Surviving the City

Dez and Miikwan are best friends. They are two teenage girls trying to navigate the social and cultural challenges of being female and Indigenous. But when Dez’s grandmother can no longer take care of her, Dez runs away for fear of being placed in the foster system, leaving Miikwan devastated and bringing up old wounds from her own mother’s disappearance. Suitable in a secondary classroom, this engaging graphic novel highlights current issues for Indigenous people in Canada authentically and carefully. The novel is appropriate as a read-aloud, in literature circles, or as an independent read; it can complement an exploration of identity and social justice—allowing Indigenous readers to feel validated and non-Indigenous readers to gain an understanding of culture and the challenges faced by Indigenous families and communities.