Brownstone

Brownstone follows fourteen-year-old Almudena, who is sent to spend the summer with her estranged Guatemalan father Xavier when her white mother leaves for work abroad — arriving to a crumbling brownstone in a vibrant Latin American neighborhood, a father who speaks mostly Spanish she doesn't understand, and neighbors who question whether she really belongs. Over one transformative summer, Almudena slowly learns what family, heritage, and community really mean.

Samuel Teer's Printz Award-winning debut graphic novel, illustrated in rich earth tones by Mar Julia, is an outstanding choice for older students because it handles bilingualism, gentrification, biracial identity, and found family with warmth, humor, and extraordinary visual storytelling.

Publishing Details

Author : Samuel Teer

Illustrator : Mar Julia

Author Nationality : United States

Physical Details

Type of Book: Graphic Novel

Cover: Softcover

Pages: 320

Size: 8.7 x 5.9 inches

Year Published: 2024

Instructional Details

Reading Grade Level: 9th-12th

Genre: Fiction

Sub-Genre: Realistic Fiction

Theme: Family, Identity, Hispanic Heritage Month, Community, Immigration