Summary: Miss Quinces
What if all you wanted for the summer was to go to camp with your best friends and draw comics in peace — BUT your parents thought it was better to go to Honduras, where they’re from, instead? That’s Sue’s dilemma in Miss Quinces. And then, on top of that, she finds out that her family is throwing her a surprise Quincenera against her wish. Will Sue survive the summer?
The Good
This was a lovely graphic novel with a unique protagonist. Sue is different from her sisters and isn’t a fan of dressing in girly outfits or “fixing her hair.” She likes to draw comics and hang out with her friends. So you can imagine her horror at having her family plan a quinceanera on her behalf without telling her!
I liked seeing the family travel to Honduras, where their extended family lives, and enjoy the time with their cousins and loved ones. This was interesting because Sue’s family lives in rural Honduras, so we glimpse what life is like.
Sue has a sweet relationship with her grandmother, whom she looks up to, but her grandmother gets sick in the course of the story and (spoiler alert!) dies. But before then, she shows her a lot about the history of quinceaneras and why they’re valued among Latin-Americans. Eventually, Sue figures out a way to honor her preferences and her family’s in her quinceanera decision.
Overall: Miss Quinces
Miss Quinces is an engaging, immersive graphic novel about identity, Latin-American culture, a love for art, and family. Despite starring a 15-year-old protagonist, this middle grade novel still reads young and will be accessible to tween readers looking for a graphic novel. Major points for being funny and relatable all while tackling grief, teenage angst, and the struggle to belong.
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