Call Me Iggy

Call Me Iggy is a vibrant graphic novel that follows Colombian American teen Iggy as he grapples with a crush on Marisol, who is dealing with significant challenges related to her legal papers. His journey of self-discovery is complicated and often comically guided by his deceased abuelito, who offers terrible but well-meaning love advice. The story is richly layered with themes of cultural identity, family bonds, and the search for belonging, all set against the impactful political climate of the 2016 American election. It's perfect for middle and high schoolers exploring their own identities and understanding complex social issues.

Ignacio "Iggy" Garcia is an Ohio-born Colombian American teen living his best life. After bumping into Marisol (and her coffee) at school, Iggy's world is spun around. But Marisol as too much going on to be bothered with the likes of Iggy. She has school, work, family, and the uphill battle of getting her legal papers. As Iggy stresses over how to get Marisol to like him, his grandfather comes to the rescue. The thing is, not only is his abuelito dead, but he also gives terrible love advice. The worst. And so, with his ghost abuelito's meddling, Iggy's life begins to unravel as he sets off on a journey of self-discovery. Call me Iggy tells the story of Iggy searching for his place in his family, his school, his community, and ultimately—as the political climate in America changes during the 2016 election— his country. Focusing on familial ties and budding love, Call me Iggy challenges our assumptions about Latino-American identity while reaffirming our belief in the hope that all young people represent. Perfect for lovers of multigenerational stories like Displacement and The Magic Fish.