Jose Pimienta

New school, new country, but only half a family? Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent's divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel. Ave thought moving to Kansas would be boring and flat after enjoying the mountains and trails in Mexico, but at least they would have their family with them. Unfortunately, while Ave, their mom, and their younger brother are relocating to the US, Ave's father and older sister will be staying in Mexico...permanently. Their parents are getting a divorce. As if learning a whole new language wasn't hard enough, and now a Middle-Schooler has to figure out a new family dynamic...and what this means for them as they start middle school with no friends. Jose Pimienta's stunningly illustrated and thought provoking middle graphic novel is about exploring identity, understanding family, making friends with a language barrier, and above all else, learning what truly makes a place a home.

New school, new country, but only half a family? Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent's divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel. Ave thought moving to Kansas would be boring and flat after enjoying the mountains and trails in Mexico, but at least they would have their family with them. Unfortunately, while Ave, their mom, and their younger brother are relocating to the US, Ave's father and older sister will be staying in Mexico...permanently. Their parents are getting a divorce. As if learning a whole new language wasn't hard enough, and now a Middle-Schooler has to figure out a new family dynamic...and what this means for them as they start middle school with no friends. Jose Pimienta's stunningly illustrated and thought provoking middle graphic novel is about exploring identity, understanding family, making friends with a language barrier, and above all else, learning what truly makes a place a home.

New school, new country, but only half a family? Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent's divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel. Ave thought moving to Kansas would be boring and flat after enjoying the mountains and trails in Mexico, but at least they would have their family with them. Unfortunately, while Ave, their mom, and their younger brother are relocating to the US, Ave's father and older sister will be staying in Mexico...permanently. Their parents are getting a divorce. As if learning a whole new language wasn't hard enough, and now a Middle-Schooler has to figure out a new family dynamic...and what this means for them as they start middle school with no friends. Jose Pimienta's stunningly illustrated and thought provoking middle graphic novel is about exploring identity, understanding family, making friends with a language barrier, and above all else, learning what truly makes a place a home.

Being twins means having a best friend forever . . . But when one twin goes to school in Mexico and the other goes to school across the border in Calexico, can that bond withstand the distance? A contemporary middle grade graphic novel about discovering who you are. Luis Fernando and Luisa Teresa are twins, and they finally have the chance to stand on their own. Fernando is staying local in Mexicali, Mexico, and Teresa is planning to cross the border every day so she can go to a private school in Calexico, California. Suddenly on his own, Fernando realizes that without his twin around. Desperate to not be alone in middle school, he finds himself making friends with the first kid who's willing to give him a chance . . . only this new friend says and does a lot of things that Fernando isn't too sure about. Teresa is ready to thrive and stand on her own two feet, but she soon finds herself failing under the pressure of crossing the US/Mexico border every day. She no longer has to worry about being compared to her brother -- but now she doesn't have his support when she could really use it. At home, both twins have a chance to reconnect. But instead, they find themselves pushing each other away. After all, being on their own is what they always wanted . . . right? This is a truly contemporary story about siblings, middle school, and peer pressure. Twin Cities explores the importance of family, and also the struggles that come with trying to live up to standards that are impossible to meet.

Being twins means having a best friend forever . . . But when one twin goes to school in Mexico and the other goes to school across the border in Calexico, can that bond withstand the distance? A contemporary middle grade graphic novel about discovering who you are. Luis Fernando and Luisa Teresa are twins, and they finally have the chance to stand on their own. Fernando is staying local in Mexicali, Mexico, and Teresa is planning to cross the border every day so she can go to a private school in Calexico, California. Suddenly on his own, Fernando realizes that without his twin around. Desperate to not be alone in middle school, he finds himself making friends with the first kid who's willing to give him a chance . . . only this new friend says and does a lot of things that Fernando isn't too sure about. Teresa is ready to thrive and stand on her own two feet, but she soon finds herself failing under the pressure of crossing the US/Mexico border every day. She no longer has to worry about being compared to her brother -- but now she doesn't have his support when she could really use it. At home, both twins have a chance to reconnect. But instead, they find themselves pushing each other away. After all, being on their own is what they always wanted . . . right? This is a truly contemporary story about siblings, middle school, and peer pressure. Twin Cities explores the importance of family, and also the struggles that come with trying to live up to standards that are impossible to meet.

FOUR STARRED REVIEWS - A critically acclaimed graphic novel with rave reviews about this timely story featuring middle school twins living on the Mexico-US border and trying to discover exactly who they are - together or apart. "Transcendentally good."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review Being twins means having a best friend forever . . . But when one goes to middle school in Mexico and the other across the border in California, can that bond withstand the distance? Luis Fernando is staying local in Mexicali, Mexico, while Luisa Teresa crosses the border every day so she can go to a private school in Calexico, California. As they try to embrace new experiences close to and far from home, the twins hit obstacles: like making new friends and navigating school pressure without the other one for support. Fernando and Teresa finally have the chance to stand on their . . . isn't that what the always wanted? A unique and timely story about siblings, middle school, and peer pressure from rising star Jose Pimienta, Twin Cities is at once a relatable contemporary story and much-needed window into an experience so many kids can relate to but has rarely been seen in children's graphic novels. "From start to finish, Twin Cities is a superbly crafted work of art and emotion that marks Pimienta as a creator to watch." --BookPage, starred review

Set in 1932, this is the story of two misfits with no place to call home, who build a relationship during a train hopping journey from the cold heartbreak of their eastern homes toward the sunny promise of California Pearl Plankette ran away from her abusive father, but has nowhere to go until she stumbles upon a disguise that gives her the key to a new identity. Reborn as a boy named Soupy, she hitches her star to Remy Ramshackle Renault, a hobo who takes her under his wing. Ramshackle's kindness and protection go a long way to help Soupy heal from her difficult past. But Ramshackle has his own demons to wrestle with, and he'll need Soupy just as much as she needs him. Now includes an Educator's guide written by Meryl Jaffe, PhD.

Beatriz must create the perfect song in order to free her grandfather's soul . . . but what will be the cost? A fantastical YA graphic novel about creative passion and obsession, great for fans of The Prince and the Dressmaker and Level Up. If life wasn't already hard enough for Beatriz -- being a teenager, trying to start a band, and going to school -- then she discovers that her grandfather's soul has been trapped in an old guitar, and that the only way to free him is to play the perfect song . . . his perfect song, a song that he never actually wrote down. She's determined to save her grandfather, but as music slowly takes over her life, she soon finds herself growing obsessed with his song, and making it absolutely flawless, at the expense of her friendships, her band, and her health. Beatriz won't let anything stop her, not even her own limitations. Creating a magical song is already a lot of pressure, but Beatriz will have to make some hard choices before it's too late for her grandfather . . . and for herself. A story filled with music, passion, supernatural secrets, and family, Jose Pimienta's Suncatcher brings to life a contemporary story of life in Mexicali with a supernatural twist and a lot of music.

Beatriz must create the perfect song in order to free her grandfather's soul . . . but what will be the cost? A fantastical YA graphic novel about creative passion and obsession, great for fans of The Prince and the Dressmaker and Level Up. If life wasn't already hard enough for Beatriz -- being a teenager, trying to start a band, and going to school -- then she discovers that her grandfather's soul has been trapped in an old guitar, and that the only way to free him is to play the perfect song . . . his perfect song, a song that he never actually wrote down. She's determined to save her grandfather, but as music slowly takes over her life, she soon finds herself growing obsessed with his song, and making it absolutely flawless, at the expense of her friendships, her band, and her health. Beatriz won't let anything stop her, not even her own limitations. Creating a magical song is already a lot of pressure, but Beatriz will have to make some hard choices before it's too late for her grandfather . . . and for herself. A story filled with music, passion, supernatural secrets, and family, Jose Pimienta's Suncatcher brings to life a contemporary story of life in Mexicali with a supernatural twist and a lot of music.