sidbookreviews's review against another edition

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challenging informative fast-paced

5.0

Wow, this book is so good. This Place: 150 Years Retold is a gorgeous, informative and powerful graphic novel anthology that showcases lush illustrations, storytelling and Indigenous resistance throughout history. This is exactly the type of book I wish I had in my classrooms growing up. I think a lot of times we learn about history in Canadian classrooms not only through a lens that doesn’t centre Indigenous voices the way it should, but that also doesn’t teach about the individual stories of marginalized people, the things they accomplished, and their communities. I could probably count on only one hand the number of times I have learned, in-depth, about the story, impact and life of someone who is not a white man in school. I think This Place does exactly the opposite in that it showcases Indigenous creators and tells the stories of real people, their lives, activism and accomplishments in an immersive way. The graphic novel style is super accessible and engaging for audiences of all ages, and I think there is really something for everyone in this book, as there are so many diverse genres, illustration styles and stories represented. Some of my favourite stories from this anthology are Tilted Ground, Peggy, Nimkii and Like a Razor Slash, but all of them are fantastic. This Place takes the reader on a journey through history, telling the story of 150+ years of genocide, colonialism and Indigenous resistance in what is now Canada. It brings life to Indigenous stories, history and historical figures in an extremely powerful and impactful way, and I can’t recommend it enough.

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notthatlibrarian's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative fast-paced

4.5


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lyderz_'s review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative reflective fast-paced

5.0

 “Indigenous writers have pointed out that, as Indigenous people, we all live in a post-apocalyptic world. The world as we knew it ended the moment colonialism started to creep across these lands. But we have continued to tell our stories; we have continued to adapt. Despite everything, we have survived.” -Alicia Elliot

This Place: 150 Years Retold is a graphic novel anthology made up of ten stories written and illustrated by Indigenous creators. It explores the past 150 years of Canadian history and policy from Indigenous perspectives. Each story is powerful and unique, I enjoyed the mix of art styles and narrative voices. I found that it was enriching and informative while still being easy to follow. I appreciated that at the beginning of each story there was a note from the authors providing some background as well as a timeline to orient the reader, especially because I am not very familiar with Canadian history. This book is about the countless horrors of colonialism, it is about pain, and adaptation. But it is also about hope, culture, community and strength. The power of storytelling is a consistent theme as a means of shining a spotlight on Indigenous heroes who live on in their legacies and stories. This book is a remembrance of the past, a testimony of survival and a letter of hope for the future. I honestly think that everyone should read this book in the spirit of uplifting Indigenous voices and listening to their stories in their own words and on their own terms.



 

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