Twin Cities (Random House Graphic)
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.
Jose Pimiento was raised in Mexicali, Baja California and now resides in Los Angeles, CA where they work on comics and storyboards for animation and film. Suncatcher was their debut author/illustrator graphic novel. Twin Cities is their first middle-grade graphic novel. In their stories, they focus on the importance of Latinx culture and the experience of growing up on the border.
Henry Barajas is a Latinx author best known for his graphic memoir about his great-grandfather Ramon Jaurigue, La Voz De M.A.Y.O. Tata Rambo, and for Latinx fantasy Helm Greycastle. He has contributed to anthologies such as Where We Live and The Good Fight. Recently, Barajas wrote the Marvel/SOMOS Healthcare Avengers #1 to inspire the fine people of New York City and the Latinx community to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Praise for Twin Cities -
"Transcendently good." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"Brightly colored, intricately detailed panoramas and montages convey one family’s experience living in a vivacious border community that is richer for its multitude of influences." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
