Hello everyone! We are so excited to announce the tour schedule for Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta & Gabi Mendez (Graphic Novel).

March 4th
The Violet West – Review

March 5th
The Clever Reader – Promotional Post

March 6th
unconventionalquirkybibliophile – Review, Mood Board

March 8th
Cocoa With Books – Review

March 9th
the nutty bookworm reads alot – Review

March 3rd
sogladtoreadyou – Review, Favorite Quotes
acourtofspinesnpages – Review

March 4th
therearenobadbooks – Creative Post
nissa_the.bookworm – Review
bookdemonio – Promotional Post

March 5th
pagesforpaige – Review

March 6th
quirkybibliophile – Review, Mood Board
ms.tliteracyslp – Promotional Post

March 7th
thats.one.for.the.books – Review, Playlist

March 8th
cocoawithbooks – Review
rickys_radical_reads – Promotional Post

March 9th
get.outside.and.read – Promotional Post
edithslittlefreelibrary – Creative post

Genre: Middle Grade
Publishing date: March 4, 2025

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Rep: Latinx/e, Colombian-American

Synopsis:

How can you speak up if you don’t have the words?

Santi is excited to spend the summer in Hillside Valley, meeting the local kids, eating his Abuela’s delicious food, exploring! There’s just one problem—Santi doesn’t speak Spanish that well and it feels like everyone he meets in Hillside does. There’s Sol (she’s a soccer player who really loves books), Willie, (the artist), Alejandro (Santi’s unofficial tour guide!), and Nico (Alejandro’s brother and blue belt in karate). In between all of their adventures in Hillside, Santi can’t help but worry about his Spanish-what if he can’t keep up?! Does that mean he’s not Colombian enough? Will Santi find his confidence and his voice? Or will his worries cost him his new friendships…and the chance to play in HIlliside’s summer soccer tournament?!

 

Julio Anta is the writer of many graphic novels including the Eisner Award-nominated Frontera, This Land Is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story, Home and Sí, Se Puede: The Latino Heroes Who Changed the United States.

Julio was born and raised in Miami, Florida and currently resides in New York City.

Forthcoming work includes a slate of graphic novels for HarperAlley, Random House Graphic and First Second.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Gabi Mendez is a queer latinx comics artist and illustrator. A graduate of the School of The Art Institute of Chicago, and the Sequential Art Master’s program at SCAD, she is currently working and taking on new and exciting projects! She writes a lot of silly comics, says “dude” too much, and just wants everyone to feel included.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads