Almost American Girl meets Brownstone in Second Generation Blues, a poignant coming-of-age young adult graphic novel about a Cuban American teen as he struggles to choose between being the son his parents need him to be and living the life he wants.
Luis Menendez wants to be free from his immigrant Cuban-American parents' expectations. Instead, he's spending the summer delivering food for his family's faltering restaurant, sweating under the hot sun and the crushing weight of a future he didn't choose.
At least there's Yara. Confident, assertive, and basically Luis's dream girl, she might be the only person who understands him. If only he had any free time to spend with her.
Amid the chaos, Luis starts carving out his own path. But when trying to be the son his parents need clashes with the life he wants, he's forced to face the question he's most afraid of answering: Is family loyalty worth sacrificing his own happiness?
| ISBN: | 9780063222335 |
| Publication date: | 19th November 2026 |
| Author: | Julio Anta |
| Illustrator: | Red Dryer |
| Publisher: | HarperAlley an imprint of HarperCollins |
| Format: | Paperback |
| Pagination: | 256 pages |
| Reading age: | 12+ |
| Genres: |
Children’s / Teenage fiction: Romance and love stories Historical Fiction PSHE: Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem and Wellbeing Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: First / new experiences and growing up / coming of age Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Romance Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Historical Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction Romance / Relationship Stories Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: styles / traditions |
Almost American Girl meets Brownstone in Second Generation Blues, a poignant coming-of-age young adult graphic novel about a Cuban American teen as he struggles to choose between being the son his parents need him to be and living the life he wants.Luis Menendez wants to be free from his immigrant Cuban-American parents' expectations. Instead, he's spending the summer delivering food for his family's faltering restaurant, sweating under the hot sun and the crushing weight of a future he didn't choose.At least there's Yara.
Second Generation Blues is aimed at readers aged 12 and over.
Second Generation Blues features in the following genres: Children’s / Teenage fiction: Romance and love stories, Historical Fiction, PSHE: Self-Awareness, Self-Esteem and Wellbeing, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: First / new experiences and growing up / coming of age, Children’s / Teenage: Social issues / topics, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Romance, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: Historical, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General, modern and contemporary fiction, Romance / Relationship Stories, Graphic novel / Comic book / Manga: styles / traditions
Paperback. £9.89, down from the £10.99 cover price. Pre-order. 19th November 2026.
Second Generation Blues was written by Julio Anta and published by HarperAlley an imprint of HarperCollins
Second Generation Blues has 256 pages
£9.89, reduced from £10.99. Pre-order. 19th November 2026.