We are proud to share THE MOST COSTLY JOURNEY (EL VIAJE MAS CARO) is Vermont Reads choice of 2022!

It was also selected by Pop Culture Classroom as a finalist for the 2022 Excellence in Graphic Literature Awards!

Several of The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) faculty and alumni contributed comics to this very important project which showcases the real-life stories of migrant farmworkers in their own words who are living and working in Vermont, most of whom are from Central America.

“Much of the work on Vermont dairy farms is done by people from Latin America. Over a thousand migrant laborers from Mexico and other countries milk cows, fix tractors, shovel manure, and take care of calves in our state… We invite Vermont communities to take part in Vermont Reads 2022 by planning projects centered around The Most Costly Journey and its themes of migration, farming, mental health, cartooning, family, labor movements, and the Latinx experience, among others.” – Vermont Humanities

“It’s hard to imagine other peoples’ lives. It’s harder still when those lives are hidden from public view. But in this book, the unimaginably difficult experiences of migrant and immigrant farmworkers are made vividly accessible. Through their own words, and the simple, direct drawings of their cartoonist collaborators, we see how they got here, what they’ve left behind, and what their long, long days are like. The original goal of this project was to give their subjects a voice, but every North American should read this book in order to understand the disturbing degree to which we all depend on the self-sacrifice of these workers. El Viaje Más Caro is a profound act of witness.” – Alison Bechdel

The book includes a forward by Julia Alvarez and introduction by Stephen R. Bissette. Artists include Tillie Walden ‘16, Iona Fox ‘15, Kane Lynch ‘16, Teppi Zuppo ‘15, John Carvajal ‘15, Angela Boyle ‘16, Glynnis Fawkes, Shashwat Mishra ‘16, Kevin Kite, Michael Tonn, Greg Giordano, Michelle Sayles, Ezra Veitch, and Rick Veitch, who is the fourth Vermont Cartoonist Laureate as well as a visiting artist and advisor at CCS, and Marek Bennett who served as an instructor at CCS, visiting artist, and advisor. The book was edited by Marek Bennett, Julia Grand Doucet, Andy Kolovos, and Teresa Mares.

The Center of Cartoon Studies is honored to be a participant in this powerful community-wide event and is looking forward to contributing to more such projects.

THE START DATE FOR VERMONT READS 2022: THE MOST COSTLY JOURNEY IS JULY 1, 2022. APPLICATIONS FOR PROJECTS WILL BE ACCEPTED THROUGH JUNE 30, 2023.

Learn more about Vermont Humanities VT Reads 2022 program, events, and to apply for a community grant for hosting Vermont Reads in your community:
vermonthumanities.org/programs/book-a-program/vermont-reads/vermont-reads-2022/

Grab a copy of THE MOST COSTLY JOURNEY (EL VIAJE MAS CARO): vermontfolklifecenter.org/elviajemascaro