SECOND GENERATION BLUES

A teen balances familial obligations and personal aspirations in this earnest coming-of-age graphic novel.

It’s the last day of sophomore year. Luis Menendez would love to spend his summer vacation creating content about local bands for social media to bolster his music journalism dreams. But hot days in Queens, full of dishwashing and food deliveries for his family’s Cuban restaurant, the Havana Express, derail those plans. No matter how hard he works, Luis can’t seem to shake off his overbearing father’s constant criticism, leading to lots of conflict for the “second-generation kid in a working-class Cuban family.” Even worse, rising food and rent costs throw the restaurant’s future into doubt. But fortune smiles upon Luis when he meets Yara, a vivacious, brown-skinned girl, during one of his deliveries. Then an editor from his favorite music website, Indie Hype, extends an invitation for a fall internship. As his dad tries his hardest to get him to focus on “real things,” like the restaurant, Luis must determine what’s important to him. Leveraging a familiar premise, Anta excels at unpacking the intergenerational struggles that at times define immigrant parents and their children. Though Luis’ tale ends with a glimmer of hope, there’s no firm resolution between father and son, an effective choice for this narrative. Dryer’s grounded artwork remains focused on the characters on each page, using frame breaks during tense moments for greater impact.

Refreshingly sincere.