Brownstone

Critical Evaluation:

Brownstone tells a quiet, but powerful story about identity, belonging, and family. Samuel Teer lets Almudena and Xavier’s story unfold slowly, with awkward silences, small wins, and moments where you can practically feel the frustration in the air. Almudena’s experience as a biracial Guatemalan-American girl is front and center. She’s caught between cultures, not speaking her father’s language and unsure if she even “counts” as part of his world, something I found relatable as a Palestinian-American who doesn't speak Arabic. The 1995 New York setting feels real without trying too hard, and the big topics, like gentrification, language barriers, figuring out where you belong, are baked into the story in a way that feels natural. It’s a coming of age story that’s as much about learning who you are as it is about figuring out who your family really is.

Mar Julia’s art nails the mood perfectly. The warm, muted colors make the whole thing feel like a hazy summer memory, and the brownstone itself has so much personality it almost becomes its own character. The illustrations also lean into Almudena’s internal struggle, capturing her feeling out of place in both her father’s community and her mother’s world, then slowly showing her becoming part of the space. There’s a lot going on in the background, with little details, shifts in light, characters’ body language, that say just as much as the dialogue. The combination of Teer’s writing and Julia’s illustrations makes this one of those graphic novels you finish and immediately want to force someone else to read.

Speed Round Book Talk:

In the summer of 1995, 14-year-old Almudena gets stuck living with her Guatemalan dad, a man she barely knows and can barely talk to thanks to a major language barrier. While fixing up his crumbling brownstone to fight gentrification, she starts untangling what it means to be biracial, where she fits in, and how to build a relationship from scratch. It’s heartfelt, beautifully drawn, and full of those small, quiet moments that end up changing everything.

Reason for Inclusion:

I chose to include Brownstone because it’s a rare YA graphic novel that captures the complexity of being biracial and navigating two cultures without flattening the experience into a stereotype. Almudena’s story of figuring out her identity, building a relationship with her Guatemalan father, and finding her place in a community hit by gentrification feels deeply relevant for today’s teens. It also stands out for weaving in themes like language barriers, immigrant heritage, and LGBTQ+ representation, while still being an accessible, engaging read. The combination of heartfelt writing and expressive art makes it a strong choice for sparking conversations about belonging, family, and the many ways we define home.