Halfway to Somewhere
(A Graphic Novel)
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- $8.99
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- $8.99
Publisher Description
New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent’s divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel.
A BOOKLIST BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR
Ave thought moving to Kansas would be boring and flat after enjoying the mountains and trails in Mexico, but at least they would have their family with them. Unfortunately, while Ave, their mom, and their younger brother are relocating to the US, Ave's father and older sister will be staying in Mexico...permanently. Their parents are getting a divorce.
As if learning a whole new language wasn't hard enough, and now a Middle-Schooler has to figure out a new family dynamic...and what this means for them as they start middle school with no friends.
Jose Pimienta's stunningly illustrated and thought provoking middle graphic novel is about exploring identity, understanding family, making friends with a language barrier, and above all else, learning what truly makes a place a home.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Pimienta (Luminous Beings) explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of compulsory assimilation via Ave, a Mexican youth struggling to adjust after moving from Mexicali to Lawrence, Kans. Ave feels displaced in her new environment, watching her younger brother Ramon effortlessly make friends while her relationship with her mother grows tense. Ave also misses her older nonbinary sibling Cruz, who stayed behind in Mexicali with their father. Despite struggling to learn English, she befriends an intersectionally diverse group of peers, each navigating their own identities. These relationships help Ave reframe her situation, fostering personal growth and reshaping her perspective on family and belonging. Clean, rounded illustrations rendered in soft, muted pastels create a warm, approachable atmosphere that complements the graphic novel's introspective ambiance. Careful paneling alternates between broad scenes that showcase Kansas and Mexicali landscapes and intimate close-ups of characters' expressions, which heighten emotional resonance and adds rhythmic pacing to the narrative. Quiet moments blend with richer conversations about identity, cultural authenticity, and family dynamics in this thoughtful portrayal of transition and adolescence that balances lightheartedness with more serious undertones. Ages 8–12.
