Dez's grandmother has passed away. Grieving, and with nowhere else to go, they're living in a group home. On top of everything else, Dez is navigating a new relationship and coming into their identity as a Two-Spirit person.

Miikwan is crushing on the school's new kid Riel, but doesn't really understand what Dez is going through. Will she learn how to be a supportive ally to her best friend?

Elder Geraldine is doing her best to be supportive, but she doesn't know how to respond when the gendered protocols she's grown up with are being thrown into question.

Will Dez be comfortable expressing their full identity? And will their community relearn the teachings and overcome prejudice to celebrate them for who they are?

Dez and Miikwan's stories continue in this sequel to Surviving the City.

About the Author
Tasha Spillett, PhD, (she/her/hers) is a New York Times bestselling author, educator, and public speaker who draws her strength from her Cree and Trinidadian bloodlines. Tasha's work centers around the liberation and affirmation of BIPOC women and children. She acknowledges her unique opportunity and responsibility as an Afro-Indigenous woman to create learning environments that are culturally responsive. Infusing her teaching with cultural knowledge, Tasha supports and fosters belonging amongst BIPOC students and their families. Tasha is the author of the award-winning graphic novel series, Surviving the City, the New York Times bestselling picture book, I Sang You Down from the Stars, and Beautiful You, Beautiful Me. Tasha weaves her cultural identity into both her trade and scholarly work focusing on issues affecting Indigenous women like calls for justice for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit people. Her work is a continuation of the resistance against the legacy of colonialism and a celebration of the beauty and brilliance of her ancestors. Natasha Donovan (she/her/hers) is a Metis illustrator originally from Vancouver, British Columbia. Her sequential work has been published in This Place: 150 Years Retold, Wonderful Women of History, and Thomas King's graphic novel Borders. She is the illustrator of the award-winning Surviving the City graphic novel series and Mothers of Xsan children's book series, as well as Classified: The Secret Career of Mary Golda Ross, Cherokee Aerospace Engineer. She currently lives by the Nooksack River in Washington State. @natashamdonovan Since 1998, Donovan Yaciuk (he/him/his) has coloured books published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse comics, and HighWater Press including the A Girl Called Echo and The Reckoner Rises series, as well as select stories in This Place: 150 Years Retold. Donovan holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Honours) from the University of Manitoba and began his career as a part of the legendary, now-defunct Digital Chameleon colouring studio. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, with his wife and two daughters.

Reviews

Among CCBC's Best Books for Kids and Teens list, designated a title of exceptional caliber

* The Canadian Children's Book Centre (CCBC) *

Moving and heartfelt, readers definitely will want to know what happens next.

-- Jeffrey Canton * The Globe and Mail *

Surviving the City and From the Roots Up are beautiful, poignant, and emotional. I highly recommend you read these graphic novels.

* The Tiny Activist *

Every single thing about these volumes is important. They are beautifully written, fantastically illustrated, at times heartbreaking, humourous, and rooted in Indigenous strength.

-- Dani @thunderbirdwomanreads

This story is so important. The illustrations in this book are gorgeous, and add so much depth to the story. This book is an essential addition to classroom and libraries.

* Bit About Books *


Awards
Short-listed for McNally Robinson Book for Young People (Older Category) 2021 (Canada) and Forest of Reading Red Maple Award 2022 (Canada) and Mary Scorer Award for Best Book by a Manitoba Publisher 2021 (Canada) and Carol Shields Winnipeg Book Award 2021 (Canada) and Indigenous Voices Award, Published Graphic Novels, Comics, and Illustrated Books in any Language 2021 (Canada). Nominated for MYRCA Northern Lights 2022 (Canada).



Book Information
ISBN 9781553798989
Author Tasha Spillett
Format Paperback
Page Count 64
Imprint HighWater Press
Publisher Portage & Main Press
Weight(grams) 177g
Dimensions(mm) 254mm * 165mm * 4mm