The Outside Circle

June 22, 2015
This debut graphic novel, pairing LaBoucane-Benson's words with Mellings's captivating art, take readers into the journey of a young aboriginal man from a life of violence and gangs to healing. The tragic toll Canada's colonial past has taken and still takes on young aboriginal people today is vividly brought to life when readers meet Pete. He's a thug collecting money for a drug dealer, but he is also taking care of his young brother Joey, with no father and a drug-addicted mother. When he comes home to find Joey sitting in an empty apartment, with all their belongings pawned for drug money, a violent confrontation with his mother's abusive boyfriend quickly ends with Pete's arrest, and Joey is placed in foster care. During Pete's incarceration, he is given a chance to transfer to an aboriginal healing centre and to be part of a program that teaches him about aboriginal history and culture. As he begins to find himself and develop an identity tied to a community, the story becomes one of hope, not only for Pete, but for all aboriginal people healing from the intergenerational wounds of Canadian colonialism.

October 1, 2015

Gr 10 Up-Pete, an aboriginal teen from Canada, has had a hard life. His mother is a junkie, and his mother's boyfriend is abusive. Pete's girlfriend has just told him she's pregnant, and like his father before him, Pete abandons her and rejects his unborn child. Pete's part of a gang that takes advantage of his rage against the world: he's the muscle who makes sure customers pay their debts. In a confrontation with his mother's boyfriend, Pete lashes out, killing the man. He's arrested and sent to prison, where racial conflict still drives his life. Meanwhile, Pete's little brother is at the mercy of a group home where he faces his own challenges, and life in a gang appears to be the only way to survive. After an altercation in prison, Pete is offered an opportunity to be a part of an intensive historical-trauma rehabilitation program called In Search of Your Warrior. In this program, Pete has the opportunity to face his past and the wrongs done to his ancestors in order to heal and find his path. The artwork in this book adeptly conveys the contrast between wearing a mask of rage and finding one's true path. The illustrations are interspersed with historical details that explain the trauma to the aboriginal people in Canada, while the story outlines a pathway to healing. The authentic, rage-filled language is edited out with symbols, making it more accessible to slightly younger readers, but the emotionally challenging narrative is more appropriate for older readers. VERDICT A beautifully and powerfully told story.-Heather M. Campbell, formerly at Philip S. Miller Library, Castle Rock, CO

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
Grades 9-12 Pete, descendant of the Canadian Cree First Nation, is caught in a vicious cycle of gang violence, even as he single-handedly supports his younger brother, Joey. That is, until Pete's arrested for shooting his mother's junkie boyfriend, and his family is swept into the system. Pete, luckily, finds his way into the In Search of Your Warrior program, which provides an intensive historical-trauma-healing process for incarcerated Aboriginal men. Exposed to his cultural heritage, Pete confronts his anger and shame and slowly builds a responsible life, gaining the opportunity to heal what remains of his family. While this is an ultimately hopeful story, a brief section of tragic statistics suggests that Pete's journey is not the norm. One of the story's greatest strengths is its practical, unsentimental tone, which makes Pete's successes all the more poignant. The realistic, polished art reflects this realistic mood but also makes striking, effective use of aboriginal spiritual imagery, highlighting Pete's growth and achievement. Though this may be a bit of a hard sell for many teens, it's ultimately highly rewarding.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)