Speak Up, Santiago!

Gr 3-7–Santi is spending a month with his abuela during the summer in an effort to improve his Spanish. Abuela Emma, who speaks more Spanish than English, has high expectations for Santi to learn as much as possible in his time with her. Santi has tremendous anxiety about his Spanish and his inability to speak but understands fluently. He is lucky enough to immediately make friends with four local kids who invite him to play in a soccer tournament. When Santi realizes Abuela lives in a Latin American community where everyone speaks Spanish, he loses what little confidence he had in his language skills and turns inward rather than toward family and friends. The story’s outcome is heartwarming and hopeful, opening the door for the next installment in the series. Young readers will recognize and sympathize with Santi’s insecurity and frustrations, and this graphic novel might serve as a mirror for students who feel caught between cultural expectations. Mendez’s artwork is engaging and expressive, especially in the essential flashback panels showing Santi’s treatment by some students back home.