Speak Up, Santiago!

As a teacher, I see this every year—kids caught between languages, unsure of where they belong. Speak Up, Santiago! by Julia Anta & Gabi Mendez hit me right in the heart.

Santiago’s story mirrors the quiet struggles so many of my students face when trying to reclaim a language that should feel like home but doesn’t… yet.

This beautifully illustrated graphic novel gently explores what it means to grow into a language and a culture, even when others expect you to already know it. Santi’s journey with his abuela is both tender and truthful, showing the real anxiety of “not being enough”—not fluent enough, not cultural enough.

It’s a powerful reminder that language learning is deeply emotional. That accent, that pause, that unsure look—they all carry weight. This is a book I’ll be sharing with my students and colleagues alike. For ENL teachers, Spanish learners, and kids trying to bridge cultures—this one’s a quiet gem.