Hey There
When the Coati Cries is a passion project I created in 2025 for a comic class I took at RISD. This graphic novel is inspired by many things, such as the Southern and Suburban divide I saw growing up in my hometown in Florida. This book tackles issues of power, class, wealth, race, and identity. One of the fundamental questions that drove this book is 'For how many generations is an American expected to pay homage to their ancestral culture?' While the book doesn't answer this question per se, the reader is encouraged to soul search for the answer.
All About Me
Fleeing unrest, two communities seek refuge. Cambodians flee their country, escaping war. Members of the Triqui community of Oaxaca, Mexico flee due to civil unrest. The two communities both immigrate to small-town Abrigo, Texas and live in harmony on opposite sides of the train tracks. When the Mexican community discovers oil on their side of town, they become some of the wealthiest people in America; meanwhile, the Cambodian community remains impoverished. Because of this, the two sides of town never interact again…The story picks up six generations later. Kaliyanei is a promising Cambodian-American high schooler hoping for a better life. For the school year, she is sent to live with a Mexican-American family on the other side of town to learn about their culture for her anthropology class project. She is the first person in over a century to cross the train tracks. As she becomes acquainted with the other side of town, it is apparent that her presence is not welcome. Can Kaliyanei adjust to this new life of rich, preppy elitism while overcoming hatred?
