Halfway to Somewhere

Pimienta (Luminous Beings) explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of compulsory assimilation via Ave, a Mexican youth struggling to adjust after moving from Mexicali to Lawrence, Kans. Ave feels displaced in her new environment, watching her younger brother Ramon effortlessly make friends while her relationship with her mother grows tense. Ave also misses her older nonbinary sibling Cruz, who stayed behind in Mexicali with their father. Despite struggling to learn English, she befriends an intersectionally diverse group of peers, each navigating their own identities. These relationships help Ave reframe her situation, fostering personal growth and reshaping her perspective on family and belonging. Clean, rounded illustrations rendered in soft, muted pastels create a warm, approachable atmosphere that complements the graphic novel’s introspective ambiance. Careful paneling alternates between broad scenes that showcase Kansas and Mexicali landscapes and intimate close-ups of characters’ expressions, which heighten emotional resonance and adds rhythmic pacing to the narrative. Quiet moments blend with richer conversations about identity, cultural authenticity, and family dynamics in this thoughtful portrayal of transition and adolescence that balances lightheartedness with more serious undertones. Ages 8–12. (Feb.)