Last year, Alegría Rojas-Patino, an eighth-grade student at Philips Middle School, took an art class where she began creating a comic about the history of the Hispanic community.
She has always loved drawing and art and wanted to create something she was passionate about.
“I have always wanted to write stories and make illustrations,” Rojas-Patino said.
That desire to create led Rojas-Patino to plan a comic with her father, Miguel Rojas-Sotelo. They soon realized their idea was too expansive for a comic strip, so she adjusted her plan and decided to write and illustrate a book.
Combining her Hispanic heritage with her artistic talent, she published Aquí/Here alongside her father. The book, published in September 2024, explores the history of the Hispanic community in Durham from the prehistoric era through indigenous civilizations, colonization, the present day and even a speculative science-fiction future.
It is written for readers ages 10 and up.
Writing a book was a new experience for Rojas-Patino. “I started planning it out, and I just went with what worked best for the timeline and what was the most interesting,” she said.
Rojas-Patino wanted to explore Durham’s history. “That is where I am from,” she said.
She researched the past and worked with her father to create the final book, hoping to address social issues impacting her community. “There are some parts that explain how Hispanics are treated and some stereotypes around us,” she added.
In addition to her connection to Durham, Rojas-Patino’s Hispanic heritage is central to her identity. She ensured that her background and history were reflected in the book, which is written in both English and Spanish to make it accessible to more readers.
Her father, Rojas-Sotelo, is a professor at Duke University’s Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies. He contributed much of the writing while Rojas-Patino illustrated the book.
“Writing a book with a family member was very fun. I spent time with my dad, and he was one of the people who introduced me to art, so I was glad to write a book with him,” she said.
On November 9, 2024, Rojas-Patino and Rojas-Sotelo celebrated the book’s launch at the Chapel Hill Public Library, where some of her original drawings were on display. Her work was also presented at a local Hispanic book fair, the City of Raleigh Museum, a library in Cary, an elementary school and Comic Fest in Durham.
Philips Middle School Principal Tiffany Cheshire expressed excitement about having a student author. “Phillips is lucky to have her!” she said.
Cheshire described Rojas-Patino as someone who does not seek the spotlight, though Rojas-Patino said she has become more comfortable speaking in front of audiences since the book’s publication.
Although still in eighth grade, Rojas-Patino has gained valuable insights from the experience. “I never realized how much work goes into making and promoting a book, and how difficult it is to tell a story in the way you want people to understand, because everyone has their own perspective,” she said.
