TRIGGERS (but not limited to): sexual assault, smoking, drugs, alcohol, cultural situations
When I found the online link to I Run to Make My Heart Beat by Rachel Khan and illustrated by Aude Massot I thought it was something radically different from what it was. I assumed it was for the 10 and up crowd, or even younger. It was going to be about a girl who runs. Maybe she will have to overcome the fact she is of color, a woman, or maybe she would have some other issue (she was slow, but would train and win). I figured it would be quick and easy and I would come away with a “That was good.” Or, “Well that was a waste of time.” Well it turned out to be for at least a very strong aged 13 year-old reader, and I would even say 14 and up. It was about running but also more. And it was neither really great or really bad, but a very strong something in the middle. 
This book is a graphic novel about a young woman of mixed race and religion. She lives in France and is the daughter of a Polish Jewish mother and father a Muslim of Gambian background (or an African father and Eastern European Jewish mother). She is always trying to fit in, as she is neither really black enough or white enough, but she is “exotic enough” to be fetishized. She is black enough to be failed every paper by her racist professor. She is woman enough to be sexy but her father wants her only to be smart, study, get a good job and have the opportunities he and her mother didn’t have. She lives with her parents, younger brother, and maternal grandfather (who likes his vodka, misses his late wife, has some interesting comments and feelings).
Race plays a role with all characters (her father actually has issues with a friend of hers who is Muslim), as well as the fact she is Jewish, a woman of color and really good at running (jealousy from an Muslim teammate comes into play). If she is willing to put in the work. But things happen, some horrible (she is assaulted) and some are great (she meets a great guy…she thinks). Set in the mid-1990s some issues of then feel a bit dated, but others are all too familiar for today.
Overall this is an interesting story of trying to find who you are when all around you wants to label you their own way. There are several layers, yet also very straight forward. I found it clever and thoughtful. The illustrations might have been a bit more simple than I would have expected but they work well. The cover gives you an idea of what will be inside, but there is more going on there. The colors and details are not focal points, allowing you to focus on our main character.
Read via an online reader copy, though currently available.