Book Info:
Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta & Gabi Mendez (Graphic Novel)
Genre: Middle Grade
Publishing Date: March 4, 2025
Synopsis:
How can you speak up if you don’t have the words?
Santi is excited to spend the summer in Hillside Valley, meeting the local kids, eating his Abuela’s delicious food, exploring! There’s just one problem—Santi doesn’t speak Spanish that well and it feels like everyone he meets in Hillside does. There’s Sol (she’s a soccer player who really loves books), Willie, (the artist), Alejandro (Santi’s unofficial tour guide!), and Nico (Alejandro’s brother and blue belt in karate). In between all of their adventures in Hillside, Santi can’t help but worry about his Spanish-what if he can’t keep up?! Does that mean he’s not Colombian enough? Will Santi find his confidence and his voice? Or will his worries cost him his new friendships…and the chance to play in HIlliside’s summer soccer tournament?!
Book Links:
IndieBound: https://bookshop.org/p/books/speak-up-santiago-a-hillside-valley-graphic-novel-1-julio-anta/21526134
About Julio Anta:
Julio Anta is the writer of many graphic novels including the Eisner Award-nominated Frontera, This Land Is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story, Home and Sí, Se Puede: The Latino Heroes Who Changed the United States.
Julio was born and raised in Miami, Florida and currently resides in New York City.
Forthcoming work includes a slate of graphic novels for HarperAlley, Random House Graphic and First Second.
Julio’s Links:
Website: https://www.julioanta.com/
Twitter: https://x.com/JulioAnta
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julioanta
About Gabi Mendeze
Gabi Mendez is a queer latinx comics artist and illustrator. A graduate of the School of The Art Institute of Chicago, and the Sequential Art Master’s program at SCAD, she is currently working and taking on new and exciting projects! She writes a lot of silly comics, says “dude” too much, and just wants everyone to feel included.
Gabi’s Links:
Website: https://www.gabimendez.com/about-1
Twitter: https://x.com/hobbleshmobble
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hobbleshmobble/
Tour Schedule:
Speak up Santiago was a very solid start to a Graphic Novel Series and in fact it has piqued my interest to carry on with the series which I am excited about. There are two main reasons that I thoroughly enjoyed this book was that the were both written in Spanish and English which was in my view as I don't speak the language was pure and utter genius. And the second reason is the lush artwork it really suited the storyline.
I'm afraid that is all that I am going to say about the book as I do not do spoilers but what I can say is that if you pick up Speak up Santiago you will have a great time and this is why I am giving it 4 stars.
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