A People Magazine Best Book ★ " The thematic and literary richness of this story is exhilarating." — Horn Book, starred review ★  "An important and accessible modern tale." — School Library Journal, starred review From celebrated Indigenous author Thomas King and award-winning Métis artist Natasha Donovan comes a powerful graphic novel about a family caught between nations. Borders  is a masterfully told story of a boy and his mother whose road trip is thwarted at the border when they identify their citizenship as Blackfoot. Refusing to identify as either American or Canadian first bars their entry into the US, and then their return into Canada. In the limbo between countries, they find power in their connection to their identity and to each other.  Borders  explores nationhood from an Indigenous perspective and resonates deeply with themes of identity, justice, and belonging. Gr 6 Up-Laetitia, a young Blackfoot woman living north of the Canadian border, moves to Salt Lake City after growing bored with her life, which is filled with tension between her and her mother. After some time has passed, Laetitia's mother and her little brother, who narrates the story, decide to take a road trip to visit, and so must pass through two border checkpoints: one for the United States and one for Canada. At each checkpoint, Laetitia's mother is asked her citizenship, and at each, she claims her Blackfoot nationality. Barred from entering the United States, Laetitia's mother is sent back to the Canadian border and isn't allowed to pass; she and her son find themselves stuck in the space in between, recognized as citizens of nowhere. King (Cherokee) and Donovan (Métis) create a simple yet powerful story of Indigenous endurance at the convergence of identity, culture, survival, history, and modern politics. Although Laetitia is named, her mother and brother are not, signifying the difference in recognition paid to those who readily accept colonial practices and those who do not. White characters are also identified by their given names. Donovan's steadfast style is easily and immediately recognizable. A natural palette of beige, gold, and similar earthy colors is used alongside a variety of blues depicting the daytime sky and the darkness of night. Strong lines and minimal backgrounds keep the focus on the characters' wide-eyed and expressive faces, working well with the character-driven narrative. Characters identify as white Americans or Canadians, and Blackfoot. VERDICT 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.-Alea Perez, Elmhurst P.L., ILα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. Praise for Borders : An American Library Association Notable Children's Book  A School and Library Journal Best Children's Book A Kirkus Best Book A Boston Globe Best Book An NPR Best Book A People Magazine Best Book  A Horn Book Fanfare Grand Canyon Reader Award nominee Little Maverick Graphic Novel nominee A NCTE Charlotte Huck Recommended Title    * "The story highlights both the universal feelings of a family moving apart and a very specific Indigenous experience." ― Kirkus, starred review * " The thematic and literary richness of this story is exhilarating, unsettling the insistent binary of American/Canadian nationalities for the lived reality of Indigenous nationhood." ― Horn Book, starred review * " Subtle and smart, this laconic graphic novel will linger with readers." ― Booklist, starred review * "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."    ― School Library Journal, starred review * " This sobering yet inspiring tale  effectively spotlights a Native woman who quietly demands that her voice be heard and her identity recognized."― Publishers Weekly, starred review "...a timely graphic novel about identity”― People Magazine Thomas King  has written several acclaimed children's books including  A Coyote Solstice Tale , illustrated by Gary Clement and  A Coyote Columbus Story , illustrated by Kent Monkman, which was a Governor General's Award finalist. He currently lives and works in Guelph, Ontario.  Natasha Donovan is a Métis illustrator with a focus on comics and children's illustration. She has illustrated several award-winning children's books including The Sockeye Mother by Brett Huson and the graphic novel Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett-Sumner. She has a degree in Anthropology from the University of British Columbia, and has worked in academic and magazine publishing. She currently lives in Bellingham, Washington.