Borders
Author(s): Thomas King
A stunning graphic-novel adaptation based on the work of one of Canada’s most revered and bestselling authors
On a trip to visit his older sister, who has moved away from the family home on the reserve to Salt Lake City, a young boy and his mother are posed a simple question with a not-so-simple answer. Are you Canadian, the border guards ask, or American?
“Blackfoot.”
And when border guards will not accept their citizenship, mother and son wind up trapped in an all-too-real limbo between nations that do not recognize who they are.
A powerful graphic-novel adaptation of one of Thomas King’s most celebrated short stories, Borders explores themes of identity and belonging, and is a poignant depiction of the significance of a nation’s physical borders from an Indigenous perspective. This timeless story is brought to vibrant, piercing life by the singular vision of artist Natasha Donovan.
Review(s):
"A simple yet powerful story . . . An important and accessible modern tale about the ongoing lack of recognition by colonizers for the Indigenous communities who continue to exist on their ancestral lands."
"The story highlights both the universal feelings of a family moving apart and a very specific Indigenous experience. . . . Brilliant."
"In this sparsely worded, moving graphic novel . . . the team adeptly captures the dilemma of Native Nations whose homelands were split by political borders. This sobering yet inspiring tale effectively spotlights a Native woman who quietly demands that her voice be heard and her identity recognized."
ISBN: 9781443460675