David A. Robertson

"May, a young teenage girl, traverses the city streets, finding keepsakes in different places along her journey. When May and her kookum make these keepsakes into a necklace, it opens a world of danger and fantasy. While May fights against a terrible reality, she learns that there is strength in the spirit of those that have passed. But will that strength be able to save her? A story of tragedy and beauty, Will I See illuminates the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Based on the story by Iskwae and Erin Leslie."--

Will I See?

Maggie Gordon

Will I See? is a haunting story about the missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada. In this comic, May, a teen girl, follows a little black cat through her city, picking up little tokens along the way. As May comes to realise, these little remembrances are items lost by Indigenous women who were killed, their spirits crying out to be acknowledged, but also protecting those still in need. It's a stark, horrifying look at the terrible things that happen in Canada today, but ultimately a hopeful one about resilience and love. 

The art is quite experimental. Most images are black and white, sometimes looking like photocopied photos, but with splashes of red for effect. At times the pages can seem rather muddy, but it's an interesting approach that I hope the artist continues to develop. 

This is definitely a comic that should be in school libraries as I think it can be a good opener to many conversations. It does lack a little depth, but it captures the heart of the reader who will hopefully be inspired to learn more.

Fraser Simons

Loved the art, which will be polarizing. It’s very artistic, abstract and almost gothic; so very little colour. I also thought they managed to get across a lot in such a short story about a young adult who finds a cat, leading her to found objects of missing indigenous women like her. It’s a short story meant to communicate two things (imo): That people be aware of the disproportionate rating of indigenous women going missing and are subject to violent crimes, and to provide more than bleak despair, despite the trappings of the art. I thought it was a great story and the contrast between art and plot was highly effective.

Alexia

Thank you Netgalley and Portage and Main Press for the ARC!
Coupled with magical realism elements, this beautifully illustrated graphic novel portrays in a heart-wrenching yet encouraging tone the empowerment of women that arises from overcoming gender and race violence and making their voice heard. Full review on my blog.

Will I See?

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