Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Marina Julia was not what I expected. In many ways it was better, but also maybe not as strong as I had hoped. It was an interesting mixture of thoughts, feelings, actions and events. So much is going on, but nothing is ever really “perfectly” solved. Which is the point. There might not be a Happily Ever After, but you can get a Happy (Most of the Time) Together.
The artwork is simple, but full at the same time. The colors are slightly muted, but not lacking. It supports the text. Maybe this is not for everyone, but probably everyone should read it. It has a more modern take on things than I like in a book (the parents are flighty; our teen characters have modern attitudes), but that allows an aged 10 and up reader to have relatable text.
The theme is simple enough: a young girl does not grow up with her father, because he abandoned them before she was born. He was a Guatemalan immigrant, trying to make his way in the US, literally falls for a sweet (white) American girl (who knows a little Spanish) and then he leaves. Our main character does not know why. Her mother does not teach her anything about her father’s history or his culture, so when she is sent to live with him for the summer, she is going to live with a stranger. But of course, as the months go by, she learns about herself, her Dad and the people of his neighborhood. And not only does she find her past in the present but knows the future will be okay..
The biggest bump for me was that I was wondering why (since he’s been in the country at least 15 years) the father did not have a better grasp on English than he does. Now I’m not saying, for him to “learn English” (as the clerk not so quietly says), as I have no Spanish at all (and felt that the clerk in the store should have spoken some Spanish; but of course, due to the “whitening of the neighborhood,” he wouldn’t), but he acts as if he was a recent immigrant. But then again, it is believable and what the authors needed to take the story to the finish they wanted. There is not a hugely diverse community as everyone is of a Hispanic background, with the main two cultures we see are Mexican and Guatemalan. There is an interesting part with the “hierarchy” of people with one of the main characters (Guatemalan pride is strong with her, as is her dislike for “Mexicans”). Plus, two of the characters are (as one put it) “Not straight.” Gentrification, family (biological and found) and changes also play important roles.
Therefore, this is a graphic novel that was enjoyable, if not perfect. I do recommend it and in fact, would even read it again. I also want to read more by the author and illustrator.
