Written by: Katherena Vermette
Illustrated by: Scott B. Henderson, color by Donovan Yaciuk
For ages: 12 years and up
Language: English, minor French.
Topics Covered: History, First Nations, Military Action, Growing Up, Family, Fantasy, Time Travel, Métis History.
Summary:
This is the third installment about the time-traveling adventures of Echo Desjardins, a Métis teenager learning about her own history. Echo is transported to 1885 in the heart of the conflicts between the Canadian government and Métis and First Nations people. This graphic novel builds on both the historical struggles of this time period as well as Echo’s own journey. Although the collective identity of Métis people is different from both European and First Nations people, they are identified as Indigenous people under Canadian law. There is a very helpful timeline of events in the back of these books, which help to place events that Echo witnesses in the greater timeline of this point in Canadian history.
This book, along with so many others that Highwater Press publishes, are fantastic. The melding of history and fantasy that focus on Own Voices is something the publisher does beautifully. The historical struggles of marginalized and oppressed peoples, like the Métis, are crucial to learn about and understand now. This graphic novel series are quick reads and can be the catalyst for further learning and study (like they were for us)! We love learning about Indigenous, First Nations, and Métis history, and if you do too then this is a series that can’t be missed!
This ARC was kindly sent to us by Highwater Press, but all opinions are our own. However, the book is out now!
About the Author & the Illustrator:
Katherena Vermette is a Métis writer from Treaty One territory, the heart of the Métis nation, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her first book, North End Love Songs (The Muses Company) won the Governor General’s Literary Award for Poetry. Her novel, The Break (House of Anansi) was bestseller in Canada and won multiple awards, including the 2017 Amazon.ca First Novel Award.
Her second book of poetry, river woman (House of Anansi) and eighth children’s picture book, The Girl and The Wolf (Theytus) were both released last year. She is also the author of the picture book series, The Seven Teachings Stories (Highwater Press) and the graphic novel series, A Girl Called Echo (Highwater Press). And, along with a whole team of talented filmmakers, she co-wrote and co-directed the short doc, this river (NFB) which won the 2017 Canadian Screen Award for Best Short.
Vermette lives with her family in a cranky old house within skipping distance of the temperamental Red River.
Scott B. Henderson (he/him/his) is author/illustrator of the sci-fi/fantasy comic, The Chronicles of Era and has illustrated select titles in the Canadian Air Force’s For Valour series and Tales From Big Spirit series, the graphic novel series 7 Generations and A Girl Called Echo, select stories in This Place: 150 Years Retold, Fire Starters, an AIYLA Honour Book, and Eisner-award nominee, A Blanket of Butterflies. In 2016, he was the recipient of the C4 Central Canada Comic Con Storyteller Award.
Since 1998, Donovan Yaciuk has done colouring work on books published by Marvel, DC, Dark Horse comics, and HighWater Press including A Girl Called Echo series and 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, MB Canada, with his wife and daughter.
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