Anna Lapera and Pablo Leon with Jan Kittok who flew to D.C. for the event from Minnesota.
On September 24th, 2025, we filled every seat at Busboys and Poets 14th and V location for an evening with author and artist Pablo Leon as he discussed his new YA graphic novel,Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide. Also known for his illustrations of Marvel’s Miles Morales: Shock Waves, Leon combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with his personal experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to tell a story of family, sacrifice, survival, loss, and hope. Leon was interviewed by award-winning children’s book author and middle school teacher Anna Lapera in a conversation that explored the power of storytelling to preserve historical memory and connect generations.
Leon shared his inspiration for writing his new book, highlighting his own immigration story to the United States where Central American history is not taught in schools nor widely talked about. Speaking on the culture of silence stemming from families that have faced trauma as a result of brutal conflicts, Leon said, “Assimilation does not work because our history and culture is a revolving door. It hits us in the face.”
Leon has always had a passion for art. Inspired by graphic novels Maus and Persepolis, Leon wanted to blend art with storytelling to make this novel more accessible and approach heavy topics without overwhelming or scaring away young readers. He described the importance of art, “We have to look at our past to inform our future. Art is resistance.”
This event was part of the Beyond Heroes & Holidays series, co-hosted by Busboys and Poets and Teaching for Change, and celebrated Busboys and Poets’ 20th anniversary. It was also one of several activities leading up to Teach Central America Week (October 6–10, 2025).
Pablo Leon
Pablo Leon is an author and artist from Guatemala, currently living in Los Angeles and jumping between TV animation and comics. He’s an Eisner Award Nominee for his original comic “The Journey,” an account of an unaccompanied child coming from Central America to the United States, and he was the illustrator for the exciting middle grade graphic novel series Miles Morales at Scholastic. His passion for capturing historical memory in his art and stories has led him to his writer/artist debut Silenced Voices at HarperAlley Books, and his first animated short film Remember Us, which qualified for consideration for Best Animated Short Film for the Academy Awards. When he’s not working, he enjoys cooking alongside his helper cats, Agave, Moth, and Midna.
Anna Lapera
Anna Lapera is a Guatemalan-American author and educator. Her debut novel, Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice, is an International Latino Book Award winner, the 2025 International Literacy Association Honor Book, and was named one of the Best of 2024 by the School Library Journal, the New York Public Library, and others. She is a middle school teacher by day and is currently working on a young adult coming-of-age novel set in 1978 Guatemala City.
Silenced Voices: Author Talk with Pablo Leon
On September 24th, 2025, we filled every seat at Busboys and Poets 14th and V location for an evening with author and artist Pablo Leon as he discussed his new YA graphic novel, Silenced Voices: Reclaiming Memories from the Guatemalan Genocide. Also known for his illustrations of Marvel’s Miles Morales: Shock Waves, Leon combines historical research of the Guatemalan Civil War with his personal experiences as a Guatemalan immigrant to tell a story of family, sacrifice, survival, loss, and hope. Leon was interviewed by award-winning children’s book author and middle school teacher Anna Lapera in a conversation that explored the power of storytelling to preserve historical memory and connect generations.
Leon shared his inspiration for writing his new book, highlighting his own immigration story to the United States where Central American history is not taught in schools nor widely talked about. Speaking on the culture of silence stemming from families that have faced trauma as a result of brutal conflicts, Leon said, “Assimilation does not work because our history and culture is a revolving door. It hits us in the face.”
Leon has always had a passion for art. Inspired by graphic novels Maus and Persepolis, Leon wanted to blend art with storytelling to make this novel more accessible and approach heavy topics without overwhelming or scaring away young readers. He described the importance of art, “We have to look at our past to inform our future. Art is resistance.”
Following the conversation, attendees had the opportunity to purchase copies of Silenced Voices and Anna Lapera’s Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice and have them signed by both authors.
This event was part of the Beyond Heroes & Holidays series, co-hosted by Busboys and Poets and Teaching for Change, and celebrated Busboys and Poets’ 20th anniversary. It was also one of several activities leading up to Teach Central America Week (October 6–10, 2025).
Pablo Leon
Pablo Leon is an author and artist from Guatemala, currently living in Los Angeles and jumping between TV animation and comics. He’s an Eisner Award Nominee for his original comic “The Journey,” an account of an unaccompanied child coming from Central America to the United States, and he was the illustrator for the exciting middle grade graphic novel series Miles Morales at Scholastic. His passion for capturing historical memory in his art and stories has led him to his writer/artist debut Silenced Voices at HarperAlley Books, and his first animated short film Remember Us, which qualified for consideration for Best Animated Short Film for the Academy Awards. When he’s not working, he enjoys cooking alongside his helper cats, Agave, Moth, and Midna.
Anna Lapera
Anna Lapera is a Guatemalan-American author and educator. Her debut novel, Mani Semilla Finds Her Quetzal Voice, is an International Latino Book Award winner, the 2025 International Literacy Association Honor Book, and was named one of the Best of 2024 by the School Library Journal, the New York Public Library, and others. She is a middle school teacher by day and is currently working on a young adult coming-of-age novel set in 1978 Guatemala City.
Posted: August 1, 2025