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Rabbit Chase

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available

A BookRiot "Don't-Miss 2022 Queer Graphic Novels & Memoirs"

Anishinaabe culture and storytelling meet Alice in Wonderland in this coming-of-age graphic novel that explores Indigenous and gender issues through a fresh yet familiar looking glass.

Aimée, a non-binary Anishinaabe middle-schooler, is on a class trip to offer gifts to Paayehnsag, the water spirits known to protect the land. While stories are told about the water spirits and the threat of the land being taken over for development, Aimée zones out, distracting themselves from the bullying and isolation they've experienced since expressing their non-binary identity. When Aimée accidentally wanders off, they are transported to an alternate dimension populated by traditional Anishinaabe figures in a story inspired by Alice in Wonderland.

To gain the way back home, Aimée is called on to help Trickster by hunting down dark water spirits with guidance from Paayehnsag. On their journey, Aimée faces off with the land-grabbing Queen and her robotic guards and fights the dark water spirits against increasingly stacked odds. Illustrated by KC Oster with a modern take on their own Ojibwe style and cultural representation, Rabbit Chase is a story of self-discovery, community, and finding one's place in the world.

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    • School Library Journal

      April 1, 2022

      Gr 5-8-In this debut graphic novel, Aim�e, an Anishinaabe nonbinary student, is visiting the Petroglphs with their school's Indigenous Students Association to make offerings to the Paayehnsag, water spirits who trust only the young. Feeling increasingly isolated, Aim�e, the target of bullies because of their pronouns, wanders off in the forest and encounters a white rabbit who can talk and read minds. Referring to the changing landscape and the presence of bulldozers, the rabbit warns that things will become dire "if we can't stop our land from being signed away." The rabbit implores Aim�e to convince the Paayehnsag to help them fight the enemies in the dark waters. Thus begins a journey reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland, with similar characters such as a tyrannical queen and an auntie who entertains around a table sporting a top hat. The inventive storytelling of this page-turner will entrance audiences. The author blends elements from this literary classic with aspects of Anishinaabe culture and vocabulary in an accessible manner. Translations are provided for reference. Oster's artwork has a fresh, contemporary feel that also gives voice to the traditional figures in Anishinaabe culture and reflects the changing landscape of the land. VERDICT A moving graphic novel that touches on identity and cultural legacy, and representation that is sure to impact young readers.-Claire Moore

      Copyright 2022 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      March 15, 2022
      Grades 3-5 "Columbus didn't discover America . . . If I could space-time travel, I'd stop him before he even got here," says Aim�e, a nonbinary Anishinaabe middle-schooler. This handily encapsulates the story's tone, which is poised between fantasy and the very real isolation of a bullied child. Embarking on a dreamlike Indigenous spiritual journey through the environs of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, Aim�e detours from their field trip to follow a white rabbit Trickster into battle with the land-grabbing Queen. The recognizable highlights of Lewis Carroll's surreal adventure make for an excellent way into what will be unfamiliar cultural ground for many young readers. Even as this engages with several significant and timely social issues (race, gender, bullying) in an accessible way, it also opens a window to seldom explored tribal cultures. The warm art highlights endearing characterizations, vast expanses of nature, and a realistically wide array of skin tones. The remote Aim�e finally finds the solution to their spiritual conundrum in cooperation and companionship, encouraging young readers to value these instincts on their own adventures.

      COPYRIGHT(2022) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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Kindle restrictions

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • Lexile® Measure:550
  • Text Difficulty:2-3

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