protagonist, who is just shy of 15 at the time. Our protagonist is initially panicked. No one has ever "come out" to her before, and she freezes, then wonders if she should make a joke, say something funny and light. Instead, she grasps the weight of what has been shared with her and she responds beautifully.
I'm grateful that no one ever "came out" to me when I was the protagonist's age. I did not possess the knowledge, the maturity, nor the family support to say or do the right thing. I truly appreciate that books like this exist now. . . we don't always need to preach, to teach.
I wanted to read it, before recommending it, so I read it aloud to my 14-year-old (who thought it was pretty hilarious that I dropped a few "F" bombs--this is YA, not a middle grades read), and she was happy I was at the helm, as I'm the Spanish speaker (rusty as I am) in this family.
And that leads me to point out: this is a bilingual book. It doesn't mean that a non-Spanish speaker wouldn't enjoy it; I suspect most teens would appreciate this graphic novel, published in 2024. It is written, primarily, in English, but there is quite a bit of Spanish in it (without translation).
I think this would be an excellent book, both for bilingual teens and for English speaking teens who are studying Spanish.
It is also a visual feast, a graphic novel with gorgeous art, a palette that was easy on my tired eyes, and my teen audience didn't want to miss a page.
Thematically, it's dynamic, too. Yes, it covers a lot of territory (racism, homosexuality, single-parenting, gentrification), but it does so with ease, and doesn't feel forced, with an agenda.
If the author and/or the illustrator ever stumble upon my review of their work, I would like to extend my gratitude to them, for something in particular: there's a scene in the book when a young man "comes out," regarding his sexuality, to the protagonist, who is just shy of 15 at the time. Our protagonist is initially panicked. No one has ever "come out" to her before, and she freezes, then wonders if she should make a joke, say something funny and light. Instead, she grasps the weight of what has been shared with her and she responds beautifully.
I'm grateful that no one ever "came out" to me when I was the protagonist's age. I did not possess the knowledge, the maturity, nor the family support to say or do the right thing. I truly appreciate that books like this exist now. . . we don't always need to preach, to teach.
July 19, 2024
A wonderful coming of age story.
A 14-year-old girl has to spend the summer with the father who left when she was only a toddler and hasn't seen her since. She learns about him, her heritage, and how to re-floor a brownstone for a renovation project all while making new connections with the people who live in her father's neighborhood.
Nothing earthshaking, sure, but very well done, with all the feels and relationship breakthroughs you could want.
I became aware of this book from a list of 10 Exciting New Graphic Novels From 2024 (So Far) that has been pretty dependable (so far). Want to see how many you've read? Check the Goodreads list here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
A 14-year-old girl has to spend the summer with the father who left when she was only a toddler and hasn't seen her since. She learns about him, her heritage, and how to re-floor a brownstone for a renovation project all while making new connections with the people who live in her father's neighborhood.
Nothing earthshaking, sure, but very well done, with all the feels and relationship breakthroughs you could want.
I became aware of this book from a list of 10 Exciting New Graphic Novels From 2024 (So Far) that has been pretty dependable (so far). Want to see how many you've read? Check the Goodreads list here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
January 22, 2025
Almudena grew up with her white mom, always wondering about the Guatemalan father she'd never met. Until one summer mid-high school when her mom heads off to Europe for a dance tour and drops her off at the Brooklyn brownstone her father, Xavier, is renovating. Almudena has to navigate around a language barrier, an through unfamiliar neighborhood, and into a close knit Latino community many of whom see her as not brown enough to count. But Almudena is determined not to let this opportunity to know her father slip away. This is such a warmhearted book, funny and kind, with a really well developed cast. The art and the writing make a perfect whole, capturing a deeply specific mid-1990s moment. I've been following the artist's self published releases for years and I'm so happy to see their work shine in a full length book!
February 10, 2025
The book is fine, the artwork is nice, it's an award winner. I am going to be the outlier for being deeply underwhelmed by this title.
First, I hate everything about this premise. Absentee/estranged parent stories have to be done so well to balance the child's (justifed) anger and sadness over the absence while also giving the parent a redemption arc. This book didn't do that. We are told it happens but nothing in the narrative conveys real growth here. Where was Almudena's father Xavier? Did he relinquish parental rights? Why does the mother trust him with her now? How does him being the literal last alternative for the mother to pawn Almudena off on so she can work make him ready to be a father now and not when she was born?
While there is a big ensemble cast here, they aren't much better. All of the other teens are mean to Almudena until they're not. Most of the adults read like non-playing characters. Then there's Idola.
Idola is awful. She lies when trasnlating between Almudena and Xavier literally withholding information from both of them. While also claiming to want to be in a relationship with Xavier (and potentially become a step-parent to Almudena). Sorry, but no. That is gross and manipulative even if the book tries to make it breezy and fun. Think I'm over-reacting? Then why is Idola also shown as being rampantly homophobic to the point that her own son is afraid to come out to her and as a teen Idola is shown in flashbacks making her former best friend a neighborhood pariah after finding out she is a lesbian. Behavior that is never interrogated or corrected except that Idola doesn't actively intervene when Almudena offers the best friend an apartment in Xavier's brownstone. Like great you can passively watch other people practice compassion.
The story also makes a big point of Almudena learning more about being Guatemalan specifically but also part of the Latine/Latinx diaspora. Except then very few actually Guatemalan things are brought up. I like the way Almudena learns that there can be intersectionality and she's allowed to engage with other Latine cultures (with no help from Idola btw) but it felt like a gap to make this big deal and then the main thing we see her doing is the neighborhood throwing a Quinceañera with what (from my admittedly quick research) seems to be standard elements across all cultures that mark Quinceañeras.
There is no reason for the 1995 setting. My strong suspicion is the author was a teen in 1995 and that was the main factor in using the setting here. Saying it was a way to have Almudena not have a phone to use for translation or to explore the neighborhood is a copout--her phone could have been lost or broken or lacking connectivity. At one point Almudena describes Idola as thirsty (yes) but would that even have been slang in 1995? There is absolutely no specificity in the plot or setting to justify this time period.
The tone of the book also makes no sense. Almudena learns a lot of hard truths about gentrification and how scary it is for a neighborhood. But then by the end of the story it's okay because literally everyone Almudena met who was at risk because of rising rents can live in Xavier's brownstone. How he afforded the brownstone, the renovations, or anything else leading up to becoming a property owner and landlord is, like most other plot holes here, never addressed.
First, I hate everything about this premise. Absentee/estranged parent stories have to be done so well to balance the child's (justifed) anger and sadness over the absence while also giving the parent a redemption arc. This book didn't do that. We are told it happens but nothing in the narrative conveys real growth here. Where was Almudena's father Xavier? Did he relinquish parental rights? Why does the mother trust him with her now? How does him being the literal last alternative for the mother to pawn Almudena off on so she can work make him ready to be a father now and not when she was born?
While there is a big ensemble cast here, they aren't much better. All of the other teens are mean to Almudena until they're not. Most of the adults read like non-playing characters. Then there's Idola.
Idola is awful. She lies when trasnlating between Almudena and Xavier literally withholding information from both of them. While also claiming to want to be in a relationship with Xavier (and potentially become a step-parent to Almudena). Sorry, but no. That is gross and manipulative even if the book tries to make it breezy and fun. Think I'm over-reacting? Then why is Idola also shown as being rampantly homophobic to the point that her own son is afraid to come out to her and as a teen Idola is shown in flashbacks making her former best friend a neighborhood pariah after finding out she is a lesbian. Behavior that is never interrogated or corrected except that Idola doesn't actively intervene when Almudena offers the best friend an apartment in Xavier's brownstone. Like great you can passively watch other people practice compassion.
The story also makes a big point of Almudena learning more about being Guatemalan specifically but also part of the Latine/Latinx diaspora. Except then very few actually Guatemalan things are brought up. I like the way Almudena learns that there can be intersectionality and she's allowed to engage with other Latine cultures (with no help from Idola btw) but it felt like a gap to make this big deal and then the main thing we see her doing is the neighborhood throwing a Quinceañera with what (from my admittedly quick research) seems to be standard elements across all cultures that mark Quinceañeras.
There is no reason for the 1995 setting. My strong suspicion is the author was a teen in 1995 and that was the main factor in using the setting here. Saying it was a way to have Almudena not have a phone to use for translation or to explore the neighborhood is a copout--her phone could have been lost or broken or lacking connectivity. At one point Almudena describes Idola as thirsty (yes) but would that even have been slang in 1995? There is absolutely no specificity in the plot or setting to justify this time period.
The tone of the book also makes no sense. Almudena learns a lot of hard truths about gentrification and how scary it is for a neighborhood. But then by the end of the story it's okay because literally everyone Almudena met who was at risk because of rising rents can live in Xavier's brownstone. How he afforded the brownstone, the renovations, or anything else leading up to becoming a property owner and landlord is, like most other plot holes here, never addressed.
April 27, 2025
This was a warm and refreshing graphic novel that follows Almudena, a 14-year-old her, who has never met her father and lives with her mother. Until one day, her mother had to go away for work and leave her with her estranged father.
Now, this story begins in 1995, when I was only 4 years old! And since I am a '90s baby, I was expecting to have some nostalgia for those times. I didn't get any from this, but it was nice to see, for once, no phones, no internet, or anything else that screams 21st century, so I really liked this aspect.
There were some bits that felt way too unrealistic to me, and I found them irritating. Like, why would you take a job that requires you to leave your teenage daughter for the entire summer with a father she has never met and does not speak her language in a place where there are no living conditions is beyond me lol. Like the house she left her in, he was renovating, not even a bed or a proper kitchen, don't know about the bathroom/toilet, was never mentioned... Additionally, the whole neighbourhood was Spanish speaking, nothing wrong with that, but ignoring English speakers and not willing to engage and not even making an effort to speak to them is plain racism... I mean, when I moved to Italy, I did not expect people to learn Bulgarian just for me, I HAD to learn their language because I MOVED to their country... So the whole thing we speak our native language because is our neighbourhood thing did not rub me the right way, and American people were portrayed as the intolerant ones and whatnot. I always see this trait when it comes to books written by immigrants or minorities. I just don't get it, I myself was an immigrant in Italy in South Korea and the UK, so I speak as someone who's gone through this. Yes, there was the occasional bigot who was not welcoming towards me and thought I was an idiot and did not understand when they were talking bad about me, but this was never the norm. 99% of the people would make the effort to communicate like me, and would never cause any issues or make it a big deal that I was living in their country. So this conversation is really pushing something I don't think to be true; those are just isolated cases, and people want to make them the norm. Sorry to burst your bubble on this one, but this is not the reality you are making it out to be, and it gets really overused and overdone at this point. I have my suspicions that it is just for selling point...
Now that this said, I really liked the feeling of community and that there were some diverse characters. It was also endearing how the relationship between Almudena and her father grew, and they both learnt important things about each other. I do get why her mother left her at the end and why her dad was not in the picture, but still, a lot was left to be desired and not explained.
As a daughter of divorced parents and as someone who grew up without the presence of a father, I could somewhat relate to the FC, but again, it did not feel realistic to me.
I think my favourite characters were Queralt and Tomaz. I found their stories much more interesting than the main character's.
Anyway, this graphic novel was an OK read for me and gave it a solid 3 stars.
Now, this story begins in 1995, when I was only 4 years old! And since I am a '90s baby, I was expecting to have some nostalgia for those times. I didn't get any from this, but it was nice to see, for once, no phones, no internet, or anything else that screams 21st century, so I really liked this aspect.
There were some bits that felt way too unrealistic to me, and I found them irritating. Like, why would you take a job that requires you to leave your teenage daughter for the entire summer with a father she has never met and does not speak her language in a place where there are no living conditions is beyond me lol. Like the house she left her in, he was renovating, not even a bed or a proper kitchen, don't know about the bathroom/toilet, was never mentioned... Additionally, the whole neighbourhood was Spanish speaking, nothing wrong with that, but ignoring English speakers and not willing to engage and not even making an effort to speak to them is plain racism... I mean, when I moved to Italy, I did not expect people to learn Bulgarian just for me, I HAD to learn their language because I MOVED to their country... So the whole thing we speak our native language because is our neighbourhood thing did not rub me the right way, and American people were portrayed as the intolerant ones and whatnot. I always see this trait when it comes to books written by immigrants or minorities. I just don't get it, I myself was an immigrant in Italy in South Korea and the UK, so I speak as someone who's gone through this. Yes, there was the occasional bigot who was not welcoming towards me and thought I was an idiot and did not understand when they were talking bad about me, but this was never the norm. 99% of the people would make the effort to communicate like me, and would never cause any issues or make it a big deal that I was living in their country. So this conversation is really pushing something I don't think to be true; those are just isolated cases, and people want to make them the norm. Sorry to burst your bubble on this one, but this is not the reality you are making it out to be, and it gets really overused and overdone at this point. I have my suspicions that it is just for selling point...
Now that this said, I really liked the feeling of community and that there were some diverse characters. It was also endearing how the relationship between Almudena and her father grew, and they both learnt important things about each other. I do get why her mother left her at the end and why her dad was not in the picture, but still, a lot was left to be desired and not explained.
As a daughter of divorced parents and as someone who grew up without the presence of a father, I could somewhat relate to the FC, but again, it did not feel realistic to me.
I think my favourite characters were Queralt and Tomaz. I found their stories much more interesting than the main character's.
Anyway, this graphic novel was an OK read for me and gave it a solid 3 stars.
June 25, 2024
a sweet and nuanced graphic novel - and finally, one that has some MEAT to it!! i've been reading a lot of short comics/gns lately and sometimes that works well but sometimes i just want a good lengthy story you know? this one scratched that itch for a long story, although at times i feel the pacing was a little odd character-wise? like with how much animosity there was between characters in the beginning of the graphic novel, they seemed to flip to liking each other a little TOO fast. but then a lot of the characters are also teenagers so that's not necessarily inaccurate. (speaking of which, idola you're hot and i love you but you need to STOP picking fights with fifteen year olds hahaha)
i did really enjoy how nuanced the characters are, though! there's a lot going on for each of them which means they clash realistically - and often. it's good to see a story that's not afraid to let the characters have conflict. all of this was accentuated perfectly by the art style, which is LOVELY. so expressive and fun with just the right balance struck between loose lines that convey emotion without being too sketchy or losing the concept.
overall a really fun and thoughtful look at coming of age, grappling with being estranged from your cultural heritage, gentrification, and making blended families work. would recommend!
i did really enjoy how nuanced the characters are, though! there's a lot going on for each of them which means they clash realistically - and often. it's good to see a story that's not afraid to let the characters have conflict. all of this was accentuated perfectly by the art style, which is LOVELY. so expressive and fun with just the right balance struck between loose lines that convey emotion without being too sketchy or losing the concept.
overall a really fun and thoughtful look at coming of age, grappling with being estranged from your cultural heritage, gentrification, and making blended families work. would recommend!
July 6, 2024
Libby app, Overdrive was better
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Took a few chapters for me to get fully into it but this was such a good story ❤️
Almudena feels awkward and standoffish about meeting her father, full of resentment, some anger, and unanswered questions.
I don't blame her at all, I would be too.
Things are awkward for a bit but the ice 🧊 slowly thaws. Loved watching them become closer and Almudena learning to let her guard down and getting closer to the people around her.
She has a fierceness and stubbornness that I identified with, along with feeling like a misfit/outcast.. not quite sure how to fit in, which space is yours.
A few moments when I teared up :) I wanted to start it all over again. Another one I definitely want on my shelves one day soonish.
The artwork was beautiful 😍 the illustrator really captured the whole atmosphere and made me forget I was reading. 👏.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼
-----
Took a few chapters for me to get fully into it but this was such a good story ❤️
Almudena feels awkward and standoffish about meeting her father, full of resentment, some anger, and unanswered questions.
I don't blame her at all, I would be too.
Things are awkward for a bit but the ice 🧊 slowly thaws. Loved watching them become closer and Almudena learning to let her guard down and getting closer to the people around her.
She has a fierceness and stubbornness that I identified with, along with feeling like a misfit/outcast.. not quite sure how to fit in, which space is yours.
A few moments when I teared up :) I wanted to start it all over again. Another one I definitely want on my shelves one day soonish.
The artwork was beautiful 😍 the illustrator really captured the whole atmosphere and made me forget I was reading. 👏.
Would recommend 👌 👍🏼
July 12, 2024
***SPOILER***
While I liked the overall message this book, what parent in there right mind would drop-off their teenage kid to spend a summer with their other parent whom they had never met, and did not speak the same language? Without warning?
While I liked the overall message this book, what parent in there right mind would drop-off their teenage kid to spend a summer with their other parent whom they had never met, and did not speak the same language? Without warning?
August 10, 2025
✨️ 3.5 stars ✨️
Okay, first and foremost, artwork: spectacular 🥳🌞
But story and charcater wise... I think I have quite a few mixed opinions 🫣(let's see if my rating at any point changes...)
Plot wise: I generally felt like everything was always moving a little bit too fast, like we were always meeting someone new, learning more lore about a charcater's past, dealing with the consequences of someones' actions—with nothing ever really feeling ~ calm ~ 🫠 (Which, let's be real, with Latinos, when is it ever 😎) But beyond that, it's more like I wish that we had spent more time with Almudena where we slow down just a little to hear her reflections on everything around her changing. Because I feel like the insights that we do get from her are more like Life Lessons™️, especially toward the end, where everything felt like it wrapped up perfectly, and I'm just... this is giving way too much Disney movie ending vibes 😭
Character wise: WOOF, kinda messy y'all 🫠 If I'm just rattling off—Almudena does have major saviour complex energy, both her parents (even her dad 👀) felt pretty one dimensional, most of the Tías honestly only felt like they existed in an archetype, and the queer representation was just that... saying a charcater is queer as a label to check a box and then not really talking about them for the rest of the book 🥲 and, for now, I'm not really going to dig into that, but this brings me to my major point: this comic either needed to have been longer or there needed to be wayyyyyyyy less focus on some secondary and tertiary characters. And saying this, I want to emphasis that I don't want to betray an essential tenant of authentically representing family and community in a lot of Latine stories, but !¡with the pacing issue¡! there needs to be space for our MCs to breath 😭
Saying all this, I think it also makes me want to point out that the main plot line of exploring Almuden's relationship with her dad throughout the whole comic felt... pretty lackluster 🤐 NO HATE!! But, as I mentioned before, there was barely any dimension—there was no time to explore the nuance of both of Almuden's parent's estranged relationship and how that fully impacts her, and how her dad never really expresses an emotion beyond happy/focused/worried/etc. even when Almudena makes seeeeeeeveral impulsive decisions, Almudena also seems very willing to forgive the fact thay her dad has been gone her WHOLE LIFE without much conflict 🙃, and I felt like the nunace of Almudena exploring her Latina heritage was also a little... bland (this would have to be a whole other post)
I really don't want to sound like I'm just complaining 😭 because I did enjoy the comic, especially since I've been seeing it all over my feed recently! I hope to see more work from the authors/illustrators in the future 😄
(Also, does anyone know why there was a metaphorical?? panther in the back of Almudena's taxi at the end?? 🤔)
Okay, first and foremost, artwork: spectacular 🥳🌞
But story and charcater wise... I think I have quite a few mixed opinions 🫣
Plot wise: I generally felt like everything was always moving a little bit too fast, like we were always meeting someone new, learning more lore about a charcater's past, dealing with the consequences of someones' actions—with nothing ever really feeling ~ calm ~ 🫠 (Which, let's be real, with Latinos, when is it ever 😎) But beyond that, it's more like I wish that we had spent more time with Almudena where we slow down just a little to hear her reflections on everything around her changing. Because I feel like the insights that we do get from her are more like Life Lessons™️, especially toward the end, where everything felt like it wrapped up perfectly, and I'm just... this is giving way too much Disney movie ending vibes 😭
Character wise: WOOF, kinda messy y'all 🫠 If I'm just rattling off—Almudena does have major saviour complex energy, both her parents (even her dad 👀) felt pretty one dimensional, most of the Tías honestly only felt like they existed in an archetype, and the queer representation was just that... saying a charcater is queer as a label to check a box and then not really talking about them for the rest of the book 🥲 and, for now, I'm not really going to dig into that, but this brings me to my major point: this comic either needed to have been longer or there needed to be wayyyyyyyy less focus on some secondary and tertiary characters. And saying this, I want to emphasis that I don't want to betray an essential tenant of authentically representing family and community in a lot of Latine stories, but !¡with the pacing issue¡! there needs to be space for our MCs to breath 😭
Saying all this, I think it also makes me want to point out that the main plot line of exploring Almuden's relationship with her dad throughout the whole comic felt... pretty lackluster 🤐 NO HATE!! But, as I mentioned before, there was barely any dimension—there was no time to explore the nuance of both of Almuden's parent's estranged relationship and how that fully impacts her, and how her dad never really expresses an emotion beyond happy/focused/worried/etc. even when Almudena makes seeeeeeeveral impulsive decisions, Almudena also seems very willing to forgive the fact thay her dad has been gone her WHOLE LIFE without much conflict 🙃, and I felt like the nunace of Almudena exploring her Latina heritage was also a little... bland (this would have to be a whole other post)
I really don't want to sound like I'm just complaining 😭 because I did enjoy the comic, especially since I've been seeing it all over my feed recently! I hope to see more work from the authors/illustrators in the future 😄
(Also, does anyone know why there was a metaphorical?? panther in the back of Almudena's taxi at the end?? 🤔)
October 13, 2024
Excuse me, but what the hell? This was *awful*. The characters are *awful*. The depiction of what it means to be biracial and bicultural was *awful*. This girl grows up with absolutely NO connection to her heritage and her mom just lets her think she's Mexican for her entire life? And her dad who ran away when she was a baby only accepts his daughter back into his life to heal a part of *himself* and only after her mom begs him to let his own daughter stay with him for a month? And her mom just drops her off in a predominantly Spanish speaking neighborhood with her father who is LITERALLY a complete stranger and then fucks off to Europe--for a *month*? And her father puts her to work renovating a fucking building? And she, the girl, has to parent both her mother and her father? And people think this is wholesome and cozy? What in the world??
It's not the "rediscovering your heritage" that's the problem here, either. It's how this entire storyline was conceived and executed. What awful, selfish, neglectful parents this poor girl has. Being biracial and bicultural is already a mindfuck. Let's not romanticize shitty parents doing a shitty job of raising their precocious kid.
It's not the "rediscovering your heritage" that's the problem here, either. It's how this entire storyline was conceived and executed. What awful, selfish, neglectful parents this poor girl has. Being biracial and bicultural is already a mindfuck. Let's not romanticize shitty parents doing a shitty job of raising their precocious kid.
November 26, 2024
Okay, immediately I'm questioning the mom's choices here. I know we have to kind of advance the plot to get to the brownstone, but this lady just drops her kid off with her father who the kid has never met and who only speaks Spanish. Actually, Xavier isn't much better, putting his daughter Almudena to work as soon as she walks in without giving her any PPE besides a pair of goggles, while he himself is in full work coveralls. He has her ripping out drywall near electrical wires. He makes her sleep on the floor of the half-finished building. She doesn't even get a bed.
Almudena finds herself having to rely on Idola, a neighbor and friend of her father, to translate. Idola is somewhat helpful, but also slightly condescending. She tells Almudena that she is half-Guatemalan, which surprises Almudena since she always thought she was Mexican.
The neighborhood Almudena lives in is....a lot. Idola herself acknowledges that the neighborhood is dangerous. Tomaz was jumped a few years ago and it affected his brain. Apparently he tries to challenge people to Street Fighter duals, this is a known problem, and yet nobody is watching him and looking out for him. What if he tries to fake fight the wrong guy? Could end badly, someone should look out for him instead of berating Almudena for being alone.
Everyone is pretty awful to Almudena. Calling her "Off brand" for having a tan and not speaking Spanish? Dismissing her comments on her being uncomfortable in the skirt with "you're a girl, you'll get used to it"? Everyone is rude to everyone here. Queralt is verbally attacked by Idola for who she is, just cause. Beto calls Almudena "half-breed" for suggesting he move in the brownstone.
Side note: I didn't realize it was the 1990s until way late in the story. Beforehand, I spent a lot of the story thinking "Why doesn't anyone try and translate on their phones? It's not perfect, but it gets the job done".
I thought Beto had two moms for the longest time, but I think he meant his mom and aunt? Or he just calls his mom "moms", which is confusing. Because he says his "moms" aren't okay with sexuality besides straight, and that wouldn't make sense if the moms themselves were together.
Xavier writes a letter to Almudena explaining that he left soon after she was born because he feared he would be a terrible father to her. He sees her only once, and gives Almudena's mom money out of guilt that he cannot be with them.
In the end, the community that Alumdena has befriended come together to throw her a birthday, and Almudena eventually gets to see her mom again.
The art is unique. I like the simple style and warm color scheme. Some of the backgrounds are so beautifully drawn, especially the city parts. This is one of those books where the art grows with the story. As a comic artist myself, I like seeing that very human trait come out in people's work. As they pour themselves into the painting, they get better and better at creating beautiful worlds.
Overall, though, I just didn't really like this story. Everyone is pretty terrible and one dimensional for like half the book. It just drags.
Almudena finds herself having to rely on Idola, a neighbor and friend of her father, to translate. Idola is somewhat helpful, but also slightly condescending. She tells Almudena that she is half-Guatemalan, which surprises Almudena since she always thought she was Mexican.
The neighborhood Almudena lives in is....a lot. Idola herself acknowledges that the neighborhood is dangerous. Tomaz was jumped a few years ago and it affected his brain. Apparently he tries to challenge people to Street Fighter duals, this is a known problem, and yet nobody is watching him and looking out for him. What if he tries to fake fight the wrong guy? Could end badly, someone should look out for him instead of berating Almudena for being alone.
Everyone is pretty awful to Almudena. Calling her "Off brand" for having a tan and not speaking Spanish? Dismissing her comments on her being uncomfortable in the skirt with "you're a girl, you'll get used to it"? Everyone is rude to everyone here. Queralt is verbally attacked by Idola for who she is, just cause. Beto calls Almudena "half-breed" for suggesting he move in the brownstone.
Side note: I didn't realize it was the 1990s until way late in the story. Beforehand, I spent a lot of the story thinking "Why doesn't anyone try and translate on their phones? It's not perfect, but it gets the job done".
I thought Beto had two moms for the longest time, but I think he meant his mom and aunt? Or he just calls his mom "moms", which is confusing. Because he says his "moms" aren't okay with sexuality besides straight, and that wouldn't make sense if the moms themselves were together.
Xavier writes a letter to Almudena explaining that he left soon after she was born because he feared he would be a terrible father to her. He sees her only once, and gives Almudena's mom money out of guilt that he cannot be with them.
In the end, the community that Alumdena has befriended come together to throw her a birthday, and Almudena eventually gets to see her mom again.
The art is unique. I like the simple style and warm color scheme. Some of the backgrounds are so beautifully drawn, especially the city parts. This is one of those books where the art grows with the story. As a comic artist myself, I like seeing that very human trait come out in people's work. As they pour themselves into the painting, they get better and better at creating beautiful worlds.
Overall, though, I just didn't really like this story. Everyone is pretty terrible and one dimensional for like half the book. It just drags.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 11, 2025
One liner : Great illustrations and good execution of the story
Synopsis : This is the story of a teenager Almudena who is left to spend the summer with her estranged Guatemalan father when her mother goes on tour with her dance group. Everything is new for her, language including. Is she able to connect back to her roots from her father's side or is the whole experience too traumatizing?
My thoughts:
This story is not new or earth shattering. It has been told in many different books but has been executed well. It has right circumstances and sequences which highlights family and found family. The illustrations are really good. All in all a one time nice read
My rating 3.5 rounded to 4
Synopsis : This is the story of a teenager Almudena who is left to spend the summer with her estranged Guatemalan father when her mother goes on tour with her dance group. Everything is new for her, language including. Is she able to connect back to her roots from her father's side or is the whole experience too traumatizing?
My thoughts:
This story is not new or earth shattering. It has been told in many different books but has been executed well. It has right circumstances and sequences which highlights family and found family. The illustrations are really good. All in all a one time nice read
My rating 3.5 rounded to 4
July 25, 2024
I picked this one on a whim cause the art style looks wonderful and I was thoroughly impressed.
Such a nuanced, well rounded, coming of age novel! Everything about this made my heart ache in the best way possible. I will be recommending this to every person I know for the foreseeable future 🫶🏽
Such a nuanced, well rounded, coming of age novel! Everything about this made my heart ache in the best way possible. I will be recommending this to every person I know for the foreseeable future 🫶🏽
October 24, 2024
This coming of age graphic novel explores so many themes - estrangement from a parent, being a bi-racial kid, blended families, found families, etc. This YA book does more than skim the surface. I appreciated the diversity on the page and and the nuanced characters. While some plot points get resolved rather too easily, this is a heartwarming story with lovely illustrations.
October 16, 2024
Almudena is going to stay with her father for the summer. A father she doesn't know or understand; literally: he speaks Spanish. Almudena has been raised by her American mother and her father has figured little in her life.
Almudena arrives at a brownstone that is under renovations. Her father is renovating it and now Almudena is helping him. What seems to be a miserable summer of forced labor turns into a journey of learning about her culture thus learning about herself.
I liked the illustrations and the diverse characters.
Almudena arrives at a brownstone that is under renovations. Her father is renovating it and now Almudena is helping him. What seems to be a miserable summer of forced labor turns into a journey of learning about her culture thus learning about herself.
I liked the illustrations and the diverse characters.
March 29, 2025
The illustrations and the story were very beautiful but some things felt like they were added for no reason. There were a few too many characters, but they all made for a great read.
I understood why it's worthy of prizes, and the bilingual aspect was used in such a smart way.
4.5/5
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Las ilustraciones y la historia eran muy bonitas, pero algunas cosas parecían añadidas sin motivo. Había demasiados personajes, pero todos hicieron que la lectura fuera genial.
Entendí por qué merece premios, y el aspecto bilingüe se aprovechó de forma tan inteligente.
4.5/5
I understood why it's worthy of prizes, and the bilingual aspect was used in such a smart way.
4.5/5
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Las ilustraciones y la historia eran muy bonitas, pero algunas cosas parecían añadidas sin motivo. Había demasiados personajes, pero todos hicieron que la lectura fuera genial.
Entendí por qué merece premios, y el aspecto bilingüe se aprovechó de forma tan inteligente.
4.5/5
lost-interest
December 14, 2024This cover was calling my name.
November 18, 2024
♥️♥️♥️ Loved it!
January 31, 2025
The entire premise of this book kind of baffled me and I could not look past it no matter how hard I tried. A mother drops her 14-year-old daughter off for the summer with the father she's never met, who it turns out doesn't speak English? Who she's told her nothing about other than that he's "nice", including the fact that he doesn't speak English? And then once she gets there, everyone including the adults is mean to her because of her identity and other factors she can't control, like the fact that she doesn't know Spanish or a single thing about her father's cultural background because nobody ever told her a thing about it before dropping her amidst a bunch of strangers for the summer? I just....I cannot. I mean, they could have tried to make this premise a little bit more believable, couldn't they? And then I'm sure I would have enjoyed all the heartwarming developments that came after a little more...
June 30, 2024
4.5 stars
This is quite possibly be my favorite graphic novel of 2024. There so much to love: from the gorgeous illustrations, the warm coloring schemes to the characters who are real, messy, and most importantly relatable. I loved the themes of identity, finding your place, exploring what it means to be a family, and of course the bitter reality of gentrification. The symbolism of working on an apartment building worked beautifully.
This is quite possibly be my favorite graphic novel of 2024. There so much to love: from the gorgeous illustrations, the warm coloring schemes to the characters who are real, messy, and most importantly relatable. I loved the themes of identity, finding your place, exploring what it means to be a family, and of course the bitter reality of gentrification. The symbolism of working on an apartment building worked beautifully.
June 19, 2025
If I'd read this last year it would have been on my Best of 2024 list. I’m not a happy crier—nothing against happy crying, it is just not a thing my body has ever done—but I cried happy tears at the end of this graphic novel, which I am chalking up 100% to how much I loved it and 0% to perimenopause.
--from On Reading In March 2025 (Best Of)
--from On Reading In March 2025 (Best Of)
Read
July 2, 2024Loved this Guatemalan graphic novel about an almost 15 yr old reconnecting with her absent father (and heritage) over the course of a summer. It felt like an HGTV renovation show mixed with a telenovela 😅. Bonus points for queer side rep, too. And the artwork? Fantastic 😍.
January 8, 2025
infuriating: awful parenting, cliche-community (yeah, let's renovate and save everyone from increased rent and gentrification, because we don't need money anyway), with a bit of racism, sexism (and a few other -isms) and lots of "it is in your blood" and "roots" and "heritage" ... no gracias
June 12, 2024
Read because I love this artist and it was even better than I expected: super-strong cartooning, beautiful flow to the pages and the plot was great and made me cry.
May 18, 2025
Questionable decisions by some of the characters at some points, but I thought it was really sweet (and did cry at the end). I also really liked the art style and the way this was illustrated.
August 21, 2025
3.5 rounded up. Beautiful artwork and some emotional moments, but a few plot points just didn’t make sense.
June 6, 2025
⭐ 3/5
This was a really cute story! And damn you chapter 10 for making me tear up a little!
This was a really cute story! And damn you chapter 10 for making me tear up a little!
January 6, 2025
I really enjoyed how the well developed cast of characters helped the setting come to life. But fuck allll the adults in this book. Dad who left, mom dropping off daughter at said dad’s house for the summer despite never meeting and not speaking the same language, and dad’s girlfriend is outwardly homophobic
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