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A review by maryehavens
Borders by Thomas King
4.0
As a Texan, I hear the word "Border" and I automatically think of the controversial Texas/Mexico border. I was pleasantly surprised (if you can be about border politics...mostly just happy it was a different border) that this graphic novel takes place at the Canadian border.
Mom's refusal to identify as anything other than Blackfoot was such a strong and true statement. Why should she identify as anything other than what she is, especially when she did not choose to "become" Canadian? I wonder if Border Patrol has changed their question from "what are you" to "where do you hail from" or something similar. What would the answer be if you were a tourist in Canada traveling to America? "I'm Brazilian but I was visiting Canada". Would that have been acceptable?
In addition, this story is a typical story of a young adult wanting to experience the world outside of their community. I know I was very much this way: everything outside of my small town Texas upbringing seemed "the most" exotic even if it was just the next big city that I could get to. The people there seemed more important and exciting. But really: they are just people like me :)
Mom's refusal to identify as anything other than Blackfoot was such a strong and true statement. Why should she identify as anything other than what she is, especially when she did not choose to "become" Canadian? I wonder if Border Patrol has changed their question from "what are you" to "where do you hail from" or something similar. What would the answer be if you were a tourist in Canada traveling to America? "I'm Brazilian but I was visiting Canada". Would that have been acceptable?
In addition, this story is a typical story of a young adult wanting to experience the world outside of their community. I know I was very much this way: everything outside of my small town Texas upbringing seemed "the most" exotic even if it was just the next big city that I could get to. The people there seemed more important and exciting. But really: they are just people like me :)