★ 05/01/2022
Gr 4–8—In her graphic novel debut, Fajardo adeptly captures the angst of young people who are caught between two cultures---too Latinx to be accepted as American and too American to be accepted as Latinx. All tween Suyapa "Sue" Gutierrez wants to do this summer is hang out with her cool friends at summer camp and work on her comics. Instead, she has to head to Honduras to visit family where her mother surprises her with plans to have a quinceañera party. The last thing Sue wants to do is wear a big poofy dress, dance the waltz in high heels, and celebrate a very traditional and girly event where she is the center of attention. Fajardo explores themes of sisterhood, bilingualism, and intergenerational conflicts and resolutions in this delightful and often touching volume. The protagonist is sweet but prickly, a winning combination in this inviting work done in candy-colored and cheerful digital art. The variation in panel sizes enhances the even pacing, and the expressive faces and body movements ramp up the book's humor. Blue font indicates when characters are speaking in Spanish, while black font indicates English. Sue and her family often switch between the two, but over the course of the summer, their speech bubbles feature more blue text, though she remains more proficient in English. Sue's school friends are a variety of races as are her family members—refreshingly showing the diversity within the Honduran community. VERDICT With all of the charm of Raina Telgemeier and Lucy Knisley's works, this title will be enjoyed by voracious fans of coming-of-age graphic novels. But the specificity of having to stride two cultures and feeling like an outcast in both will especially resonate with readers from bicultural communities.—Shelley M. Diaz
Praise for Miss Quinces:
National Indie Bestseller
American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Children
NPR Books We Love Selection
The Horn Book Best Book of the Year
The Horn Book Summer Reading Recommendation
Publishers Weekly Best Summer Read
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Books Selection
★ "With all of the charm of Raina Telgemeier and Lucy Knisley’s works, this title will be enjoyed by voracious fans of coming-of-age graphic novels. But the specificity of having to stride two cultures and feeling like an outcast in both will especially resonate with readers from bicultural communities." — School Library Journal, starred review
★ “Fajardo’s deft graphic-novel paneling, expressive use of line, and color palette of cool blues and pinks convey the complexity and full range of Sue’s feelings in important moments and more mundane ones.” — The Horn Book, starred review
"Fajardo’s colorful artwork is lively, full of emotion, and done in a style that will appeal to fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jen Wang." — Booklist
"Vibrant artwork gives readers a sense of culture that leaps off the page. Bold lush colors and a poignant wrap-up will make the perfect read for fans of Raina Telgemeier, Jennifer Holm, and Victoria Jamieson." — School Library Journal, Good Comics for Kids Blog
"Fajardo's sympathetic look at a girl learning that she can be herself and still cherish family tradition celebrates the beauty of Honduras with vivid, summery art." — Publishers Weekly
"Breezy paneling and cartoony art bring humor and warmth." — The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"Touching and warm-hearted, this graphic novel shows the joy in embracing family traditions while still being true to yourself." — Entertainment Weekly
"A colorful, funny tale of growing up, finding out what’s important, and figuring out how to be yourself." — NPR
Praise for Srta. Quinces:
American Library Association Pura Belpré Youth Illustration Honor Book
Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection
