A Graphic Novel Set in Lawrence, KS
This winter I heard a lot of buzz about an upcoming graphic novel for tweens called Halfway to Somewhere., opens a new window It's a story about a kid from Mexico who moves to a small midwestern town with his mom and brother, and reviewers were drawing comparisons to Jerry Craft's Newbery Medal-winning New Kid, opens a new window. I did a double-take when I saw a picture of the cover. Was that KU's Campanile and Fraser Hall? It was indeed.
When the the book arrived, I ate it up. It's a great story about a middle schooler trying to make their way in good old Lawrence, Kansas, and the local landmarks depicted don't stop at those on the cover. I had to know more about this book, so I reached out to its author and illustrator, Jose Pimienta, who was gracious enough to answer a few of my questions and give permission to share some of his drawings. Take a look and see if anything looks familiar.
Jose Pimienta on Halfway to Somewhere
DC: Obviously you’ve spent quite a bit of time in Lawrence. What is your local connection?
JP: My wife and her family are from Lawrence. I began accompanying her for the holidays and such, and every time we were there I had a great time and appreciated the city’s charm.
DC: What are some of your favorite places in town? And I’m not fishing for compliments, but did you spend any time at the library when you were here?
JP: I DO spend time in the library every time I visit, and it’s amazing. I’m also a big fan of several stores downtown like Raven Bookstore, La Prima Tazza, the Arts Center, and South Park. And I don’t know if it’s still there, but there was a little Mercado called La Estrella, but I haven’t been there in a couple of years. They had a lot of Mexican products, so that made me happy. Also… of course, just all of KU campus — especially Jayhawk Blvd. and the green area by the campanile.
DC: Outdoor locations — interesting buildings, houses, landscapes — feature prominently in the story, here, and in the parts set in Mexico. What is your process for drawing places?
JP: A lot of photo reference. I thumbnail everything first, and then I sketch it in pencil before inking it. Once it looks good in black and white line art, then I start paying attention to color. But yeah, photo reference is essential.
DC: Ave, the main character of Halfway to Somewhere, has a lot of heavy things to work through in connection to their move to Kansas, like the cultural differences between Kansas and Mexico and their parents’ separation to name a couple. One of their lighter struggles is adjusting to the humidity here. Was this an autobiographical detail, and were there other things about Lawrence that take some time for you to adjust to when you are here?
JP: Not exactly. Most of my visits are in the winter, so I’ve never had to deal with a full-throttle Lawrence summer. But Kristen (my wife) would tell me how humid it can get, and I had to put it in the story. Since Mexicali is one of the hottest cities in the world, but its dry heat, humidity would be something they’re not used to. And yes, there are things I’m not accustomed to, for instance, not only how passionate people are for KU basketball, but just how big of a production goes into the games. They’re fun, obviously, but I had only seen that in movies. I wasn’t expecting such a big event for an at-home game. There’s other small things I mention in the book, but a big one is not having a mountain in sight to help with orientation. So that always trips me a bit.
DC: Ave is in a difficult balancing act between Mexicali and Kansas. They have had to move here, and it wasn’t their choice. What advice would you give to young people living in Lawrence who may feel pulled between different cultures or stuck in situations not of their own choosing?
JP: Talk about it. I mean, I make books about things I’m trying to process, so I’m still trying to figure it out. But I do believe it’s important to talk about it with people you trust and discuss what those situations are. Why someone feels pulled in different directions is usually an indicator of a lack of accommodation to that discomfort. I think it's important to bring it up with relatives, friends, or experts because either you’ll find out that others feel the same way, or you’ll learn that others have a completely different perspective. In this book everyone in Ave’s family has a different approach to the situation. But some of Ave's friends spell it out for them clearly: They know adjusting to a new place is hard, so they welcome Ave without hesitance. I think it's a blessing to find your people. And I think it’s a blessing to have friends who welcome you immediately. If you can be a Rene or a Tom (friend characters in the story) to someone feeling like Ave, that’s great. But if you’re feeling like Ave, explore and keep your eyes open. Those Renes, and Maras, and Danis, or Toms, are out there. And lastly, if you can, go for walk. You may be running before you know it.
If you like Jose Pimienta's style, check out these other titles:
Nixie of the Mill-pond and Other European Stories
LET'S RUMBLE!: A ROUGH-AND-TUMBLE BOOK OF PLAY
—Dan Coleman is a Senior Collection Development Librarian at Lawrence Public Library.
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