In Big Apple Diaries, a heartfelt diary-style graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez, a young New Yorker doodles her way through middle school-- navigating crushes, friendship, fashion, and identity, as well as the world-changing consequences of September 11, 2001.

It's the year 2000 in New York City. For 12-year old Alyssa, a biracial Puerto Rican girl, this means all kinds of new challenges: splitting time between her dad's apartment in Manhattan and her mom's new place in Queens, navigating the ups and downs of middle school, harboring an epic crush on a new classmate, and figuring out how to be a real Puerto Rican. The only way to make sense of it all is to write and draw her thoughts and worries into her diary.

But, when a terrible tragedy strikes, Alyssa must find hope and strength within herself.

Fortunately, Alyssa's family and friends are safe, and through the shared love and support of her people and community, Alyssa discovers she can overcome anything... even middle school.

This honest, moving graphic memoir is based on Alyssa Bermudez's own middle school diaries before and after September 11, 2001.

In Big Apple Diaries, a heartfelt diary-style graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez, a young New Yorker doodles her way through middle school-- navigating crushes, friendship, fashion, and identity, as well as the world-changing consequences of September 11, 2001.

It's the year 2000 in New York City. For 12-year old Alyssa, a biracial Puerto Rican girl, this means all kinds of new challenges: splitting time between her dad's apartment in Manhattan and her mom's new place in Queens, navigating the ups and downs of middle school, harboring an epic crush on a new classmate, and figuring out how to be a real Puerto Rican. The only way to make sense of it all is to write and draw her thoughts and worries into her diary.

But, when a terrible tragedy strikes, Alyssa must find hope and strength within herself.

Fortunately, Alyssa's family and friends are safe, and through the shared love and support of her people and community, Alyssa discovers she can overcome anything... even middle school.

This honest, moving graphic memoir is based on Alyssa Bermudez's own middle school diaries before and after September 11, 2001.

This heartrending graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez (Big Apple Diaries) is a moving and unforgettable story about inner strength, healing, and finding hope.

It's 2002, and 14-year-old Alyssa is a freshman at a new high school where she knows NO ONE and the uniforms are hideous! What a disaster...

Even worse? Her parents are forcing her to join the cross-country team. No one needs to run, or sweat, this much!

Over time though, Alyssa actually starts to like running. She's getting better with practice, and some of the girls on the team are really nice. Alyssa begins to find a steady rhythm with high school, cross country, and her new stepfamily.

But Alyssa's dad is sick, and she doesn't know what to do. When the worst thing imaginable happens, Alyssa will need to count on her friends, family, and herself to keep running forward.

This heartrending graphic memoir by Alyssa Bermudez (Big Apple Diaries) is a moving and unforgettable story about inner strength, healing, and finding hope.

It's 2002, and 14-year-old Alyssa is a freshman at a new high school where she knows NO ONE and the uniforms are hideous! What a disaster...

Even worse? Her parents are forcing her to join the cross-country team. No one needs to run, or sweat, this much!

Over time though, Alyssa actually starts to like running. She's getting better with practice, and some of the girls on the team are really nice. Alyssa begins to find a steady rhythm with high school, cross country, and her new stepfamily.

But Alyssa's dad is sick, and she doesn't know what to do. When the worst thing imaginable happens, Alyssa will need to count on her friends, family, and herself to keep running forward.