Martín, Pedro. Mexikid Dreams: A Graphic Memoir. Pedro Martín, Illus. Dial, 09/2026. 320pp. Graphic. PLB $24.99. 979-8-2170-0248-1. Paper $14.99. 979-8-2170-0249-8. GRADES 4–8. OUTSTANDING.
The 1971 San Fernando earthquake uproots Pedro’s family, forcing them north to Watsonville and into a sharecropper’s life. Pedro, the seventh of nine kids, chronicles the hard work, hilarity, boredom, and drama of working in the strawberry fields, and the resultant determination of each of the nine to find a way out of manual labor. A ’70s vibe infuses the colorful, clear, comic illustrations. Full-page spreads, alternating with regular and asymmetrically-arranged panels, reference the music, fashion, and advertising of the period. More than a memoir, this deft portrayal of a family from a middle schooler’s perspective manages to be both a page-turning, laugh-out-loud story full of unforgettable characters and an illuminating education into the struggles of the legal and undocumented farmworkers who grow our food. Back matter includes updates on the post-sharecropping lives of the Martin family, a ‘your questions answered’ page, two pages of vintage photos, and an author’s note. Most characters are Mexican American or Mexican, with a mix of other ethnicities. Includes California-specific content. Review based on an ARC.
Melissa McAvoy—Retired