Vermont Reads

Since 2003, Vermont Humanities has invited students, adults, and seniors across the state to read the same book and participate in a wide variety of community activities related to the book’s themes. The 2022-23 Vermont Reads pick is The Most Costly Journey, a graphic novel that explores the lives of migrant farmworkers in Vermont. 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. The Most Costly Journey tells the stories of 19 of these workers in their own words. Illustrated by New England cartoonists in a variety of styles, each short chapter describes aspects of life as an immigrant farm worker in Vermont.

This webpage is the digital companion to Jericho Town Library's take-home reader's guide, which is intended to help readers understand the context of this book, engage with the issues it raises, and learn more. All of the resources referenced in the print guide are linked on this webpage for easy access. Fill out this quick form to sign up to receive your guide: the first ten participants will receive a free copy of the book as well. 

Support Migrant Workers

Once you have read The Most Costly Journey, explore some ways you can engage with the causes mentioned in the book. You can support organizations that work to improve the lives of migrant workers with more than just a financial contribution: your time, attention, and effort are all valuable commodities that can make a big difference. The list below is a collection of Vermont organizations doing valuable work in our state: Visit their websites to learn about current volunteer opportunities and other ways you can help.

Further Reading

Read more fiction and nonfiction stories about farmworkers, migration, Latinx identity, and life as an undocumented immigrant. Jericho Town Library has all these books in our collection!
For Adults For Younger Readers

Other Resources

Podcasts, films, and articles related to The Most Costly Journey. Click the link to access each resource for free.
  • "After the Crossing" / Before Your Time, 2019. This podcast highlights the stories of immigrants that have largely been excluded from the popular image of Vermont throughout the state's history. Includes a segment about The Most Costly Journey, featuring interviews with Julia Doucet and Marek Bennett.
  • "What's It Like to be a Migrant Worker in Vermont?" / Brave Little State, 2017. VPR's people-powered journalism podcast spends time with some of the migrant workers--documented and undocumented-- who keep many of Vermont's farms running.
  • Estrellita (Little Star), 2018. In this short animated film, a girl growing up on a Vermont dairy farm discovers a tragic reality about her family.
  • Under the Cloak of Darkness, 2008. This feature-length documentary about Vermont's migrant Mexican farm worker population aims to humanize this invisible community and bring to light the issues surrounding migrant labor.
  • "Who Wants to Work on a Vermont Dairy Farm?" / Seven Days, 2019.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Vermont Humanities for their robust collection of online resources related to this book. Much of the text on this page and the reader's guide is sourced from their website.
Thank you to Migrant Justice, Ben & Jerry's, and Vermont Reads for donating the materials to make this reader's guide more engaging than just a packet of paper!