Manuelito

Gr 7 Up—This hard-hitting graphic novel was inspired by the hundreds of thousands of unaccompanied minors who flee gangs and violence in Central America to seek asylum in Mexico and the United States. When paramilitary groups and drug cartels take control of Manuelito's Guatemalan village, his parents make the difficult decision to send the 13-year-old to live with his aunt in America. With only a bus ticket and some cash, Manuelito journeys through Mexico to the United States, facing danger every step of the way. Thick dark lines, smudgy charcoal sketches, and a range of textured backgrounds heighten the impact of each confrontation. The panels vary from full and double-page layouts of particularly dramatic scenes to multipaneled, anxiety-inducing action shots. However, the writing doesn't quite measure up. The dialogue is stilted, with crowded text and fonts that don't complement the art.