This week, YA is welcoming another new voice as illustrator, designer, and comic artist Christine Suggs debuts their graphic novel ¡Ay, Mija!. Described as a “bilingual, inventive, and heartfelt debut,” ¡Ay, Mija! delves into a trip that Suggs took to Mexico. It explores topics of body positivity, cultural norms, and gender. It is available online and in stores.
Prior to ¡Ay, Mija!, Suggs has worked for The Washington Post, done commissions, and held partnerships for projects such as It Gets Better, Latina Equal Pay Day, and the Scrunchie Club. Their work is also available for purchase as prints and other merchandise. They will be heading on tour for ¡Ay, Mija!, and more information is available here.
The official synopsis for ¡Ay, Mija! reads:
“Sixteen-year-old Christine takes their first solo trip to Mexico to spend a few weeks with their grandparents and tía. At first, Christine struggles to connect with family they don’t yet share a language with. Seeing the places their mom grew up — the school she went to, the café where she had her first date with their father — Christine becomes more and more aware of the generational differences in their family.
Soon Christine settles into life in Mexico, eating pan dulce, drawing what they see, and growing more comfortable with Spanish. But when Mom joins their trip, Christine’s two worlds collide. They feel homesick for Texas, struggle against traditions, and miss being able to speak to their mom without translating. Eventually, through exploring the impacts of colonialism in both Mexico and themselves, they find their place in their family and start to feel comfortable with their mixed identity.”
