Stealing Home By: J. Torres

Genre:  Historical Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 4+

Stealing Home is a Silver Birch 2023 nominee.  This graphic novel tells the story of Sandy, a young Japanese Canadian, who lives in Vancouver with his family.  When the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, Sandy's life suddenly changes for the worse.  Sandy spends time living in a remote camp with his family.  In this unthinkable situation, Sandy and the others find ways to show caring and find moments of joy.  This book includes an afterword that provides historical information.  This book is a great way to learn more about Canada's history.  I highly recommend this book.  

Snapdragon By: Kat Leyh

Genre: Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation: Grade 7/8

The rumour in Snapdragon's town is that the old lady who lives in the woods is a witch.  Could this Crocs wearing wearing woman really be a witch?  When Snapdragon begins working with the woman she finds out that there is a lot more to Jacks than meets the eye.  Snapdragon even finds out that Jacks has a special connection to Snapdragon's family.  This book has the themes of friendship, bullying and finding one's self.  I highly recommend this book and hope that there will be more stories to come for Snapdragon.

When Stars Are Scattered By: Victoria Jamieson & Omar Mohamed

Genre: Graphic Novel (based on real events)
Age Recommendation: Grade 6+

"When Stars Are Scattered" tells the story of Omar and his younger brother, Hassan, who spent most of their lives in the world's largest refugee camp, Dadaab, in Kenya.  Omar and Hassan were forced to flee their home in Somalia because of civil war.  The civil war left their father dead and the boys separated from their mother.  In the camp, Fatuma acts as their foster mother, helping to care for the pair.  This books provides the reader with a glimpse of life in a refugee camp and allows readers to see how hope and community can exist even in the most challenging circumstances.  I am not usually a reader of graphic novels, but really appreciated how the illustrations helped to enhance Omar's story.  I recommend this book to those who enjoy learning about real life events and how they impact people.

Surviving The City Volume 2: From The Roots Up By: Tasha Spillett

Genre: Realistic Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 7/8

This is the second graphic novel in the Surviving The City series and is a Red Maple 2022 nominee.  In this book, we learn more about best friends, Miikwan and Dez.  Dez's grandmother has passed away and Dez is now coping with living in a group home.  Miikwan and Dez are still best friends, but Dez now has a special friendship with another youth from her group home.  Dez is learning more about herself and her identity as a Two-Spirit person.  All of the characters learn more about allowing people to live as their true selves.  This is an interesting sequel to volume one and I learned a lot from this book. 

If I Go Missing By: Brianna Jonnie with Nahanni Shingoose

Genre: Realistic Fiction, Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  YA/Grade 7-8

This Red Maple 2021 nominee is based on a letter Brianna Jonnie wrote to the Winnipeg Police when she was fourteen years old.  Brianna is Ojibwe and had noticed that when young Indigenous people went missing it took longer for the police to respond than it did when non-Indigenous youth went missing.  Brianna's letter has been turned into a powerful graphic novel that helps the reader become more aware of the issues and stereotypes Indigenous women and girls face.  I highly recommend this book. 

The Poet - Pauline Johnson By: David A. Robertson

Genre:  Historical Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 5+

Pauline Johnson, also known as, the "Mohawk Princess", was from the Grand River Reserve in Ontario.  She had a dream of having a book of her poems published.  In order to achieve this dream, she travelled across Canada performing her poems.  This is an interesting introduction to the life of Pauline Johnson.

A Blanket of Butterflies By: Richard Van Camp

Genre: Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 5+

One day a mysterious stranger, Shinobu, arrives in Fort Smith from Japan.  He is there to get his family's samurai suit and sword from the local museum.  When he learns that the sword is being held by "Benny the Bank", he needs the help of a young boy and his grandmother to get the sword back.

The Rebel: Gabriel Dumont By: David A. Robertson

Genre:  Historical Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 5+

Tyrese doesn't enjoy history class.  His friend Levi introduces him to the great Metis leader, Gabriel Dumont and Tyrese realizes that history isn't so boring after all.  This book introduces the reader to Gabriel Dumont's life and role in the Northwest Resistance.  This book connects nicely to grade 7 and 8 history.

The Peacemaker - Thanadelthur By: David A. Robertson

Genre:  Historical Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 5+

When Cole is caught doodling in class, the consequence is that he must do a presentation about an important Indigenous person the next day.  Cole seriously considers pretending he's sick to avoid doing the presentation until his sister tells him about Thanadelthur.  Thanadelthur was a Dene woman who was captured by the Cree.  When she escaped and ended up at Fort York, she was given the task of helping to create peace between the Dene and Cree people.  This graphic novel tells her incredible story. 

Sugar Falls: A Residential School Story By: David A. Robertson

Genre:  Historical Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 7/8

Sugar Falls is based on the residential school experience of Betty Ross, an Elder from Cross Lake First Nation.  When Betty was just five years old, she was abandoned by her mother.  Her mother had attended residential school and the scars from this experience made it difficult for her to parent Betty.  Fortunately, Betty was taken in by a caring family.  Betty's adoptive father knew that she would have to go to residential school and tried to prepare her for this by giving her ways to deal with the darkness the school would impose.  Betty's experience at school was terrible, but thanks to her father, she was able to find inner strength.  The illustrations in this graphic novel are powerful and the graphic format makes the residential school experience accessible to a variety of readers.  I highly recommend this book.

Crush By: Svetlana Chmakova

Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 6+

"Crush" is Svetlana Chmakova's third book in the Berrybrook Middle School graphic novel series.  Her previous books are "Awkward" and "Brave", however, it is not necessary to read these to enjoy "Crush".  Jorge, Olivia, and Garrett are best friends and have been forever.  Jorge is a big guy and some people may find him a bit scary, but he is kind and makes sure that bullies do not treat people badly.  In this book, it seems everyone has a crush on someone and Jorge finds this all very amusing until he realizes that he has a crush on someone too.  This book provides a good look at friendship and some important lessons about gossiping.  This book is a Red Maple 2020 nominee. 

Operatic By: Kyo Maclear & Byron Eggenschwiler

Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Graphic Novel
Age Recommendation:  Grade 7/8

Charlie's final year of middle school is coming to an end when she is assigned a music project - find the song that perfectly matches you.  As the grade 8 music teacher exposes them to different types of music, each student discovers the song that is meaningful to them and Charlie discovers opera.  Charlie is moved by the music of famous opera singer, Maria Callas, and as she learns about the challenges Maria faced in her life, Charlie better understands her own challenges and those of the people around her.  This is a story of friendship, bullying, and first crushes.  If you enjoyed "Drama" by Raina Telgemeier, you will likely enjoy this book too.  This book is a Red Maple 2020 nominee.

Surviving the City Volume 1 By: Tasha Spillett & Natasha Donovan

Genre:  Realistic Fiction/Graphic Novel

Age Recommendation:  Grade 7/8

"Surviving the City" is a Red Maple 2020 nominee.  In this book, we meet best friends, Dez and Miikwan.  Miikwan is dealing with the recent loss of her mother.  Dez lives with her grandmother, but her grandmother's health is failing and Dez fears she will be moved to a group home.  The girls find strength in their friendship, community, and culture.  This book provides information about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.  This is a quick and interesting read that helps the reader learn more about some of the challenges faced by Indigenous people in Canada.