Awol

By Marla Lesage

Leah faces her father's PTSD and a new friendship challenge while her mother is away.

3.8/5 Goodreads · 106 ratings

224 pages· 3,614 words· Est. 33 min read

$19.95Save 5%

In stock. Also at Amazon or Bookshop.

Bookroo's summary

Eleven-year-old Leah is used to moving, but this summer, she's staying put as her best friend leaves. With her mother away for training, Leah must cope with her father's unpredictable PTSD. When a new girl arrives in the neighborhood, Leah navigates the complexities of friendship while managing the emotional storms at home. Can she find stability amidst the chaos?

From the publisher

A moving graphic novel, AWOL explores the realities of PTSD from a kid’s perspective. The book includes an author’s note and kid-friendly mental health resources. As a military child, eleven-year-old Leah moves…a lot. But this summer she will be the one left behind when her best friend’s family is reassigned. To make matters worse, her mother will be away for training, leaving Leah at home with her father, who has just returned from deployment. When a new girl moves into her neighborhood, Leah must navigate the ups and downs of making a new friend while avoiding her father’s unpredictable mood swings. Praise for We Wear Masks, winner of the Alice Kitts Memorial Award for Excellence in Children’s Writing 2020: “A timely book. The engaging rhymes and beautiful illustrations representing diverse community members, show readers different reasons masks are worn.”–The Toronto Star “A book for the moment in which we find ourselves, and it offers a ready avenue for opening discussions with our children about what is occurring in the world around them. Recommended.”–CM: Canadian Review of Materials

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