Julio Anta and Yasmín Flores Montañez’s Sí, Se Puede: The Latino Heroes Who Changed the United States examines Latin-American history through the format of a non-fiction graphic novel. The book uses an interactive museum exhibit as its framing device, with a docent guiding a group through history and geography to explore their own heritage and how it connects to the larger narrative of the United States. Anta and Montañez begin with a description of the pre-contact history of the Americas followed by the effect of colonization and the forming of the modern U.S. and Latin American nations.

Anta and Montañez next examine the Latino soldiers of the Civil War, including Lt. Col. Manuel Chávez, aeronaut Major Federico Fernández-Cavada, and more. From there, they move on to activists such as César Chávez and Dolores Huerta, Sylvia Rivera, and more. Next up are sports stars beginning with Roberto Clemente, who used their talents to advocate for their fellow Latinos and to give back to their communities. Anta and Montañez’s fifth chapter focuses on Latino scientists such as Marino Molina, who discovered the damaging effects of chlorofluorocarbons, astronaut and NASA administrator Ellen Ochoa, and more. In their penultimate chapter, Anta and Montañez cover the Latin Explosion, including Desi Arnaz, Rita Moreno, Celia Cruz, Gloria Estefan, Selena, and others who have helped to spread Latin-American culture. Finally, Anta and Montañez look at modern trailblazers including Gloria Calderón Kellett, Tanya Saracho, Steven Canals, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Sonia Sotomayor, and more.

Sí, Se Puede: The Latino Heroes Who Changed the United States concludes with a list of additional resources. Anta and Montañez’s work is an excellent primer on Latin-American history for the unfamiliar with the subject. The graphic novel format works to their advantage in creating greater accessibility while also adding a layer of depth that text alone may lack. Teachers may find this a particularly useful volume for their classrooms or school libraries due to its broad survey approach and accessible format. ( )