Migrant

Gr 3–5—This unusual and complex work tells the story of a Mexican family as they journey across the border to seek work in the United States. Told from the point of view of a young boy, the sadness of leaving the lush farmlands and tight-knit village he has always known is palpable, as is the uncertainty and terror of being abruptly uprooted and evading police as he and his family climb over the wall separating the two countries. The most striking feature is the genre-defying format: the book is constructed in the style of a codex—one long, vertical panel that reads from top to bottom. Mateo's poetic and sparse text appears as short paragraphs along the lefthand side, while Pedro's intricately detailed black-and-white drawings unfold dramatically to a length of over five feet. Readers will want to pore over the jam-packed illustrations, absorbing the various storylines interwoven throughout the long panel. The reverse side features a duplicate of the illustrated panel with a Spanish translation. Mateo and Pedro also include an Author's and Artist's Note that explains the history of the "accordion" folded codex and how it was used by people in Ancient China, Ancient Egypt, and throughout Mesoamerica. The creators also note the fact that approximately 50,000 children migrate to the US each year, risking their lives in the process. At the end of Migrant, the young boy, his mother, and sister arrive safely in Los Angeles, where they live in a house with many other immigrants. The boy contemplates the work they will do to survive (cleaning houses) and misses his dog, who had to stay behind in Mexico. A striking and unique piece of art that tells an important story. —Kiera Parrott, School Library Journal