This book is a brutally honest but charming look at the pain of childhood and the alienation and anxiety of early adulthood. Through his graphic novel we are invited to walk through the life of the author, Jim Terry, as he struggles to find security and comfort in an often hostel environment. He moves in and out of the Native American community of his family in Wisconsin but feels mostly like an outsider. And amongst his schoolmates in the Chicago suburbs he struggles to fit in as well. The author turns to alcohol to provide an escape from increasing loneliness and alienation. But he shares with the reader in exquisite detail the process by which he finds hope and gets sober. As well as his powerful experience of finding something to believe in and to belong to in participation in the Dakota Access Pipeline protests at Standing Rock. This book is for fans of Jarrett J.

Krosoczka's Hey, Kiddo who have grown up and are looking for something a bit more challenging.* Native American author/artist* Author is a prolific comic book artist* Author has been tabling at ComicCons for many years* Graphic memoirs by Native American artists are few and far between* Graphic memoirs about alcoholism and recovery are few and far between* The art is meticulously crafted* Brutally honest, but charming real-life story with loads of detail2. The Competition:People often refer to The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie as a graphic novel, but it's really more of a novel with some comics as illustrations. But that book won the National Book Award back in 2007. Since then, we really haven't had a graphic novel memoir by a Native American. There was a compilation of comics short stories by Indigenous artists published last year call This Place: 150 Years Retold. And There There, the novel by Tommy Orange, won the American Book Award in 2018, which made many people realize that there aren't many books out there to give the reader a sense of the life of an Urban Native.3.

News Tie-in/Current Relevance:* The issue of Indigenous or Native American rights has been in the News a lot lately. * In 2016, the Dakota Access Pipeline protests gained a lot of attention.* In 2019, Indigenous activists have once again been protesting, this time it's the building of a natural gas pipeline in Canada.* "Decolonization" is gaining traction as a political movement.* Since the 1990's, the federal government declared November Native American Heritage Month. But in 2019, the White House proclaimed November as National American History and Founders Month, attempting to erase the lives of Indigenous people.4. Notable Author/Illustrator:* An accomplished cartoonist who has worked on such comics series as The Crow, Sundowners and Vampirella.

* The author has family who are a part of the Ho-Chunk Nation in Wisconsin.* The author lives in Chicago, IL* This is the author's debut graphic novel.5. Notable Elements:Graphic novel format printed on quality paper stock, with a softcover and French flaps cover.