Just Another Story by Ernesto Saade is a graphic novel about Carlos and his mother, Elena, as they enter the United States. Taking place in the present time with flashbacks to their journey, it's a thoughtful and compelling story.

Because we see Carlos as an adult, he's had time to sit with his complicated feelings surrounding those events and the people he met along the way, especially his mom. This novel was an emotional read that shows depth and humanizes an experience many people do not understand. Carlos was an insightful narrator who cared about the people he met and had the time to take in the experience fully.

While I enjoyed the storytelling and how much thought went into the background characters, the ending felt abrupt as it ended with a short anecdote about his grandmother that seemed unfinished. In the present timeline, relationships need more exploration, especially between Carlos and his wife. I could easily see this turning into a captivating series!

This engaging graphic novel tells the story of a son and mother who chose to leave their loved ones and everything they'd ever known in hopes of a better life for themselves in The United States. The author-artist effectively illustrates that dangerous, terrifying journey for readers.

I'm so glad this book is being published. Stories like this one are so important to tell. I hope this book finds its way into the hands of those who find themselves represented in this book as well as the hands of those who might develop some compassion from reading this story.

Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for allowing me early access to the ARC ebook edition of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I think this title is a great way for readers to gain empathy for immigrants from South and Central America. I will definitely recommend this title to patrons.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book before publication.

I’m almost at a loss for words. This story put you in the characters shoes to where you feel what they are feeling, as though in their situation. It gives the reader a whole new perspective on a human rights issue that nearly every American hears about on a daily basis, I could feel the honesty in the story, the heartache, and the longing. I thought about if this was my mom and I leaving everything behind, and I had to stop that line of thought. To think that people go through similar situations every day, out of sight out of mind, is just insane to me. It’s not real until you see it. The art brought the story to life in such a way that I don’t think I would have been able to comprehend the danger and violence that the main characters go through. I liked that the color scheme changed between the past and present parts. It made the shift in time easier to understand and I sailed right on as if watching a movie.

I feel that this would be useful in a high school classroom when discussing migration, immigration, politics, etc. Including graphic novels like this helps open up the discussion, especially if traditional teaching tools fall short. I plan on including this in my classroom library. Thank you for this story.

"This is the story of Carlos and Elena, the story of thousands, the story of my country . . . This is just another story."

Well written and well illustrated. Very well done!

Ernesto Saade's "Just Another Story" is a graphic memoir-style recounting of his cousin Carlos' overland route from El Salvador to the United States as a teen. It's framed by (and interwoven with) a conversation the cousins are having as Carlos picks Ernesto up at the airport. The two timelines are indicated by two contrasting colour choices, and unconventionally, the harsher migration story gets the brighter more cartoon-y palette, while the driving sequence features more stripped back colours and the shading techniques that are more common in graphic journalism.

The title is a reference to the fact that the story is just one among many similar stories that could be told, a comment that we see on page when Ernesto tells Carlos that he's considering writing this book (I was reminded of the similar conversation between the Fabre brothers in Clément C. Fabre's graphic memoir Carole). And while it's true that there are similar memoirs and journalistic works out there, I think this one is a solid addition. It would be perfect for a secondary school (or older middle school) library.

I had an eARC from NetGalley, but I think this is one that would only be improved in a large-scale print format.

The approach of Just Another Story as a personal account of a mother and son's migration from El Salvador to the United States is personal and poignant. The main character feels as though his story is not significant because other's stories are more tragic however the illustration and detail in this book show the individuality and challenges that can be faced on even "average" journeys. The illustration style is superb.

This was a pretty disturbing story. Today, undocumented people are pretty much seen as a whole, mainly for political purposes. This is "just another story" of people coming to the US looking to make their lives better. What they went through to get here. It was, in many places, horrific. I think it might help to inform the debate if more people would read this and see that the amorphous group of "undocumented" are, in reality, people. People with lives and loves and hopes and hurts. This story does a good job of bringing that to the fore.

This was a quick, interesting read. Having taught elementary school-age children, most of whom are immigrants or the children of immigrants, I've heard my share of stories, and the accuracy of the types of challenges many experience is accurately portrayed. I think my main criticism is confusion about this book's audience. There are times when the themes and language seem like it would be for teens and older, and other times where it lapses into somewhat silly and juvenile. This is my main reason for giving it 3 stars.

I recently had the pleasure of reading Just Another Story: A Graphic Migration Account from Ernesto Saade, and I really enjoyed it. Based on true events, the book tells the story of the difficulties and dangers that come with immigrating to the United States from Central America. It’s a beautiful story, and I hope you read it.

The structure of the book follows Ernesto from El Salvador who is visiting his cousin Carlos and aunt Elena in San Diego. When Carlos picks Ernest up at LAX and they head to San Diego, Ernesto asks Carlos to tell him about their journey from El Salvador to the US. Carlos mentions that he’s never talked about what he and his mom went through with anyone before. Then, our story takes off.

Just Another Story is a grand reminder that the sacrifices and dangers faced by immigrants just to get to the USA are rarely in the “immigration debate” had in this country. Dealing with the smugglers, gangs, and crooked cops is a dangerous path that many do not survive.

At the end of the book, Elena is considering her future. While she loves her son and the life that they have been able to build in the USA over the last decade, she misses her family and El Salvador. However, until their visa situation is officially settled, they would not be able to return to the USA if they left. She has a wonderful bit of dialogue in a conversation with Ernesto while they watch Carlos surf in the ocean:

“People tell me that going back would be like admitting I made a mistake. Some kind of failure. But I don’t see it that way. My son is doing well. He has a bright future ahead of him. I believe I already accomplished something. And I’m not going to apologize nor feel shame for trying to find my own happiness.”

Just Another Story: A Graphic Migration Account – digital page 211.

I loved the way that Saade illustrated this book. It’s split into three different styles, so you always know where you are in the story. When the book is following Carlos and Ernesto, the book emphasizes the blues, greys, and greens. When we transition to Carlos and his mother Elena’s journey to the USA, the book has the full pantheon, edging darker when a dangerous situation is involved. When another character is telling a story such as Peligro, the colors are more bold. It made it easy to know who was “talking” at any given point.

Saade wrote and illustrated an excellent and moving story, and I highly recommend it.

Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

This is a fantastic graphic novel that captures the importance of documenting family stories. Would pair well with Frontera by Julio Anta and Jacoby Salcedo.

Such an important story to be told plus the graphics are amazing. Really felt the harrowing journey for this family, and the differences now with migrants who can’t get visas. So glad I read this one!

This graphic novel is touching to read. The effort that migrants go to to have a better life impresses on the reader the desperation they must feel in their lives in their home countries. This is a great book to walk a mile in others' shoes. It is definitely for older Young Adult (language, violence depicted).

It's just a simple story, similar to so many stories, that need to be told. It's the story of immigration, just another story of another family. But it is so vividly told, with simple gorgeous panels and open and honest dialogue. There's one particular panel with a sky full of stars that is just breathtaking. Definitely recommend.

"All the fatigue in the world hit me, and I fell asleep."

I enjoy reading graphic novels even more so when they tell real life events. Immigration can be a hard concept to grasp for those who don't experience it first hand. Th illustrations adds to the storytelling about family, sacrifices, and struggles that immigrants experience in order to seek a better life.

A story about sacrifice and striving for a better life even if you don’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. People look at illegal immigrants as people who are still from us but they are really adding to our country they see value in the things we take for granted.

A great story that’s needed in every middle grade library. It’s a story that many kids are dealing or dealt with. It really makes you reflect. I would highly recommend this graphic novel.

I laughed out loud at the scene on the plane when all the elderly folks ask him to help complete their forms. I appreciated the footnotes! The family tree was helpful. I think for a YA Graphic Novel it was excellent. So many elements of this story were universal to the stories of so many of my loved ones who immigrated to the US from El Salvador and Mexico. The illustrations were fantastic. I think this was a lovely format to show and tell the story of so many. Would love to see sequels with the rest of their story. Absolutely would buy and ask my local library to buy. Will be donating a copy to my sisters high school classroom when it comes out. Thank you for telling this important story so beautifully.

Moving story about a young man and his mother migrating from El Salvador to the U.S. The beautiful illustrations, the details of the journey and the people he meets along the way really humanizes this story. Provides context for a trip that most people never experience. Recommended. (Received e-ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)

Carlos is a young man, still in his teens, and when he finds out his mother is going to America, he doesn't want her to go alone. Even though he feels protective of her, he also complains a lot (there's a lot to complain about). His mother has to face her fears, such as her fear of the river, and nothing goes smoothly. Neither want to get rid of their ties to their home in El Salvador.
Maybe this story has been told before, but it humanizes people who are currently being demonized. I was certainly grateful to be reading from the comfort of my couch.
The graphics were designed so that you could see the differences between different places and situations easily, and even though I knew how it ended, there was still tension as I worried about what Carlos and his mother were going through.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this