Graphic Novels: Hispanic Heritage

Teen girl in pink dress

These dynamic graphic novels portray a range of diverse stories, from family road trips and quinceañeras to action-packed adventures starring beloved — and new — superheroes!

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Brownstone

Girl near a brownstone

Almudena has always wondered about the dad she never met. Now, with her white mother headed on a once-in-a-lifetime trip without her, she’s left alone with her Guatemalan father for an entire summer. Xavier seems happy to see her, but he expects her to live in (and help fix up) his old, broken-down brownstone. And all along, she must navigate the language barrier of his rapid-fire Spanish — which she doesn’t speak. As Almudena tries to adjust to this new reality, she gets to know the residents of Xavier’s Latin American neighborhood.

Call Me Iggy

Boy looking at girl
Illustrated by: Rafael Rosado
Age Level: Young Adult

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

Crush

Drawing of kids at a picnic table, but only two of them are in color.

Jorge seems to have it all together. He's big enough that nobody really messes with him, but he's also a genuinely sweet guy with a solid, reliable group of friends. The only time he ever really feels off his game is when he crosses paths with a certain girl... But when the group dynamic among the boys starts to shift, will Jorge be able to balance what his friends expect of him versus what he actually wants?

Doña Quixote: Rise of the Knight

Young girl riding a horse with a sidekick
Illustrated by: Monica M. Magaña
Age Level: 6-9, 9-12

Lucia Castillo dreams of being a hero like her grandfather. But to the people in their Texas town, he was just a strange old man who dressed up as a knight and claimed to save the world from monsters only he could see. Now years later, when Lucia and her best friend ― and trusty squire ― Sandro discover the town mayor is secretly a shapeshifting beast of Mexican lore, her parents think she's imagining things like her "Abuelo Loco." Only Lucia, wearing her grandfather’s magical helmet, can see the hidden threat.

Four Eyes: A Graphic Novel

Illustration of boy in glasses
By: Rex Ogle
Illustrated by: Dave Valeza
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade
Language: Spanish

Sixth grade isn't as great as Rex thought it would be. He's the only kid who hasn't had a growth spurt, and the bullies won't let him forget it. His closest friend is unreliable, at best. And there's a cute girl in his class, who may or may not like hiim back. With so much going on, everything is a blur -- including Rex's vision! So when he discovers that he needs glasses, and his family can only afford the ugliestpair in the store, any hope Rex had of fitting in goes completely out of focus.

Frizzy

Young woman in front of city skyline
Illustrated by: Rose Bousamra
Age Level: Middle Grade
Language: Spanish, Spanish vocabulary featured

Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair." But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her.

Frontera

Young man in front of wall
Illustrated by: Jacoby Salcedo
Age Level: Young Adult

As long as he remembers to stay smart and keep his eyes open, Mateo knows that he can survive the trek across the Sonoran Desert that will take him from Mexico to the United States. That is, until he’s caught by the Border Patrol only moments after sneaking across the fence in the dead of night. Escaping their clutches comes at a price and, lost in the desert without a guide or water, Mateo is ill-prepared for the unforgiving heat that is sure to arrive come sunrise. With the odds stacked against him, his one chance at survival may be putting his trust in Guillermo, a ghost.

Lowriders to the Center of the Earth

Drawing of creatures in a car with flames driving through a cave.
Illustrated by: Raúl the Third
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

The lovable trio from the acclaimed Lowriders in Space are back! Lupe Impala, Elirio Malaria, and El Chavo Octopus are living their dream at last. They're the proud owners of their very own garage. But when their beloved cat Genie goes missing, they need to do everything they can to find him. Little do they know the trail will lead them to the realm of Mictlantecuhtli, the Aztec god of the Underworld, who is keeping Genie prisoner!

Mexikid: A Graphic Memoir

Young boy near a Winnebago
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

Pedro Martín has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito — his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn't mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough!

Miles Morales: Shock Waves (Graphic Novel)

Mile Morales running
Illustrated by: Pablo Leon
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade

Miles Morales is a normal kid who happens to juggle school at Brooklyn Visions Academy while swinging through the streets of Brooklyn as Spider-Man. After a disastrous earthquake strikes his mother's birthplace of Puerto Rico, Miles springs into action to help set up a fundraiser for the devastated island. But when a new student's father goes missing, Miles begins to make connections between the disappearance and a giant corporation sponsoring Miles' fundraiser.

Miss Quinces: A Graphic Novel

Teenager in pink dress
Age Level: 9-12, Middle Grade
Language: Spanish

Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and making comics at sleepaway camp with her friends, but instead she gets stuck going to Honduras to visit relatives with her parents and two sisters. They live way out in the country, which means no texting, no cable, and no Internet! The trip takes a turn for the worse when Sue's mother announces that they'll be having a surprise quinceañera for Sue, which is the last thing she wants. She can't imagine wearing a big, floofy, colorful dress! What is Sue going to do?

Tag Team: El Toro & Friends

Tag Team: El Toro & Friends
Age Level: 6-9
Language: Spanish vocabulary featured

Little Lobo introduced readers to his wrestling hero El Toro in Vamos! Let’s Go to the Market! Now El Toro is off on his own adventures in this early reader graphic novel series! After last night’s match, the stadium is a mess! With the collaborative spirit they have in the ring, El Toro and La Oink Oink tackle the cleaning up together.

Tales of the Feathered Serpent #1: Rise of the Halfling King

Tales of the Feathered Serpent
Illustrated by: Charlene Bowles
Age Level: Middle Grade

Sayam has always been different from other kids ― he’s very short for his age, his best friend is a monkey, and most curious of all: he was born from an egg! His grandmother, a witch, found him and taught him all the ancient magic she uses to help her people. So when a giant snake starts terrorizing a nearby city, Sayam decides it’s time for him to use his knowledge to help others, and steps into action. But the beast might not be Sayam’s biggest problem: the ruthless King Kinich Kak Ek sees Sayam as a threat to his throne.