Soupy Leaves Home

by Cecil Castellucci, José Pimienta (Illustrations)

Set in 1932, this is the story of two misfits with no place to call home, who build a relationship during a train hopping journey from the cold heartbreak of their eastern homes toward the sunny promise of California.

Pearl "Soupy" Plankette ran away from her abusive father, but has nowhere to go until she stumbles upon a disguise that gives her the key to a new identity. Reborn as a boy named Soupy, she hitches her star to Remy "Ramshackle" Smith, a hobo who takes her under his wing. Ramshackle's kindness and protection go a long way to help Soupy heal from her difficult past. But Ramshackle has his own demons to wrestle with, and he'll need Soupy just as much as she needs him.

"A compelling graphic offering that explores relevant gender roles and self-identity through a historical lens." - from the Kirkus Starred Review

"VERDICT A well-researched and richly illustrated runaway tale that will appeal to fans of escapist fiction and thoughtful readers."-Anna Murphy, �Berkeley Carroll School, Brooklyn, From the School Library Journal review, March 2017

"Soupy Leaves Home tells the story of a time no longer familiar to us--a time of living the rails and simmering Mulligan Soup, a time of chosen names and secret languages--yet a tale that anyone with a longing heart and a restless spirit can relate to. It transports you magically to a place long gone, but its tale of poverty and survival are still as relevant as they ever were--the characters may be penniless, but they are so emotionally wealthy that this book leaves you filled with warmth, hope, and love."--Gerard Way

"Castellucci's heartfelt odyssey is a reckoning with death and identity on the tracks, brought to life by Pimienta's patient, ever-evolving use of color. Soupy Leaves Home is for all restless souls hungry to start again."--Nate Powell (March, Swallow Me Whole)

"A charming and optimistic slice of Americana."--Hope Larson (Wrinkle in Time, Batgirl)

"I love Cecil Castellucci, she is crazy and cool and full of energy and heart, and so is all of her work. And Soupy Leaves Home may be one of her finest and most effecting works yet!"--Jeff Lemire

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Comics, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade

208 pages, Paperback

First published May 2, 2017

About the author

Cecil Castellucci is an author of young adult novels and comic books. Titles include Boy Proof, The Year of the Beasts (illustrated by Nate Powell), First Day on Earth, Rose Sees Red, Beige, The Queen of Cool The Plain Janes and Janes in Love (illustrated by Jim Rugg), Tin Star Stone in the Sky, Odd Duck (illustrated by Sara Varon) and Star Wars: Moving Target: A Princess Leia Adventure.

Her short stories have been published in various places including Black Clock, The Rattling Wall, Tor.com, Strange Horizons, Apex Magazine and can be found in such anthologies such as After, Teeth, Truth & Dare, The Eternal Kiss, Sideshow and Interfictions 2 and the anthology, which she co-edited, Geektastic.

She is the recipient of the California Book Award Gold Medal for her picture book Grandma's Gloves, illustrated by Julia Denos, the Shuster Award for Best Canadian Comic Book Writer for The Plain Janes and the Sunburst Award for Tin Star. The Year of the Beasts was a finalist for the PEN USA literary award and Odd Duck was Eisner nominated.

She splits her time between the heart and the head and lives north and south of everything. Her hands are small. And she likes you very much.

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soupy Leaves Home is a beautiful and moving story about a young girl named Pearl, who leaves an abusive home, cuts off her hair, and cross dresses as a boy known as Soupy, so she can ride the rails as a hobo safely during the Great Depression era. I picked this book up at Toronto Comic Arts Festival (TCAF) where the author and illustrator signed my copy, and having read the book, the things they included mean so much more. This story made me cry when Pearl emerges as someone "formed and steady and [she] truly [is]," but I was moved at other times too by the Ramshackle's magic, the gratitude him and Soupy displayed for the smallest of kindnesses, and their code of helping / sharing (with) others to the best of their ability. I especially loved the way Jose illustrated the magical way Ramshackle saw the world and the future, those pages and panels were bursting with life in a time when people had so very little. As with all of Cecil Castellucci's work, this story involves themes of learning who you are, becoming comfortable in that knowledge, and finding people who respect, love, and know you for who you are, even when you aren't confident with living openly with your true self. Pearl finds her community, and by doing so she helps others and becomes someone who can ask for what she wants / needs to her live a full life. This book also deals with some harder subjects like abuse and loss, but is ultimately hopeful. Highly recommended!

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pearl runs away from an abusive father and reinvents herself as a boy named Soupy. As she leaves town, she meets Ramshackle, an older hobo who shows her the ropes and helps her heal her wounds. Ramshackle shares with Soupy, a unique magical outlook on life, wonderfully imagined by Jose Pimienta. Over the course of the next year riding the rails, she determines what she wants to do with the rest of her life. It's a coming of age story, set in the romanticized life of Depression era hobos.

Received a review copy from Dark Horse and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.

[Alexander Peterhans · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's 1932, America is in the grips of the Great Depression. In a small town on the East coast a young girl called Pearl tries to find reprieve from her abusive father, and finds that her grandmother feels she must have done something to deserve it.



Pearl runs away, and disguises herself as a boy. She meets a hobo called Ramshackle, and Pearl presents herself as a boy called Soupy. Ramshackle is a gentle soul who takes her under his wing, traveling across the country to California. Ramshackle has his own problems, for which Soupy will have to take him under her wing.



It's a moving story, although not one you will have heard in slightly other forms. It hits all the notes you'd expect from a hobo story set in the Great Depression, with extra attention to historical details, including the system of signage travelers used, and a set of general rules for hobos to live by.



I've recently read Stars, Hide Your Fire , another book drawn by Jose Pimienta, and in both books he depicts the magical (whether it's actual magic or not) with what look like flurries of wind, carrying flowers and feathers. It was kind of cute in Stars, Hide Your Fire, but now seeing it's sort of a repeated trick does diminish its impact. I find Pimienta's style to be a bit too inconsistent for my tastes.

This second edition printing includes a hefty amount of extra information and educational guide, and a reading list for those wanting more.

(Thanks to Dark Horse Books for providing me with an ARC through Edelweiss)

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soupy, tired of being abused, leaves home and joins Ramshackle hopping trains. The hobo taught Soupy self-preservation while living off the grid and while escaping law enforcement.

Soupy, while on the run with Ramshackle, learns critical thinking, how to apply logic to any situation, how to use his imagination, survival skills, how to recognize friendship, how to depend on his senses, how to see things for what they are not for what they seem to be along with other useful skills. Soup learned the hardship of being dirty, hungry and cold. Soupy had a secret he wanted to share with Ramshackle but learned Ramshackle already knew.

A most satisfying and enjoyable read.

Like movies use music to change scenes, author Goblet uses color and it worked very well.

[Rod Brown · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hobo life during the Great Depression romanticized to the point of ridiculousness.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can't believe I forgot to review this! This is an amazing book, bittersweet and fascinating, about a young girl who leaves home to "ride the rails" during the Depression. Loved this interesting slice-of-life, the story instantly drew me in. The sort of pea soup color of the cover, while fitting, is so unappealing I almost didn't pick it up, which is why not five stars. I think the limited color use was perfect for the book, but seriously . . . this cover color!

[Kimberly Francisco · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was not good. I find the "wise hobo" trope a bit offensive in general - "I just couldn't stop wandering, that's why I have no home! You don't need food, you just need dreams and happy thoughts! Our imaginations will keep us warm!"

The story itself was sometimes hard to follow due to unclear transitions, and the ending is totally implausible with Remy magically having a valuable patent in his name, Pearl's grandmother doing a complete 180, and Pearl's father deciding it's OK for her to go to college and stop beating the shit out of her.

I also thought the art was ugly.

[Raina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Historical fiction graphic novel about hobo culture, with special focus on code/signaling systems and the slight twist of the protagonist being a teenage girl taking on a breeches disguise.

I liked the color-work and the story was accessibly told. Wish the title was a bit more evocative of the plot - it took flipping through it to remember the story when I picked it up a month or so after I read it.

Unique subject matter told very well. Particularly liked the way the MC dealt with her trauma and related to the other hobos.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had no idea what I was getting into with a title like this, but Cecil Castellucci's Boy Proof is one of my favourite books ever (right book about the right geek girl loner at the right time in high school - held up to so many rereads), so I decided to give it a shot.

Turns out this graphic novel had me more in the mind of Ruta Sepetys with a lone late-teenage protagonist on a journey in a well-researched, neglected aspect of the past, dropping forgotten history along the way.

In particular, this covers US hobo code in 1932 - complete with a syllabary for the signs. It also has plenty to say about women's rights in the US a decade after winning the right to vote.

Also, I am a complete sucker for the girl-disguised-as-a-boy trope.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

incredibly sweet, esp when read w a trans lens

[Ashkin Ayub · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the last five years, there have been a lot of decent graphic novels set during the American Great Depression. With Soupy Leaves Home, Cecil Castellucci delves into the remarkably tight and self-regulate society of 1930s hobos, as well as how they moved throughout the United States in rail carriages. There's a lot of melancholy here, as well as some magical realism. Even though the subject is maybe too exaggerated, we still have a wonderful narrative to appreciate about rediscovering oneself in the face of tragedy and grief.

Our character Ram will be pretty intelligent and truthful, as this is a narrative with a fair touch of magical realism. He will seek for beauty in every corner of the globe and teach Pearl how to dream and be content with the tiniest of pleasures. Even though she is aware that Ram is dying, she will learn to love him. Simultaneously, she will become entangled in hobo politics, with one of them betraying the gang and a couple near-captures by the cops threatening the hobos' survival. Pearl believes the stories about who is responsible for the latest stabbings and disturbances, but does she really know who is to blame?

Loneliness, misfits, the need to belong and be loved, and self-discovery are all trademarks of Castellucci's writing, in my opinion. The artwork is simple and effective in conveying the story's meaning. The black and white lines are simple but subtle, evoking 1930s artwork without being slavish. A monochrome color wash adds interest to the picture without overpowering it. The material is concise and does not overwhelm the reader.

Overall, this is a wonderful self-contained narrative that the author thoroughly researched. A great description of hobo traditions, societal hierarchy, and some of the difficulties they encountered in the 1930s America is included at the conclusion of the book.

[Jessica Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set during the Depression, an abused girl leaves home, disguises herself as a boy, befriends an old hobo, and begins a life of riding the rails. It’s not terribly realistic and has a very tidy ending, but I still enjoyed it. Kinda makes me want to be a hobo.

[Aletha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all but maybe 2 or 3 of Cecile Castellucci's and for me, it's always a guarantee I will not be disappointed. I enjoyed soupy especially all the information about being a hobo. I had no idea there was a code or that there was a difference between a hobo and a bum. I really liked the incorporation of the various signs to signal different things to the hobos and even more so that they were real.

One thing that I love about Cecile Castellucci is that she writes endearing characters such as Ramshackle. Don't get me wrong, I like Pearl but Rammy warmed my heart. If there's one thing I also know to expect from a Castellucci story is that there is a good possibility of some bittersweetness and I definitely got that as well. I held my breath the first time Ramey coughed.

I felt the art and the coloring matched the story well, it seemed "ol' timey."

The only issue - and I use that term very lightly - happened at the end with Pearl and a member of her family ( I'm being vague to not spoil the story for people). I wasn't too thrilled and it made me uncomfortable. I don't know if this was intentional. I'd definitely want to ask Ms. Castellucci about it of I get the chance.

[feux d'artifice · Rating 4 out of 5]

this found family of hobos bond over vagabonding and train hopping is so warm and tender let me wrap you all in my arms feels

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A moving story set during the Depression era in which a young girl runs away from her abusive household, cuts her hair, and roams the country as a hobo disguised as a boy. She develops a very close bond with Remy, a weathered old man who is also has some demons, and in the process grows up and into an independent person.

The language with which the story is told is so poetic and each line and the word choice is carefully considered. The story is expertly paced and the characters are so beautifully drawn. They are revealed gradually through their actions and some have their secrets which makes the pages fly by.

Back matter includes a spread that teaches readers about hobo signs which the characters in the book use; also preliminary drawings of the cover and main characters.

Middle grade, teen, and adult readers would enjoy this book, especially fans of historical fiction and readers who like to explore characterization.

[Kevin Dorsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

7.8/10 7 is average

Soupy Leaves Home is a fairly effective historical novel, which takes the form of a graphic-novel. The novel focuses on the experiences of hobos in the Great Depression. A limitation of many historical novels is their concern with accurately portraying historical events over creating an impactful story. Thankfully, the Soupy Leaves Home is a strong story and effectively helps explain the historical time it is about.

Soupy Leaves Home creates a historical narrative that avoids to explicit portray an event but instead tries to explain a particular experience in time. The novel’s narrative deals with a girl taking on the life of a hobo. This is not explicitly based on a real event but instead both works to both show what life could have been like for a hobo and to provide an organic method of explaining certain aspects of the hobo lifestyle. The girl, like the reader, begins as an outsider to the hobo world and learns about it in much in some ways that the reader does. This serves the same type of purpose as man narratives that utilize the amnesia trope but without the frustrating sameness of it. Even more importantly, the narrative avoids “info dumps” that are so common to world building and in narratives based on history. The type of experiences that reflect the hobo lifestyle, which the authors effectively research include hobo signs, hobo specific language, the Hobo Code, rest houses, and hobo courts. These are often explained implicitly through the actions or plot events, or are explained to the protagonist in a method that appears natural within the narrative. While it succeeds in effectively teaching the reader about the hobo experience, it equally succeeds as a narrative in its own right. What makes this narrative work so well is how it gives its two main characters, Pearl and Ramshackle, such relatable reasons to take on the life and reveals these reasons in satisfying ways. The authors do an effective job with subtly hinting at the two characters’ pasts and not explicitly telling the reader until it feels necessary in the text. It is at least a forth of the way into the novel until the reader learns that Pearl was escaping an abusive home. However, the authors imply this knowledge in a way to ensure the reader should be aware of this information well before the official reveal. It is just as effectively done with the character Ramshackle. Ramshackle often in the text is focused on finding new ideas and implies at many times that his own actions made him lose his family. One could have a sense that his risky tangential thinking made him lose his home and his relationship with his family and takes a life of a hobo to hide away from it. The authors wait till very late in the novel to fully reveal this fact and it feels that this is almost perfectly done. No other characters in the text, outside Professor Joe, are fully realized. This inability to fully develop its complete cast of characters holds Soupy Leaves Home from being a great rather than just a good novel.

Obviously since it is a graphic novel, the art work should be judged accordingly. I am no expert in the art work of Graphic Novels. From what I do know, I think it was really good. Character designs were attractive without failing to help characterize the characters. The authors use words rather sparingly letting the images primarily tell the story. This really makes the story telling of the novel very effective. The use of color in the novel is very effective. Most of the coloring, outside of parts of the imaginative thinking of the protagonist which contain an assortment of colors, is of a single color, brown, blue, or gray. This gives the novel an almost black and white film feel. It helps make the story feel as if it was in the past, and often effectively adds to the gritty atmosphere of the novel.

[Ann]

“Soupy Leaves home”, is an illustration of the great depression and some of the people who lived by the seat of their pants on the path that life handed them during this tumultuous time in American history. Pearl a girl who masquerades as a boy named Soupy, leaves her abusive fathers’ home on a journey of discovery. This story is set in a time when soup kitchens and the destitute were around every corner. Times were dark and the novel depicted monotone pictures that give the reader a sense of this dreary time. With characters like Soupy, Ramshackle and Professor Jack we get a glimpse of those folks that lived on the road of the Hobo. Ramshackle by far was my favorite character and made living on the road seem almost romantic.

What makes this graphic novel a must-read, is that it introduces wonderful pieces of history and adds depth to the story of a forgotten population. The novel speaks of Hobo Signs and slang, to the Code of the Road and pieces of songs from the 1930s that reflect on the tribulations of the Great Depression.
It all reminds me of the stories told to me by my Grand Mother of everyday folks warming their hands over open fire barrels and the soup lines that stretched for blocks. There are very few people alive today who remember these times and can share them with a generation of kids that carry phones in their pockets and credit cards in their wallets.
This story about humanity in the Great depression shows us time in history that young people may know little about. It introduces them to fragments of history long gone and many might say best forgotten.
This is a great story in Graphic Novel form that could be used at the middle to the high school level to teach Social Studies/Humanities, Sociology or even the emotional aspects of this very important time in our history. The colors and feel of the novel give the reader the feel of the darkness of a time period where many people suffered, starved, and found little to look forward to at times. Yet, the novel somehow shows the reader that no matter what time we are living through, all people have hopes and dreams and when push comes to shove, we can all make the best out of a bad situation.
Topics that could be discussed with this novel are: Dealing with abusive relationships, following your Dreams, or what it means and feels like to be uprooted.
I enjoyed this book very much.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soupy Leaves Home follows the journey of a girl known for much of the novel as Soupy. Soupy runs away from home to escape the abuse and authority of her father and joins a hobo named Ramshackle in his journey on the train tracks from town to town. The illustrations and writing in the novel complement each other to support the progression of the story, the development of the characters, and the emergence of the novel’s highly-relevant themes. With the vivid illustrations and descriptive text, the graphic novel is an entertaining read that could take hours to explore and unpack the perfectly-chosen details that fill each and every page.

At times, life on the tracks is somewhat idealized. The point behind this, however, may be to emphasize the freedom and discovery that that life both enables and champions. It is through that life on the tracks that Soupy develops a stronger sense of herself and it is through that freedom that she is able to take responsibility for and control of her path in life. If she had not joined Ramshackle in riding the trains around the country, Soupy may not have built the strength she needed to stand up to her father and embark on her own chosen path.

As a graphic novel, Soupy Leaves Home provides a valuable tool for educators to use to reinforce student exploration of sensitive or hard-to-grasp topics. The graphic novel focuses on an often-ignored population and uses their story to address pertinent issues of poverty, abuse, and gender roles in the Great Depression era, so it could easily find a home in any English or Social Studies classroom or school library.

[Maria-Giulia Bruni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soupy leaves home is a charming and optimistic tale about two misfits, running away from the emotional misery surrounding their homes. Soupy and Ramshackle build a relationship while train hopping from the east coast toward sunny California. Pearl "Soupy", runs away, feeling like she has no one to turn too or anywhere to go to escape her abusive father. After happening upon a disguise that reveals a path to a new identity, Pearl becomes reborn as a boy. She hitches a ride to a new start with Remy "Ramshackle", a kind and protective hobo who takes her under his wing. Ramshackle helps Soupy heal from her difficult past, introducing her to the secret language of the hobo jungle and how to see wonder in the world around her. On their journey together Ramshackle realizes that he needs Soupy just as much as she needs him, to wrestle the demons that torment him.
Soupy leaves home examines the realities of poverty and survival of the Great Depression-era of the United States in the 1930’s. Students will uncover the themes of friendship, self-identity, and of following dreams. Castellucci and Pimienta communicate how individuals deal with fear and abusive relationships, and the struggle of trying to find one’s place in the world while following the inner voices that give influence. A wide variety of writing prompts concerning cultural diversity, civic responsibilities, and social issues can lead to group discussions, developing critical reading and inference building skills.

[Evan]

While personally I did not enjoy the graphic novel, I believe graphic novels are a great way to reach students in the classroom. I think this graphic novel should be read by students in middle schools and high school. The idea of graphic novel is somewhat foreign to people, and because of that people shy away from them. I believe this would a graphic novel that a lot of younger students, and high schoolers would enjoy. I think changes of kids can look at men and woman and what is expected of them in society. It will make them think outside of the box. This is one thing graphic novels have over tradition material. Set in 1932, the same year my grandfather was born, Pearl “Soupy” Plankette escapes from an awful father who is abusive. Left with no where to go, she finds a key thing that lets her change her identity. She is changed into a boy named Soupy who then befriends a hobo named Remy “Ramshackle” Smith. Along the way they will have to face bad things. I liked the artwork and the coloring of the graphic novel, it really made me feel I was reading something set in 1932 America. Gender roles is a huge part of this graphic novel, talking about men and women throughout. The book, while appearing bleak and dark, has optimistic feelings to it. The language in the book was well done as well, she often uses slang for the hobo that I found very interesting. I would recommend this book to high school students, I think they should read it and make their own opinions.

[Molly Clemens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Soupy Leaves Home by Cecil Castelluccl tells a realistic story that some readers can relate to. Overall, I enjoyed reading this graphic novel and would recommend this story to all readers. Personally, I was able to relate to this graphic novel in numerous ways. I was raised by a single father just like Pearl was. Unfortunately, Pearl’s father was physically abusive which led her to running away. This leads Pearl to changing her identity and becoming a boy named Soupy. Not only is this graphic novel a touching story but it has a few different life lessons within the context.
When readers are able to relate to a story they gain a sense of not feeling alone and they find reading more enjoyable. As I was reading this book, I found myself making personal connections with the main character. When certain events or a sense of feelings developed, I was able to make a personal connections with the main character, Soupy.
Soupy Leaves Home is a great book for students who are developing reading. Students are able to fully engage in this story through minimal words and many pictures. Graphic novels are great books for developing readers because this style of literacy still allows them to explore the enjoyment of reading without dissecting the book word for word.

[Gilbert Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Soupy Leaves home. One of my favorite aspects was the art and the use of color in the images. The authors did a fantastic job creating a story and incorporating vivid images to supplement the plot. There are many different cities Soupy visits. I thought it was interesting the authors used a different color depending on where they were.

In addition to the illustrations, I also thought the plot it self was also amazing. It was incredible the authors packed so much into such a "small" graphic novel. So much happened during the duration of the story. My favorite aspect was seeing Soupy's growth as an individual.

There were many characters in the story that added to the wonderful plot. Going back to the illustrations, the facial expressions and actions that were illustrate in each frame made the read even better. One of my favorite characters was Ramshackle. The authors were able to create Ramshackle as a warm, welcoming individual. It was heart warming to go along the journey with him.

The themes of friendship, loyalty, trust and promise allow me to recommend this graphic novel for anyone.

[Faith Kraemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book that I selected to read this week is called Soupy Leaves Home by Cecil Castellucci. I personally have not read a lot of Graphic Novels, so reading this type of genre was a first time experience for me. I ended up really enjoying the book and thought I could relate to any human on a relationship stand point. I loved the idea that they were two misfit characters that found each other and created a friendship. I feel like this day in age with society everyone can feel like a misfit. In some places we fit in and other’s we are outcast but until we find that place to fit in feel safe and welcome. When Soupy finds Ramshackle they help each other on their journey and Ramshackle protects Soupy and Soupy helps Ramshackle so they were no longer misfits.
The time period of this book I thought added an important aspect to the story. It was set in 1932 which was the depression era. Overall I was surprised when finishing the novel, I found Soupy's character inspiring and resilient. I think this novel pertains to youth and finding yourself in life. Throughout the story I did have to go back a few times to comprehend what was taking place. Over all I enjoyed this Graphic Novel but I have decided Graphic Novels are not my favorite.

[Colona Public Library · Rating 3 out of 5]

When a young girl runs away from home and decides to ride the rails away. She disguises herself as a boy and luckily enough finds a hobo mentor to travel with. The story was ok, the layout was nice, and the coloring was very unique! I actually learned a lot about the hobo lifestyle, very nice to have all the songs and rules cited. It was really interesting to see the meaning of the symbols (and how nicely it was worked in with the title) and I really love the inspired reading list included in the back! I think this was worth the read and I would recommend it to those interested in historical fiction. ~Ashley

[Michael Fairley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the Depression-era United States, Cecil Castellucci’s graphic novel Soupy Leaves Home tells the story of a girl named Pearl who runs away from home and her abusive father. At first, Pearl has nowhere to go, until she finds a disguise and cuts off her hair, and introduces herself as a boy named Soupy. Soupy ends up meeting a hobo named Ramshackle, who takes her under his wing. Ramshackle is kind to Soupy and protects her, something that Soupy needs given her difficult past. However, Ramshackle has issues of his own, including problems with his health. As the story progresses, we see how Ramshackle comes to rely on Soupy just as she relies on him. The two journey across the country together, sometimes on their own, but sometimes in the company of other hoboes. Along their journey, they learn about themselves, face their demons, and follow their dreams.

I really enjoyed the visual storytelling of this novel. I especially thought that the color choice was well thought out and reflected the tone of the story. While the colors were often limited or muted, there were moments when much more color was used, which I think helped bring out the fantastical aspects of the story. The colors (or lack thereof) helped to relay the mood of the story very well. One other visual aspect that I appreciated was the moments of “silence” throughout the novel. There were times when panels or even pages contained no words, but other elements like the color and the artwork were able to convey a feeling or a message just as effectively. This is something that I enjoy about graphic novels in general, and I think this book did a great job of that.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Soupy is the moniker adopted by Pearl, a girl on the run from her abusive father who finds a home with a group of friendly hoboes. One of these hoboes takes her under his wing, teaching her how to hobo on her own (and believing her to be a boy) — right up until he gets sick and heads out west to end his days. Soupy follows, hoping for a chance to say goodbye. It's a pretty simple story, but wonderfully illustrated and nicely told.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Soupy Leaves Home is an incredibly moving story with characters that will leave a lasting impact on you. I was drawn into the story immediately; within the first few pages, I had questions that I was determined to find answers to. I learned a variety of things through this graphic novel. First, I learned a bit about history; for instance, I had no idea that the “hobo” life had its own culture, including a language, symbols, and justice system. From the novel, I also learned the importance of community. Hobos are not usually seen to have much in terms of possessions, but having each other seems to be more than enough for Rammy and Soupy. No matter the hard times they faced, Rammy was always able to help Soupy make it through. The community they had also helped in this endeavor. Another lesson learned was the unfairness and ignorance of “judging a book by its cover.” The Professor is a great example of this; everyone but Rammy (another hobo) judges the Professor because of a scar on his face and his tendency to remain isolated from everybody else. Rammy tells Soupy not to judge the Professor and that there is more to him than one could expect, but Soupy struggles with this. It is not until a situation occurs that could have gone terribly awry if it were not for the Professor, who stepped in and helped Soupy.

In regards to use in a classroom, I would most definitely use this graphic novel in the classroom. It is not a short read, but the way the author created and built the story, readers could lose themselves in it and be done in no time at all. Also, the lessons described previously, are incredible lessons that could be useful for anyone. As a social studies teacher, I would recommend using this novel during the Great Depression unit.

[Kris Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story about a young woman who wants to live her own life during the Great Depression but leaves home after a fight with her dad, cuts her hair and lives as a hobo, riding the rails. Great history and story about empowerment and honesty.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story about hobos during the depression, with a character also dealing with an abusive home and a lack of opportunities. I was impressed at how easily I could tell who the characters were, which for me is saying a lot.

[Lukas Holmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spectacular. Found myself openly crying at least twice. An important story of a bygone age that resonates today.