“¡Conectados!”: A Spanish Groundbreaking Graphic Novel Confronts Bias in Tech and Champions Diversity in STEM
- Tyzza Macias
- May 16
- 4 min read

A new generation of readers is about to meet their digital reckoning and their empowerment.
With the April 29 release of ¡Conectados!, MIT Press launches more than just a Spanish-language graphic novel. It introduces a vibrant, culturally resonant teaching tool designed to disrupt a flawed tech narrative and invite a new generation of changemakers to the table.
Created by award-winning educators and researchers Jean J. Ryoo and Jane Margolis, ¡Conectados! Follow four teens: Taylor, Christine, Antonio, and Jon, through their day-to-day realities until they stumble upon a racially biased AI system harming their community. What begins as high school drama quickly evolves into a sharp, clear-eyed exploration of how technology, when left unchecked, can reinforce the very inequalities it promises to erase.
"We wanted to create a story that speaks directly to young people about the reality of tech inequity while empowering them to see themselves as future innovators," said the authors.

Tech Isn’t Neutral—And It Never Was
As algorithms quietly shape decisions from hiring to housing, the story of ¡Conectados! It couldn’t be more urgent. The novel’s characters encounter barriers familiar to many marginalized students: gender stereotyping, limited access to computer science classes, and a lack of cultural inclusion.
These challenges reflect sobering statistics. According to federal data, over half of U.S. public high schools with majority Black and Hispanic student bodies offer no computer science instruction. Nearly half also lack physics.
"Too often, students have shared that computer science class just focuses on programming, divorced from the larger social, historical, and political context in which computer science exists," said the authors.
From Comic Panels to Critical Consciousness
What sets ¡Conectados! Apart is its accessibility. Illustrated by Charis JB and translated by Mariana Llanos, the book interweaves its narrative with digestible computer science explainers and spotlight features on pioneers like NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson.
"We opened the book with a mortal incident of racial bias using AI," said the authors. "We also begin the book demonstrating how young people today are not self-centered children who are incapable of asking difficult questions. Rather, as shown through our main characters, young people are bright, want to learn more, are capable of conducting their own research to answer challenging questions about who makes today’s technology, how technology can be biased, and what people can do to address these problems."
One example featured prominently is Dr. Joy Buolamwini, founder of the Algorithmic Justice League. "AI facial recognition systems that big corporations were selling and many institutions were buying and using... had less than a 1% error rate for identifying light-skinned men, but up to a 35% error rate when identifying dark-skinned women," the authors noted. "And she discovered how AI facial recognition was not able to read the features on her own face until she put on a white mask."
Why Representation in Tech Isn’t Just a Buzzword
The authors emphasize that disparities in access, not ability, explain why Latino/x students remain underrepresented in computing careers.
"Often there are less CS learning opportunities in schools with high numbers of low-income students of color," said the authors. "And, often in these schools, the CS curriculum is just basic rudimentary skills, and not the computational thinking, problem solving, and algorithmic thinking necessary to really understand and create with computer science."
They found that early exposure—often a privilege of wealthier households—skews perceptions of who’s "born to code."
"We also witnessed biases from adults (teachers, counselors) and students themselves that identified interest and capacity to do CS with those who look like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs (ie. white males) and assumed that other students are not interested or capable. But, we found that this is NOT true."
Why a Spanish Edition Matters
"We are hoping that ¡Conectados!—both the story, the characters, and the language will make a big message to the Spanish-speaking youth and families that ‘YOU BELONG’ in the field of computer science and tech-based spaces," said the authors.
Publishing ¡Conectados! It was years in the making. With strong editorial support from MIT Press and funding from the Kapor Foundation, the translation came to life with a mission: to reach Spanish-speaking households in cities like Los Angeles, where 75% of public school students identify as Latin/Hispanic.
"We also hope that Spanish-speaking communities will recognize that the field needs them: their perspectives and experiences can greatly improve STEM and tech fields specifically, and all fields more broadly."
Storytelling as Resistance
Amid rising political backlash against DEI initiatives, the authors remain steadfast.
"There could not be a more relevant subject than computer science and AI, both being intertwined with all aspects of our lives, affecting us deeply in ways we know and don’t know. So, we work to make education relevant and accessible for all."
They emphasized that accessibility includes diverse learning modalities, from Spanish editions to future audiobooks for blind and low-vision readers.
"Doing so is NOT discriminating against non-blind students! Likewise, creating a Spanish translation of Power On! is acknowledging the larger percentage of families that speak Spanish at home... We see this as being fair and equitable."
Impact, Accessibility, and the Power of Graphic Novels
When asked if translating decades of research into a visual format shifted their views on impact, the authors were clear:
"We wouldn’t say that this process challenged how we think about impact and accessibility. Rather, the process... simply reinforced what we already believe and know: All knowledge should be accessible to all people."
"This is why it was really important for us to involve students, educators, and parents in our graphic novel creation process."
"A critical lens on tech, that they can then bring to other subjects as well; seeing the relevance of these issues for their lives and why they are needed at the design table across the board in all subjects, including tech; and having voice, having agency, fighting for the education they deserve."
Available April 29, 2025 ¡Conectados! Now via MIT Press. This is more than a book, it’s a catalyst for change. Whether you’re a parent, an educator, or simply someone who believes in equity, innovation, and inclusion, ¡Conectados! is a vital read. Let this powerful graphic novel spark dialogue, inspire courage, and help shape a tech future that reflects us all—bold, brilliant, and beautifully diverse.