Book Club Run of Refugee High with Elly Fishman

Join Read & Run Chicago guide Courtney Ruhland for a three-mile run through Rogers Park, one of the city’s most diverse neighborhoods, as we bring to life Elly Fishman’s award-winning book Refugee High.

Fishman’s nonfiction work chronicles the 2017–2018 school year at Sullivan High School, where students—many of them recently arrived refugees—navigated adolescence against the backdrop of some of the most intense anti-immigrant rhetoric in decades. Along the route, you’ll see Rogers Park through the lens of their stories, connecting the neighborhood’s streets to the lived experiences of the teens who call it home.

The run concludes with complimentary bubble tea and an in-person Q&A with author Elly Fishman!

As with all Book Club Runs, we strongly recommend you read Refugee High prior to attending. Grab a copy from your local library branch or purchase from your favorite indie bookstore or online here through our Bookshop.org affilate page.

The TL;DR:

ARRIVE: Arrive at Chi Tea (6474 N Sheridan) between 9:45am-10:00am to check in and get your name tag.

ROUTE: Our easy-paced (11:00-12:00 minute/mile) three-mile guided run features various stops.

POST-RUN: After the route, we'll hold an in-person Q&A with Refugee High author Elly Fishman.

INCLEMENT WEATHER PLAN: If it becomes unsafe to run outside, we will hold a modified version of the event at 10:00am. You will be notified via email no later than 8am on Sunday, November 22 if there are any changes to the event.

All ticket holders will receive reminder emails and details 2 days and 4 hours prior to the event.

About your hosts:

Courtney Ruhland: Courtney is a Chicago transplant from Omaha, Nebraska. After living in New York for several years, she will always pick Chicago over New York City as her favorite city. When not seen running around her neighborhood of Rogers Park, she works in Human Resources and loves reading and cuddling on the couch with her three cats.

Read & Run Chicago is the flagship chapter of Read & Run Tours, LLC—the nation’s first and only organization hosting running events inspired by books. Founded in 2021 by queer educator, writer, and runner Allison Yates, our mission is simple: to use movement and stories to explore place. Our community-centered programming includes running tours, book club runs, author talks, and other literary-themed fun runs—all inspired by books set in our cities and written by local authors. Along the way, we champion literacy initiatives, public libraries, independent bookstores, and the writers who bring our communities to life. In Chicago, we’ve hosted nearly 120 events featuring 30+ authors and local experts. Our work has been highlighted by CNN, Runner’s World, Midwest Living, NBC’s Chicago Today, FOX32 Good Day Chicago, WGN Radio, Block Club Chicago, and more. More information at readandrunchicago.com, Instagram, and Facebook. guide