A graphic novel with more depth than is immediately apparent. Sure, the primary focus is on cultural identity and recognizing bias. But it does interrogate that culture, looking at negative aspects. It doesn't paint any one character as the pure villain or on the wrong side of decisions. A bit quirky and offbeat but ultimately has heart.

This was so fantastic and focused on so many important elements without feeling heavy or like it was trying to slam too much in without any cohesion.

I hated the older brother. I thought he WAS as fake as Ignacio said and was actually kind of the worst. I wish it had shown some growth or awareness there, but it’s not the end of the world.

I think this did a really great job of focusing on a very specific and fraught time in American history while also honing in on just this story.

It was a great read.

Interesting, perhaps surprisingly deep and rich, middle-school graphic novel about Latin youth in Ohio. Our lead is not going to rush to Spanish class, even if he's of that heritage, but when it leads to spending time with a hot girl it's going to be of interest. And lo and behold, he even gets help with his verb endings when he disturbs the ghost of his abuelito. But not even spectral help will make everything smooth, as his first terms in high school begin to show him the real adult world, especially the one lived by Hispanic teenagers in 2016 America, as MAGA stops indicating a magician, and comes to mean someone else very different indeed.

The end result is a love triangle kind of thing, as our dude unwittingly plays two girls, as well as a look at the Trump victory. It shows Spanish heritage people wanting Trump to win – there is too much immigration for their liking, for one – and what it might mean for others of that descent. And of course, people across the country have held onto that heritage with completely different levels of strength, just as, it seems, they did memory of their ancestors. This could have been a wordy, preachy diatribe about that, but instead is an open, welcoming kind of treat – an easy read with a lot to say, that you can just see as a teenaged romance if you need to. But its insight into the characters' world is worth exploring more deeply than that, for all the intervening years showed a lot of their fears to be not completely founded.

This was one of my top reads of 2023! A beautiful story with a brilliant message.

Set in 2016, when the elections are about to happen and then the time immediately after where the impact it had is explored.

I really loved Iggy as a character he goes through tremendous character growth, learning to love and embrace his Colombian heritage.

The author presented sensitive topics such as trump supporters, racism, and immigration in a sensitive and digestible way all through stunning artwork.

Quirkiness aside, this graphic novel has a lot to offer aside from entertainment and fun. It has a moral compass offered in a brilliant and timely way. The story is realistic, a feat it executes smoothly. The graphics are good: You can never go wrong with a little old-school, classic, Archie-like style. I laud the book’s embrace of culture; even if the use of different languages and dialects presents a challenge, it also adds excitement to the reading. The vibe is good and light throughout. The mixture of comedy, both subtle and outrageous, will draw smiles and laughter.

Although some characters seem underdeveloped (they could have added more spice to the story), the plot’s nice combination of fiction and reality is simple and easy to follow; it’s appealing and engaging to read. Highly recommended for all.

I review this book as part of my work on the Printz committee, but I due to committee policy I cannot share my specific thoughts or opinions here. I have rated it 5 stars because I am required to rate the book for this program, but please note this does not reflect my actual rating. I just want to thank you for providing this book for review!

This is such a sweet story. Iggy accidentally wakes the ghost of his grandfather and the two agree to help each other. Iggy needs help learning Spanish and getting the girl he’s interested in, and in exchange, Abuelito would like Iggy to find an orchid field where the family can scatter his ashes.

Sometimes Abuelito’s help leads to disastrous (but funny) consequences. At other times, he helps Iggy see things in a new way or challenges the views he holds about himself, his culture, and his family.

The story takes place during the 2016 presidential election, so some scenes reference some of the campaign speeches and rhetoric that some voters ascribed to. Iggy’s parents share their views on the political climate, and so does Iggy’s friend Marisol, who could be deported under the new presidential administration.

As a character, Iggy demonstrates so much growth and new confidence through the conversations he has with his grandfather and his friendship with Marisol. I loved the illustrations of his different expressions. Those paired with the dialog made for an incredibly moving story and a pretty quick read.

I had a lot of fun reading this book. I can see the comparison to THE MAGIC FISH, though there are no fairytales in this book. It has some of the same feeling of searching for one’s place in the world. Readers looking for a sweet romance or story about finding where you belong will enjoy this book.

Note: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions my own.

This was a wonderful graphic novel about embracing your heritage, learning to stand up for what you believe in, and taking pride in who you are.

I loved the story line, the character development, and the beautiful art. All of the characters felt so real, and I also really appreciated the way the author used Abuelito as a way to connect Iggy's past with his present and future. This book is a beautiful homage to the American Dream, the immigrant experience, and the melting pot that is America. I loved it!

"Call me Iggy" by Jorge Aguirre is a heartwarming and charming graphic novel that will leave readers smiling from ear to ear. From the moment I picked up this book, I was swept away by Iggy's journey of self-discovery and the delightful chaos that ensues when his ghostly abuelito decides to meddle in his love life.

Aguirre's storytelling is both poignant and humorous, tackling themes of family, identity, and love with grace and authenticity. Iggy's quest to find his place in his family and community is beautifully depicted, offering readers a touching exploration of Latino-American identity against the backdrop of the 2016 election.

One of the highlights of the graphic novel is its richly drawn characters, from Iggy himself to the unforgettable Marisol and the hilariously inept ghost abuelito. Each character feels fully fleshed out and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journey.

With its engaging storyline, vibrant artwork, and heartfelt message, "Call me Iggy" is a must-read for fans of multigenerational stories and coming-of-age tales. Aguirre's masterful storytelling will captivate readers of all ages and leave them feeling uplifted and inspired.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

3.8 📚 I really enjoyed reading this book. Iggy was a great character to follow throughout the story, seeing his growth and understanding of not only himself, but of his heritage as well. The artwork is amazing in the book, and while it does touch on some sensitive topics (politics, immigration, racism, etc), it’s necessary and does it in a great way. I’d read more by this author and look out for this illustrator on other graphic novels in the future for sure.

This is a very fun and whimsical trail of intergenerational advice, as well as the complications of real life stuff. I really enjoyed this!

The rep was good, but the Spanish wasn't always accurate and it felt overdramatic at times, paired with a drawing style that highlighted some facial expressions that were downright weird

Such a fun read! Set in 2016 with the events during the national elections, this graphic novel tackles a handful of societal issues that highlights the pain of America.

In Call Me Iggy, Iggy's father immigrated from Colombia in the 80's, but has let all his family traditions die off because he no longer wanted to be associated with that life. Iggy does not know spanish, but ends up taking the class in high school to be close to a girl he likes. When down in the basement he accidentally knocks over the urn containing ashes from his abuelito, causing the man's ghost to appear. As abuelito initially helps him with his spanish class, Iggy begins to learn about his lost family history and what should really be important in life. The majority of this book takes place in 2016, so you are looking at issues with the election, immigration, and DACA as part of the story.

I liked that this book took a look at the importance of family and traditions. That Iggy's grandfather not only gave him a large missing piece of his family history, but that it also made his family take a look at the way that they were living. The interactions between the characters, as well as the emotions, felt real. I also thought it was very interesting to see the viewpoint on Trump's policies as told through the perspective of Iggy's family.

I did feel like the story did jump around a bit, with some parts not really vibing as well with the rest of the book, but they were generally small injections into the story. Overall I liked this and I think that a lot of kids will, too.

This graphic novel is so touching, funny, and truly a story I think everyone can enjoy and should read. It follows the life of a teenage boy, Iggy, who is just starting high school. Iggy is first generation Columbian-American and his parents immigrated from Columbia in the 80s. Iggy starts school and ends up placed in Spanish class instead of French. Who better to tutor him than his abuelito? Except his abuelito is dead so I guess his abuelito's ghost? And his abuelito might not be the best tutor or love advice expert, which leads to Iggy making an agreement with a girl, Marisol, to tutor him in Spanish in exchange for helping her with her work.

This story pulls at your heart strings and also makes you laugh. It both covers typical high school teenager issues while also going into important and more serious topics like immigration and the impact of intolerance and harmful stereotypes, such as those that were loudly shouted during the 2016 Trump campaign, and how they can impact the Latine American community, especially those undocumented. The story was beautiful and let's the reader in on this family's feelings across generations from abuelito, to father, to son. Iggy's abuelito is hilarious and provides so much life to the story, which is ironic given he's a ghost. I truly enjoyed the graphic novel from beginning to end, from the characters to the plot to the overall message.

I'm so thankful to have received an earc of this graphic novel and cannot recommend this graphic novel enough. It will not disappoint!

The inclusion of Spanish dialogue initially made me interested in reading this graphic novel. It took me awhile to get into, but I enjoyed it enough once I did.

*reviewed from uncorrected egalley via Netgalley *

teen graphic fiction - Colombian-American 9th grader in Columbus, Ohio gets love advice from the ghost of his abuelo. (Author is Colombian-American and illustrator is Puerto-Rican).

Cute teen rom-com set against the serious backdrop of the 2016 election. A quick read with lots of humor and relatable characters. More, please!

Set during the 2016 election era, this GN sends sends a message about the impact of racism, deportation and the right to be who you are, live how you choose. Iggy, the MC, grew a lot throughout the book, even with an older brother who has completely different views than him. Iggy, with the help of his ghost Abuelit0, he learns to both love and appreciate his Columbian heritage. Lots of sensitive topics throughout the story. Thanks Netgalley for the e-arc!

I did like this graphic novel. I liked its themes of reconnecting with your heritage. The romance was also quite cute, and I liked our main character. However, I do think that it is a bit too surface level with its messaging at times, and the focus on the 2016 election within this makes it feel extremely outdated already.

I know this was a good book because I finished with a smile on my face. I loved the story of Iggy and his grandfather and how he comes to own his identity. His parents made difficult decisions when they were young and Iggy is getting old enough to understand. His relationships with his friends and family were also well drawn and sweet. The illustrations were perfect for the story. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this graphic novel