Red Stones: A Graphic Account of the Salvadoran Civil War

Drawing from firsthand accounts, Saade (Just Another Story) crafts a visceral nonfiction graphic novel about the Salvadoran Civil War as experienced by resilient 12-year-old protagonist Miriam. Alternating between his interviews with adult Miriam in 2021 and the subject’s childhood in 1980 Santa Marta, the creator first details his traveling to El Salvador to visit Miriam, who greets him with a hearty meal and a warm smile. Soon after, Saade prompts the woman to begin telling her story, starting with the day she received her first pair of shoes. The protagonist recalls being a fast runner, a valuable skill in war-torn El Salvador: speed ensured she evaded capture by government soldiers as she delivered food and messages to nearby guerrilla fighters. Timecards highlight the passing months until, in March 1981, bombings prompt Miriam and her family to evacuate to a nearby village. But as conditions worsen, many Salvadorans—including Miriam—cross the Lempa River to Honduras, and though men employ guerrilla tactics to hold off pursuing soldiers, Miriam is soon caught in a bloody riverside attack. Simple paneling and cinematic plot beats convey a moving story of war and displacement set against a lushly rendered jungle backdrop with starlit night skies. Back matter includes additional historical information, maps, and photographs. Ages 14–up. Agent: Nicolas Grivel, Nicolas Grivel Agency. (Mar.)