Big Apple Diaries

Big Apple Diaries is a poignant graphic memoir based on author Alyssa Bermudez's own middle school diaries. It chronicles 12-year-old Alyssa's life in New York City in the year 2000, as she navigates common pre-teen challenges: a new living arrangement between her parents, middle school social dynamics, a first crush, and exploring her biracial Puerto Rican identity. The narrative takes a significant turn with the events of September 11, 2001, showing how Alyssa and her community cope with the tragedy. The book emphasizes resilience, family support, and finding strength amidst uncertainty, making it a powerful read for discussing personal growth and historical events.

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.