I hope everyone’s day is going well. What are you all upto? I continue to enjoy the cold January weather. This is really the part of the year I enjoy. Hopefully we will be getting some kind of winter weather here tomorrow. (We ended up with a little snow). I’m also back in school, it so far isn’t proving to be too much work but it is an adjustment from when I went to school ten years ago. This is online and it’s harder to set aside time to study, however I think I’ve learned to work with my ADHD since then.
I’m continuing to enjoy my finds from NetGalley and this is one of them. Halfway to Somewhere is a great middle grade tale of fitting in set against the backdrop of the American/Mexican border.
Synopsis
Ave is having to deal with a lot. They are in a new school, which is hard enough by itself but they are also having to deal with a new country and a new language. They came from Mexicali with their mother and brother. Half their family is in Kansas for her mother’s new job at the University of Kansas.
Half her family is back in Mexicali. Her father and sister. Ave is having a hard time dealing with their separation. They are also struggling with their parents’ divorce. Starting middle school with no friends wasn’t in the plan. But as Ave starts to run around her new city, they begin to enjoy their new hobby and start to find kids with a similar background.
This is a touching and beautifully illustrated middle grade graphic novel about identity, family and trying to find a place to call home.
Review
This story of identity and finding your way in the world will be a perfect fit for middle schoolers. It is especially suitable for those coming from Hispanic backgrounds. Ave is a great protagonist, Pimienta allows them to be flawed in a way that makes sense for them.
Ave deals with their anger and hurt at their mother by running. At first, their hobby is a little dangerous. They run around the city while trying to explore. They have trouble at first staying within the confines of the university. Their mother finds out about them running around. She ensures they have an appropriate outlet by joining a school running team.
While exploring the city, they meet kids who become their friends. These friends teach them about what it means to be Latinx or Spanish speaking. They show the diverse ways one can connect with language and culture. Ave worries about losing her mother tongue. Her friends teach her that there are many ways to maintain a connection to both their culture and family.
This is a four star read, it kept me interested the whole time. Though the second act runs a little long. It was beautifully illustrated. I simply didn’t connect with some of Ave’s problems. However, I think it will resonate soundly with the people that it is meant for.
Image by Dominic Alberts from Pixabay
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