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Description
In this extraordinary graphic memoir companion to Newbery Honor winner Mexikid, hilarious family hijinks, immigration patrols, and musical daydreams shape a year of growth and change for a Mexican American boy and his family.
Pedro Martín is sick of strawberries. Since he was seven, he's spent every weekend and summer picking berries with his family under the hot sun. Sometimes it's not so bad--Pedro's an ace at "strawberry wars" with his siblings, and when a good song comes on the radio, the fields can come alive with music. But mostly, Pedro wishes he could just stay home watching Saturday cartoons, head to the beach like other kids, and not worry about immigration patrols. When his older brother gets a job away from the farm, freedom suddenly seems within arm's reach: Pedro just has to prove to his dad that he's ready to follow a different path! Maybe he can be a trombone player, or a cartoonist--if that's even a real job. But as Pedro learns more about his parents' and abuelito's past, and the choices they made in order to open up more choices for him, he starts to understand that freedom isn't just about leaving the fields--it's about knowing where you came from and having the courage to draw your own life.
Publication date
September 01, 2026
Genre
Non-fiction
Page Count
320
ISBN-13
9798217002481
Publisher
Dial Books
Series
Mexikid
Universe
Mexikid
BISAC categories
JNF028000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Humor | General JNF007000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Biography & Autobiography | General JNF033000 - Juvenile Nonfiction | Lifestyles | Farm & Ranch Life
School Library Journal
Starred Review
Gr 5-8--The sequel to the widely honored Mexikid may be even better than the original. In this graphic memoir, Martín recounts his family losing their restaurant to an earthquake and becoming sharecroppers. The back-breaking labor and unforgiving conditions of strawberry fields in California make for long and arduous days for the Martín children and their parents, but when one of his older brothers gets a job elsewhere, Martín realizes that his father will allow him to stop picking fruit if he can find a viable career. When his music teacher suggests he plays the trombone, he sees an opportunity to change job paths and becomes invested in being the best (and loudest) player of all. Meanwhile, his father hires migrant workers who are frequently harassed by border patrol. Realizing that his work is valuable to the entire family, Martín questions his own ambitions and must choose where his time should be spent. With arresting and vibrant art, readers follow the Martín family through trials and tribulations, and yet, despite the hardships, there's always time for humor and levity (and more than one strawberry fight). Each character's arc is rich with humanity, shedding light on stories that children may not always hear. The author includes more information regarding the era and added details about migrant labor and sharecropping conditions. VERDICT Insightful, moving, hilarious--it's simply a masterpiece. Every library should have one or more copies of this must-have.--Carolina Youssif
Copyright 2026 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
Pedro Martín is a former Hallmark artist and the creator of Asteroid Andy. He chronicles his life growing up Mexican American online in a comic series, and in his debut graphic memoir, both called Mexikid.
