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BROWNSTONE

Mar Julia Samuel Teer

An exciting teen coming-of-age epic from author Samuel Teer and debut graphic novel artist Mar Julia, Brownstone is a vivid, sweeping, ultimately hopeful story about navigating your heritage even when you feel like you don't quite fit in.
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 Spanishwhich 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. Each member of the community has their own joys and heartbreaks as well as their own strong opinions on how this young Latina should talk, dress, and behave. Some can't understand why she doesn't know where she comes from. Others think she's "not brown enough" to fit in. But time is running out for Almudena and Xavier to get to know each other, and the key to their connection may ultimately lie in bringing all these different elements together. Fixing a broken building is one thing, but turning these stubborn individuals into a found family might take more than this one summer. Samuel Teer is a Latinx author of the graphic novel Veda: Assembly Required (Dark Horse, 2015), and lives in Colorado with his wife. Mar Julia is a cartoonist and illustrator who has done work for BOOM! Studios, Archaia, Latinographix, Power & Magic Press and Beyond Press. They live in Rhode Island.
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Published by Versify/HMH

Comments

Richly illustrated and full of heart, BROWNSTONE will endear itself to young readers while engaging them in important topics such as gentrification, cultural heritage, and the importance of community. BROWNSTONE is full of the warmth and follies of humanity. It welcomes readers of all backgrounds and experiences, demonstrating how we can overcome our differences to create a better world together. This story challenges and empowers its readers to dream of possibility in our own communities. BROWNSTONE is a must-have in every home, library, and classroom. I can't wait to give this book to my own students.

BROWNSTONE's superb storytelling, charming characters, and dynamic illustrations work together to form a beautiful and heartfelt coming-of-age tale that lovingly captures both the difficulties and joys of growing up mixed-race.

This coming-of-age tale chimes with discreet moments of humor and lots of heart, all centered around questions of heritage, identity, compassion, and acceptance and exemplified by the scrappy, vivid artwork, which wonderfully captures Almudena's inner turmoil.

Read An Excerpt From 'Brownstone' by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia Read more...

BROWNSTONE will pry, patch, and repaint your heartstrings. This is a gorgeous story about a father and daughter crossing culture and language for each other. BROWNSTONE is a vibrant comic about renovating a home, a family, and a heart.

Book Review of Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia Read more...

The neat, descriptive illustrations are full of bright and vivid colors.The story brings to life the experiences and people of an urban Latinx neighborhood.

Embracing Diversity: Bodegas, Brownstones, and the Rich Tapestry of Our Latinidades Read more...

A superb coming-of-age graphic novel that delves deep into contemporary complex topics, such as family, friendship, race, ethnicity, identity, and more.BROWNSTONE gives a sense of what family means and that it goes beyond just sharing the same blood.A great YA graphic novel for teens who are trying to figure out who they are or anyone who has ever felt like they were on the outside.

The characters felt real and complex, and even though the things they want don't always align neatly, they find ways to fit together and learn from each other. BROWNSTONE is a super sweet story about muddling along, making an effort, pushing through the awkwardness, and letting things be messy and uncomfortable until they're not anymore.

French rights have sold to Editions Delcourt

Angsty. Awkward. With a scrappy heart of gold, BROWNSTONE is a must read for anyone who's ever felt totally out of place. It's an ode to all the kids who wish they could speak their family's language. In BROWNSTONE, Almudena gives us all the fire & tenderness of a teen just wanting to be loved by her dad while also trying to figure out what it means to have roots in two different cultures. I gave this book to my mom to read immediately after I was done with it. That's the type of book this is. BROWNSTONE is the promise that we all belong somewhere, especially with those who love us.

Almost-15-year-old Almudena meets her father for the first time in this affecting 1995-set graphic novel exploration of identity and family. This energetic and emotionally grounded story hits the mark, culminating in a satisfyingly transformative tale.