Run Home: A Graphic Memoir

Gr 9 Up–From the first page, Bermudez pulls readers into her graphic memoir with vivid and exciting illustrations, following the immediately likeable Alyssa from her reluctant start on the middle school cross country team through high school, where she grows into an acceptance of who she is, despite enduring quite a few personal and collective tragedies. At the start, Alyssa struggles with normal middle school woes—fitting in, friends, grades, family dynamics, and a lot of forced running. But as her story progresses into high school, Alyssa’s concerns shift to her father’s illness, the aftermath of 9/11, and the grief both events carry. Through solid friendships, therapy through running, and a strong sense of self-care, Alyssa showcases the importance of taking time and surrounding oneself with a resilient community. Even though friendships can be difficult to navigate, especially during teen years, Alyssa demonstrates her skills of effectively communicating her needs during troubling times, even if she doesn’t get it exactly right at first. Alyssa’s grief is a rollercoaster, but by placing readers in her perspective, her thoughts and actions become understandable, and for those who have experienced grief firsthand, her progression is reassuring. Real photos, playlists, and suggested movies and books provide a sense that the reader is part of Alyssa’s close-knit circle of friends, something that is portrayed as essential to overcoming tough times.