Halfway to Somewhere

by José Pimienta

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.

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.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, LGBT, Fiction, Comics, Realistic Fiction, Childrens

256 pages, Paperback

First published February 18, 2025

About the author

Jo Pi's almost full name is Jose Pimienta. They reside in Burbank, California where they draw comics, storyboards and sketches for visual development. They have worked with Random House Graphic, Iron Circus Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Disney Digital Network, and more.

During their upbringing in the city of Mexicali, Mexico Jo was heavily influenced by animation, music and short stories. After high school, they ventured towards the state of Georgia where they studied at Savannah College of Art and Design.

Reviews

[Bookishrealm · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars Halfway to Somewhere is my second graphic novel by Jose Pimienta. While it wasn't my favorite by them, I still appreciated the exploration of various themes including family, community, identity, etc. Main character, Ave is not only experiencing the separation of their parents, but also the shock of leaving Mexico to move to Kansas so that their mom can explore a new job opportunity. Though it's a frustrating and complicated experience for Ave, they have both familial and community support in their corner. Overall, this was a solid read; however, the ending was a little rushed and could have used some further development.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars...I liked this. I think it's a good coming of age story that a lot of people could connect with...but I personally didn't feel very connected with it. I enjoyed it but I don't think it will be memorable for me and it's not something I see myself reading again.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, a solid graphic novel. It sorta seemed to rush in the last 20 pages and felt incomplete because of that. Rest was great.

[Jesse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this story of a kiddo stuck between two worlds in all sorts of ways (geographically, linguistically, between family members, etc.). I only wish there’d been more resolution with their younger brother, that storyline ended on a sour note, and the entire story ended rather abruptly for my taste. However, I can still appreciate the growth Ave experienced throughout the book.

[Theo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ave, a nonbinary middle schooler, moves with their family to the United States after growing up in Mexicali, Mexico. Ave struggles to assimilate, unlike their younger brother who chooses a more English-sounding nickname and prefers speaking in English. Ave is also struggling because their family is separated. Their father and older sister have stayed behind in Mexicali. As Ave struggles, they find a supportive group of friends. It's a moving reflection of culture, identity, and change.

The artwork is gentle and welcoming even when showcasing the vast desert landscape of Mexicali or the imposing architecture on the University of Kansas campus. Ave's gender is explored through clothing, hair, and makeup choices that showcase the character's fluid identity. While US-Mexican border relations are touched on, the story keeps a generally lighthearted tone.

Thank you Random House Children's for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[D.T. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the cultural exploration here and something I don't often see in children's novels about drastic moves/big changes: Ave's mom gives them the choice to go back to Mexicali if that works better for them. It's open-ended what the decision will be. Maybe they stay in Kansas longer or eventually go back

3.5

[Mehsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from TBR and Beyond Tours / the publisher in exchange of an honest review.

😍 The illustrations! I love the style. More realistic, especially in the backgrounds.
😍 Seeing Ave go from grumpy and moody and uncertain to opening up. It was slow. It didn’t go BOOM. At times I was a bit frustrated with her, but I could also understand her frustrations. But we the reader saw the progress. We see her discovering this new place. We see her frustrations and see her struggle and try to get better. I loved when she started to use more and more English, get a bit more confident, and with the help of friends (and a dictionary later on) get even better. It made me smile to see her make friends and get closer to them. Find something that they all can do and enjoy. I was rooting for Ave to feel more happy and comfortable.
😍 While I wasn’t plucked away from a country I grew up in, I could definitely understand that Ave wasn’t happy. And that she was worried she would lose herself if she was going to be enjoying moments here. Or learning English as she wants to keep speaking Spanish/understanding Spanish, she could already see her brother was mostly going for English these days and she was worried. I was happy that eventually she could talk to her mom about it and that they really had a heart to heart about things.
😍 I loved that Ave was non-binary!
😍 It was so fun to see Cruz and Ave bond throughout the story. Especially since Ave feels a bit underappreciated by her mom and feels confused by everything that is going on at the moment. OK, at one point she had an argument (and I could relate what Ave did there) but they talked it out and I was so happy for them both.
😍 I loved that we got to see some past stuff along with how it is going with Cruz (the big sister) and the dad in Mexico.
😍 It also touches on other real issues. The wall. The border patrol. The problem moving. How Cruz and dad cannot move as they only have a Mexican passport, whereas Ray and Ave were born in the US and so can go there freely.
😍 Ray, the little brother, was a fun character. I loved how quickly he got used to everything. From finding a friend on the first day to learning more and more English rapidly, not even minding it was a bit jumbled, as he stated it was growing which I loved. To eating all the snacks he could find. And plus, also speaking up against how Cruz was talking. As if it was a bad thing that he was getting used to his new surroundings so easily.
😍 I loved that the text bubbles were different. Or I should say, the colours in them. Blue is when things are spoken in English. Black is Spanish. Especially with the brother it made the text even more interesting. The brother was weaving English in Spanish and vice versa.
😍 Loved the extra bit by the author at the end. With the inspiration for the story’s setting, some photographs and there illustrated counterparts.

🤔 Ave judging people because they don’t speak Spanish or don’t want to speak Spanish and wondering if they are really Mexican then. Um, girl. What? I am glad that she stopped doing that eventually.
🤔 I wasn’t sure how I felt about the mom. I get that she was angry for her kid to be just away for hours and not letting her know where to go. But to state that it is dangerous to go out alone? Um, your kid is 12? Almost 13 I would guess. Maybe this is a Mexican/American thing, but I was just allowed to be out and about. And I didn’t even have a phone. As long as I said where I was going on whereabouts I was it was fine. I spend entire afternoons with friends or alone roaming. There was a big playground thing around 20+ minute walk from home and I often visited in the summer.
🤔 I get we see things through Ave’s eyes so we are a bit biased, but I didn’t like how the mom wasn’t entirely honest about dad/sister and if they were coming along PLUS how she kept giving preferential treatment to the brother.

But despite those things, I did have a lot of fun reading this one, it was a great story with good characters. I liked seeing Ave grow. I would recommend this one!

Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com/

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this graphic novel Ave, a non-binary middle-schooler moves from Mexicali to Lawrence, Kansas when their mom has a new teaching opportunity at KU and wants to separate from Ave's dad. The book explores their experiences, some contrasting with a younger brother who wants to go by Ray now and with an older sister who stayed behind in Mexico and waited for Ave to figure out that their parents were splitting for good. Ave is slow to warm up to new kids but is then accepted fairly quickly into a solid friend group, kids who have things in common and who run track in a relay team together.

I thought this book contained some good representation. It begins with a family hike through the desert on vacation. There's a nod to Chinese immigrants who influence Mexicali cuisine. There's a lot of self-consciousness about what it means to be speaking 'broken' English (reframed as growth) and what it means that peers with Spanish-speaking heritage don't speak Spanish well. There's some awareness of class - many of the adults who greet Ave in Spanish and are helpful to her when navigating her new town are workers - in the cafeteria, a gardener, a custodian. There's a fairly mildly-delivered depiction of how the border wall impacts the community, bisecting it, driving border crossers toward more dangerous territory, dividing people who have always known that the division is an artificial one. I liked the desert drawings a lot and appreciated a nod to Ave and their sister's awareness of sexism and gender roles in the family and their little brother's awareness of their dad's toxic masculinity. All of this is worked into dialogue that still blends pretty well into the overarching story. The least subtle exposition is about assimilation and the ending is kind of abrupt, but I think this book is thoughtfully crafted in a lot of ways and worth including in home collections or at school libraries.

TESOL comment: The author makes an interesting choice not to translate a handful of phrases in a glossary. I suppose with nearly everyone reading with a cellphone at hand most readers can look them up like I did. Notably 'carrilla sana' can describe good-natured teasing in Spanish, but is identified as 'bullying' by an American kid in the group. The book is set in a linguistically-interesting place and you will need to learn about a dozen non-English phrases to teach it. There's also an opportunity to learn more about some architecture featured in the book.

cw: family separation and secrecy about it, bi-national family with children born on different sides of the US-Mexico border within the same family, non-binary characters (just being children, no crushes or exploration of sexuality, but interesting self-expression in styles of hair and dress), one frustrated outburst by MC resulting in smashing a tablet, but mostly a model of a well-adjusted family that's doing the best it can with change, some strong hinting at American racism (for example the advice that if you're going to fly a Mexican flag, don't fly only a Mexican flag and immigrants' concern about how they're perceive them when they speak differently-accented English)

[mad mags · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Full disclosure: I received a free e-ARC for review through NetGalley.)

-- 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 where necessary --

When their mom gets a job teaching linguistics at KU, twelve-year-old Ave and their younger brother, Ramón, relocate to Lawrence, Kansas with her. But, since they were the only ones born in the United States, they're forced to leave their father and older sister Cruz behind in Mexicali. (Or at least that's the story: at a low point, Ave discovers that this was a bit of a pretext, and that their parents' "trial" separation is, in point of fact, a permanent one.)

Whereas Ramón/Ray adapts rather quickly, making a new friend before the moving truck is even unloaded and embracing his American identity with gusto, Ave struggles. Ave's "broken" English is isolating, and they are afraid that any assimilation will close the door on their Mexican-ness - and father and sister - perhaps forever. The only thing that seems to help are long walks around the KU campus - and the streets beyond - putting them in constant conflict with their mother (parents gonna worry).

Once school begins, things begin to turn around for Ave, as they're welcome into a friend group that includes Mexican-American Rene; Latinx Mara; and fellow nonbinary teen (and comic book lover) Dani. Better yet, they're all on a relay team together. With their help, Ave carves out a place for themself in the Midwestern US.

HALFWAY TO SOMEWHERE is a bittersweet exploration of language, identity, and family. Ave frequently falls back on memories of a hike the family took the spring before the move - when everyone was last together, and happy, or at least as far as Ave knew - and these scenes are juxtaposed with Ave's current discontent, to great effect. You really feel for Ave, being transplanted to a completely new environment, with no say in the matter (until later, that is, and to Dr. Colunga's credit). I like how they found their footing, literally through their feet - by walking the town, seemingly for hours on end.

Ave's posse is a delight as well, and their conversations about identity and language - what makes a person "Mexican enough" - are thoughtful and engaging. The artwork is great and, having lived in the Kansas/Missouri area for a while, I was a bit chuffed by the setting.

But. There's something that's niggling at me, and I think it's this: there are a few pretty big questionable parenting decisions, which aren't always explored or resolved satisfactorily. For example, Cruz laments the sexist distribution of chores, as well as gender roles in general. In her mom's absence, Cruz has basically become "the wife" of the house; and, whereas Ave is expected to do housework, Ramón frequently worms his way out of it. But this thread never really goes anywhere. I guess Rodolfo does eventually let Cruz drive (yet only with the entire family in tow), but Ave seems to embrace domesticity by story's end. Or maybe I'm just reading too much into them making dinner for the family? idk, that scene just kind of gave me the ick.

Plus I'm not very big on the whole "keeping secrets from your kids in order to trick them to moving to a whole new country with you" thing.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ave, whose is twelve and nonbinary, and nine-year-old brother Ramón have moved from Mexicali, Mexico to Lawrence, Kansas so that their mother can take a job at Kansas University in the language department. Because of immigration issues, their father and older sister, Cruz, stay behind in Mexico. Ave's English isn't as smooth as they would like, but they are leery of talking to too many people. While Ramón immediately makes friends with Tom across the street, Ave doesn't even want to talk to the son of one of the mother's colleagues because he is Latine but doesn't speak Spanish, which is hard to udnerstand. Instead, Ave likes to walk around the town, go to comics stores, and gets to know the neighborhood, although the mother doesn't much care for this wandering. When school starts, Ave makes some friends who are from various Latine backgrounds, which gives Ave an intersesting perspective on the array of experiences Latin people in the US have. While Ave talks to Cruz frequently, Ave doesn't quite understand that the father will not be coming to the US, nor will Cruz, in part because the parents are separating. Ave spends a lot of time reminiscing about a family hike to Casa de Piedra, and would like to return home and have the family be intact, but by the end of the book realizes that this will not happen.
Strengths: Ave finds connection with friends at school when the other kids realize that they all love running, and it was interesting to see Ave take comfort in this when life was difficult. The discussions about the different backgrounds was interesting, and I'd never really though about how second generation Mexican-American students might feel about kids who are new arrivals. Many children have to deal with parents who are divorcing, but when these parents are left behind in other countries, it becomes an even greater loss. I was glad that Ave was able to video chat with Cruz. This was a thought provoking graphic novel about identity.
Weaknesses: This moved somewhat slowly because of the introspective nature of the plotline.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to explore a range of Latine experiences and enjoyed books like Fajardo's Miss Quinces, Martin's Mexikid, or Mercado's Chunky, and also had a similar vibe to Cohen's Two Tribes.

[Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨ Review ✨ Halfway to Somewhere by José Pimienta

Thanks to Random House Graphic, TBR and Beyond, and #netgalley for the gifted advanced copy/ies of this book!

This middle-grades graphic novel is narrated from the perspective of Ave, a non-binary preteen who moves with their mom and little brother to Lawrence, Kansas for their mom’s new job. The book focuses on Ave's crisis of belonging -- are they Mexican or American? Can they be both? What are the dangers of assimilating? Ave struggles even more because of their broken English and difficulty making friends.

Eventually Ave finds a sense of belonging through walking, through a series of diverse friends (Latinx, Mexican American, nonbinary) and starts to find the shades of grey in their own identity. This coming-of-age story that spans Mexico and the US, and provides incredible landscape views of La Casa de Piedra and La Rumorosa, sites in Mexicali. This is really smart in how it tackles issues of identity and language across these different places.

In this book, Ave struggles with their family changing during this time as well, and I think this was one of my struggles with the book is that there's a lack of transparency in the ways their family is separating. While some of this mimics Ave's own struggle to understand these family dynamics, I found this sort of hard to grapple with myself, or later in the book, frustrating as I wanted them to find some kind of familial fulfillment.

Minor spoiler:
...
The book starts with landscape views of the Mexican desert and without knowing anything about the book, I thought this would become a tale of immigration through the desert. Soon after you learn that the family is just hiking through La Rumorosa, and the ways that I found this jarring shaped my experience with the book and my assumptions with where I thought it was going.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: middle grades graphic novel
Setting: Mexicali / Lawrence, Kansas
Pub Date:

Top 5 Reasons to Read:
1. stellar landscape views depicted
2. reflections on language / identity / belonging
3. middle grades coming-of-age story
4. non-binary middle school characters
5. sense of hope through finding belonging with friends and family

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

Hello Again!

This week I have been really flying through reads. Some have been amazing (definite five stars) and others have been just okay but so far no DNFs (which is a win). I decided to try to read a handful of graphic novels and manga and I started with some E-ARCs I had waiting for me on Netgalley (thank you so much to the publisher for the E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions). The first E-ARC I picked up was Halfway to Somewhere, so let’s dive in!

SPOILERS AHEAD

Ave does not want to move but does not really get a say in it. Ave’s mother is moving Ave and a sibling to Kansas for a new job while Ave’s dad and older sister will be staying behind. Ave believes this is temporary and that Ave’s sister and dad will join them all soon, but as time goes on it becomes clear that this is definitely not happening. Now Ave has to start school and everyone else speaks English very well but Ave is really struggling with the language barrier and being in Kansas in general. But maybe Ave can find a path to enjoying life in Kansas and still getting to see the rest of the family?

This was a great graphic novel. The visuals in all the panels look great and you can tell how Ave is feeling through each of the illustrations. Ave is experiencing a lot of new things in Kansas and in life in general. The story dealt with all of these big changes in what felt like a very real way. I enjoyed this story and meeting Ave as well as the entire family. This graphic novel comes out on February 18th, 2025, I definitely recommend giving it a try.

Goodreads Rating: 5 Stars

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

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ave, a non-binary teen, has recently moved to the United States from Mexicali, the only home they have ever known. They struggle to adapt to their new life while dealing with their parents' separation and their mother's new job. Unlike Ave, their brother Ramón easily acclimates to their new country, making friends and finding ways to fit in while their older sister, Cruz, is in Mexicali with their father. Jose masterfully portrays Ave's palpable angst at being uprooted without having any say in the decision, as he creates a character that children of separated parents will surely relate to. Ave's frustration as a newcomer in a strange land is clearly conveyed, highlighting the challenges of navigating unfamiliar territory while learning English. Vibrant, skillfully crafted illustrations enhance the narrative and effectively move the story forward. The book explores themes of coming of age and overcoming family hardship in ways that will resonate deeply with readers transitioning from a different country. Teenagers will find strong connections with Ave's experiences, family dynamics, and complex relationship with their parents as they navigate the emotional landscape of separation. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Twelve-year-old Ave Rendon Chavez, who is nonbinary, is determined to dislike Lawrence, Kansas, where their mother and nine-year-old brother Ramón have moved so their mother can work at the university. Behind in Mexicali, Mexico are their father and older sister, Cruz. The language and culture is so very different, and Ave feels completely lost and homesick. Things get even worse once Ave learns the truth about their parents' future plans. While exploring the city and running from one place to another, Ave finds some peace of mind, and they eventually are embraced by a new friend group who love running as well. The differences between Ave and Ramon and how they deal with this unfamiliar world are striking, and even though it's clear that Ave could make more of an effort, it's also true that fears about losing one's culture and leaving others behind are quite real. Topics of identity, cultural assimilation, and displacement as well as what makes a place a home are explored powerfully in this graphic novel. There are some places where transition or some sort of marker indicating a flashback would have been helpful since some of the shifts back and forth in time between past and present are jarring and disorienting.

[Lauren Perez Esper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halfway To Somewhere is a middle grade graphic novel about a young nonbinary teen who has moved from their home in Mexicali to Kansas. The story is an important look at assimilation, language, identity, and claiming and understanding one’s heritage, in this case their Mexican identity.

This last point was specifically important to me as someone who has faced scrutiny about claiming my own Mexican heritage/identity. The book does a good job of showing how it doesn’t matter if you don’t speak the language, or live in that country anymore. It is your heritage and your right to own it, but also it’s ok to embrace a new place and to find a balance between the two.

This is an important novel for young kids to learn more about acceptance and finding ways to cope with big feelings. In this instance, main character Ave finds comfort and healing through long walks.

I think this is a brilliant novel and I think the graphic novel style will appeal to young readers and the message is one that will help many in similar situations. Pick this one up today!!

[Anne Shirley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Halfway to Somewhere touches on some really important themes—identity, family separation, cultural displacement—and I appreciated how gently the author approached them. Ave's experience of moving from Mexicali to Kansas, trying to stay connected to their roots while navigating a new environment, felt honest and relatable. I especially liked the quiet emotional moments and how the art style reflected the tone of the story—soft, subtle, and reflective.

That said, the pacing felt a little uneven. While I understood that the story was meant to be introspective, there were stretches where not much seemed to happen, and I found myself wishing for a bit more narrative drive. I also would have loved a deeper dive into Ave’s friendships or school life, just to round out their world a bit more.

Overall, this is a meaningful read and definitely has its heart in the right place. It just didn’t fully click for me, but I can see it resonating with readers who appreciate a quieter, character-driven story.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ave's parents have split up, but no one told her. Ave, their brother Ramon, and their mother, have moved to Kansas University so their mom can work in the linguistics department. Ave's father and her older sister Cruz have stayed in Mexicali. This is possible since Ave and Ramon were born in the United States, as was their mother. Ave's father and Cruz were born in Mexico. Besides not speaking English well, Ave is struggling with being separated from family and trying to figure out their place in the family as a nonbinary person. Because of border troubles and an impending divorce, it will be hard for their family to be entirely together. Cruz wants Ave to be only Mexican and it seems that Ramon wants Ave to be only American. As Ave makes friends in Kansas, they learn that it is okay to have multiple facets to one's identity--that being complicated doesn't detract, but adds, to one's perspective. The question is, will Ave always be halfway to somewhere, or can they be fully in one place?

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving to a new country is always challenging, and relocating with only part of your family makes it even more difficult. Ave struggles with the language barrier, feelings of missing Mexicali, and the idea that fitting in might mean losing their roots. Fortunately, they meet friends at school, some of whom share their Latino heritage.

I appreciate how these friends discuss what it means to be “Mexican enough,” as Ave sometimes judges some of their friends for not speaking Spanish despite their Latino background. I believe many young readers, especially those from immigrant backgrounds, will find this theme insightful and relatable as they may grapple with similar dilemmas.

The graphic art is one of the book's standout elements. Pimienta uses bright, bold colors and detailed illustrations that bring the setting and characters to life. The artwork is rich with emotion and atmosphere, conveying the nuances of Ave’s journey without needing extensive dialogue. A clever design choice is using blue text bubbles for English and black for Spanish, which subtly emphasizes the cultural divide Ave experiences while adapting to their new life.

Other Highlights: Nonbinary, walking/running as a means to cope with mental health, struggles with parent separation

[Noelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ave is a Mexican kid who moved to Kansas following their parent’s separation. In short, they hate it in the states. They don’t have any friends, almost no one speaks Spanish, and they miss their dad and older sister. But over time they discover good things about this new life while holding onto their Mexican heritage.

I loved this graphic novel -- the bright colors, the intelligent themes, the loveable characters. José Pimienta, you have a new fan! I’ll definitely be reading your previous works now.

The author’s note talks about the importance of names and how much thought was put into naming these characters, especially Ave. They were on point with the name because I did struggle pronouncing it in my head; I needed that phonetic spelling from the younger brother.

I was gifted a copy for review, all thoughts are entirely my own. Thank you Random House Graphics and TBR Beyond Tours for the opportunity.

[Jeni Enjaian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, the Comix kid subscription has picked a strong entry. In this book, a non-binary Mexican American tween has to move with their brother and mother - but not their sister or father - to Kansas for the mom's new position teaching at a university in Kansas. The split move comes for a couple reasons. One, the mom has a work visa (I believe) while the younger two kids, due to their US birth have US citizenship; the father and older sister do not. Two, the parents' marriage has become irreparably strained, in large part due to their father's unwillingness to support their mom's career. The main character learns much of this throughout the novel as they also deal with looking more Mexican than their lighter-skinned brother and with struggling more with learning English than he does. I appreciated the honest and vulnerable way that the author told the story and am glad that I could go ahead and put it on my shelves. I know that many of my students will resonate with this story.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great middle grade graphic novel about a nonbinary kid, Ave, moving to Kansas from Mexicali, México with their mom, who recently got a job as a professor of linguistics, and younger brother, while their dad and older sister stay in Mexicali. Ave doesn't want to make the move, and they're frustrated by the lack of Spanish speakers. Their brother immediately makes friends, but Ave doesn't want to settle down. However, some kids at school are friendly, and eventually, Ave begins a friendship with them.

The illustrations are realistic and lovely; I especially enjoyed the Mexican desert sections, where Ave remembers hiking as a family. There's lots of complex themes: Gender expectations, language and assimilation, divorce, etc. I wanted more, to keep going with these themes, but I also realize this is a good length for middle grade readers. I'll have to check out more by the author!

[Julesy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ave (they/their pronoun) Rendón moves from Mexicali with their mother and younger brother Ramón to Lawrence, Kansas, home of the University of Kansas Jay Hawks, where mom Joss has a new job as a linguist. It’s hard enough that Ave’s parents are separated with an imminent divorce, but their older sister Cruz, whom they are very close with, is living with the father back in Mexicali. Ave is having a difficult time adjusting, not just with the drastic relocation and being biracial but also with their gender identity. Attending middle school is hard enough without adding the broken English as an obstacle and they don’t make friends as easily as Ramón. Ave recalls with great fondness the times the family would go hiking at La Rumorosa and constantly dreams of the times when the family will hopefully be reunited.

Pimienta is well known for his stories of Mexican immigrants coming to America for the opportunity for a good life. In today’s toxic American environment, he presents a picture from a side that we unlikely have considered. Having read another book by Pimienta, he continues to write a stunning story with beautiful illustrations and color.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a review copy.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book does an excellent job with the nuances of family and relationships. I love that Ave is a nonbinary kid and so is one of their friends, and it's not a big deal at all. I love that the book includes criticism of traditional gender roles, and that it seems like the family dynamic changes as the characters grow. Some things are really hard -- that their parents didn't tell the kids that this was a permanent separation, that Ave is a little bit cruel to their new friend Rene when they can't understand why he doesn't speak Spanish, that Ray is a brat who gets out of most chores. But then again, he seems to have some of the worst experiences within the family. It's interesting. I liked how Ave's explorations lead to track. I love how their memory of hiking in Mexicali is so central to them and brings them comfort. There are so many interesting ideas and conversations in this book.

[Meggie Ramm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ave has to move from Mexico to Kansas with their mom and brother, while their dad and sister stay behind. Ave worries about speaking English and a new school, until even worse, they learn that their parents are getting divorced! 

This is another displacement narrative, this time starring a nonbinary character. I spent a lot of this book wanting Ave's mom to give them a dang break (why does Ave have to do chores and start dinner while their brother gets to play?) but I think the author was trying to make a point about gender roles in Mexican families. I wish there was some more time spent on Ave's interests instead of just actions that happened to them (they do visit a comic shop, but what YA graphic novel character doesn't?). Another interesting addition to Jose Pimienta's already powerful library.

[Wina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Contemporary graphic novel for ages 8-12, I liked the style and transitions from memories to today. The theme of hiking and running, with lots of landscapes and wide views was nice and contributed to the feel of reading the story. I think I would have given it a 4 if I enjoyed story more. It wasn't going well for the main character, Ave, and the parents separating made it have a down feeling. Ave finds a good group of friends, and things are looking up. Ave is non-binary, and for most of the book it is taken in stride, but it does come up a couple of times. The most interesting part was their younger brother's perspective on gender stereotype pressure from their dad. Ave's unhappiness weighed on me, so that's why I didn't enjoy it as much. I suppose it's supposed to weigh on you! The quality was the reason for 4 stars. Good author's notes at the end.

[Therearenobadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ave's struggles are understandable and related. I recognized in these pages many of my students who struggled with the language barrier, making learning and making friends a terrifying experience. Ave also deals with the separation of her family, which aggravates the cultural shock. I am glad the novel slowly builds to fight her depression with not only outdoor activities and exercise but also Ave's willingness to help herself, leaving rage aside and trying to return to the friendliness of those who also relate to her struggles.
The artwork is well done, and the silent pages and labels express very well the emotions better than words. A great volume in what the author calls the Mexicali trilogy.

[Carli · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this story of language, culture, and family. Ave’s family is divided in two when their mom takes a job at KU, moving Ave and their younger brother Ramon over the border from Mexicali to the U.S. Their father and older sister Cruz, both Mexican-born, both stay behind. At first, Ave believes this is why their family is split; later, they learn from Cruz that their parents are actually separated and not planning to get back together. Add to that learning a new culture and language, and seventh grade is a challenge. But if Ave can let some friends in, they might just be able to find home and a new equilibrium. Highly recommend for grades 5-8. #mglit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian #graphicnovel

[Becky · Rating 3 out of 5]

This middle grade graphic novel came onto my radar at Portland Book Fest. Centering around a family divided by the border, this book highlights challenges for Mexican Americans, immigrants and those with family south of the wall. The nonbinary main character Ave primarily speaks Spanish and struggles to fit into their new Kansas home after moving from MexiCali. The art is colored in pleasant pastels and the illustrations are decent. I appreciated this book and its themes of identity, assimilation and acceptance. This book was solid but I wanted a bit more plot and side character development (maybe less of Ave losing track of time, running and sweating?). 3.5 stars.

[Susan Dunn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ave and their mom and little brother have just moved from Mexicali to Kansas for their mom's new job. Ave isn't at all happy about this. They had to leave their beloved older sister and father behind b/c they're not American citizens. And Ave's English isn't great, so they aren't comfortable talking to kids her age in her new city. Ave has been impatiently waiting for the family to be together again, but when they find out that isn't happening and that their parents are divorcing, they're thrown for a loop. Will Ave be able to adjust to not only a new country and a new school, but a new family dynamic as well?

[Kait W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it was very clear this story was incredibly personal to the author and it did a great job of representing a bunch of different people interacting with varying perspectives, reactions, histories, etc, and how those aspects influence their decisions without making firm judgment calls about any. I loved the highlighting of nonbinary identities and how other identities intersect. There was a great focus on family and friendship dynamics.