Brownstone - by Samuel Teer (Paperback)

About the Book

"In the summer of 1995, almost-fifteen-year-old Almudena is sent to live with her estranged Spanish-speaking father, and together they renovate a brownstone and build a relationship while Almudena navigates the Latin American side of her heritage for the first time"--

Book Synopsis

WINNER OF THE PRINTZ AWARD

A Harvey Award Nominee!

An Indie Next List Selection!

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book!

A Publishers Weekly Best Book!

A 2025 CBC Best Children's Book of the Year selection!

"Angsty. Awkward. With a scrappy heart of gold, Brownstone is a must-read for anyone who's ever felt totally out of place." --Gabby Rivera, bestselling author of Juliet Takes a Breath

An exciting teen coming-of-age epic from author Samuel Teer and debut graphic novel artist Mar Julia, Brownstone is a vivid, sweeping, ultimately hopeful story about navigating your heritage even when you feel like you don't quite fit in.

Almudena has always wondered about the dad she never met.

Now, with her white mother headed on a once-in-a-lifetime trip without her, she's left alone with her Guatemalan father for an entire summer. Xavier seems happy to see her, but he expects her to live in (and help fix up) his old, broken-down brownstone. And all along, she must navigate the language barrier of his rapid-fire Spanish--which she doesn't speak.

As Almudena tries to adjust to this new reality, she gets to know the residents of Xavier's Latin American neighborhood. Each member of the community has their own joys and heartbreaks as well as their own strong opinions on how this young Latina should talk, dress, and behave. Some can't understand why she doesn't know where she comes from. Others think she's "not brown enough" to fit in.

But time is running out for Almudena and Xavier to get to know each other, and the key to their connection may ultimately lie in bringing all these different elements together. Fixing a broken building is one thing, but turning these stubborn individuals into a found family might take more than this one summer.

Review Quotes

"Angsty. Awkward. With a scrappy heart of gold, Brownstone is a must-read for anyone who's ever felt totally out of place. Almudena gives us all the fire & tenderness of a teen just wanting to be loved. Brownstone is the promise that we all belong somewhere, especially with those who love us." - Gabby Rivera, bestselling author of Juliet Takes a Breath
"A revelatory summer. A makeshift familia that's imperfect but feels right. This coming-of-age tale chimes with discreet moments of humor and lots of heart, all centered around questions of heritage, identity, compassion, and acceptance and exemplified by the scrappy, vivid artwork, which wonderfully captures Almudena's inner turmoil. Beautifully profound." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"Via Almudena's unfettered perspective, Teer interrogates characters' preconceived notions surrounding one another's ethnicity and sexuality. Fluid illustrations by Julia, saturated in rich earth tones, expressively distinguish each character's personality and breathe life into the vibrant metropolitan neighborhood. This energetic and emotionally grounded story hits the mark. A satisfyingly transformative tale." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Brownstone will pry, patch, and repaint your heartstrings. This is a gorgeous story about a father and daughter crossing culture and language for each other. A vibrant comic about renovating a home, a family, and a heart." - Sara Alfageeh, Harvey Award-winning cocreator of Squire
"Richly illustrated and full of heart, Brownstone engages in important topics such as gentrification, cultural heritage, and the importance of community. It challenges and empowers its readers to dream of possibility in our own communities. A must-have in every home, library, and classroom." - Cathy G. Johnson, Ignatz Award-winning creator of The Breakaways
"Superb. Easy-to-follow dialogue and beautiful, captivating illustrations. A great YA graphic novel for teens who are trying to figure out who they are or anyone who has ever felt like they were on the outside." - School Library Journal
"Brownstone's superb storytelling, charming characters, and dynamic illustrations work together to form a beautiful and heartfelt coming-of-age tale that lovingly captures both the difficulties and joys of growing up mixed-race." - Rose Bousamra, Eisner Award-winning illustrator of Frizzy
"The characters felt real and complex, and even though the things they want don't always align neatly, they find ways to fit together and learn from each other. Brownstone is a super sweet story about muddling along, making an effort, pushing through the awkwardness, and letting things be messy and uncomfortable until they're not anymore." - Molly Brooks, author of Sanity & Tallulah
"[An] empathetic coming-of-age graphic novel. [Julia's] earth-tone illustrations warmly depict Xavier's metropolitan neighborhood and are full of affectionate detail. Teer shows his characters' shortcomings without framing anyone as an antagonist and omits most period-specific references in favor of concentrating on timeless emotions related to overcoming cultural imposter syndrome." - Horn Book Magazine
"Neat, descriptive illustrations are full of bright and vivid colors. [The] panels show the community uniting to support one another. The story brings to life the experiences and people of an urban Latinx neighborhood." - Booklist
"Finds a way to discuss language barriers, immigration, missing/absent parents, Latinidad/ identity, homophobia, community making, gentrification, and self-acceptance all in a compelling narrative. The character designs are equally as impressive. Going on this adventure with Almudena and her communidad was such a joy." - Latinx Pop Magazine