A joyful coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel by debut Indigenous creator Cameron Mukwa about the journey of a two-spirit kid who wants to create a ribbon skirt for the upcoming powwow.
Ten-year-old Anang wants to make a ribbon skirt, a piece of clothing typically worn by girls in the Anishinaabe tradition, for an upcoming powwow. Anang is two-spirit and nonbinary and doesn't know what others will think of them wearing a ribbon skirt, but they're determined to follow their heart's desire. Anang sets off to gather the materials needed to make the skirt and turns to those around them — their family, their human and turtle friends, the crows, and even the lake itself — for help. And maybe they'll even find a new confidence within themself along the way.
The Ribbon Skirt is available for pre-order now, arriving on shelves November 12, 2024!
"Mukwa clearly and concisely communicates the nature of being two-spirited in this dazzling graphic novel debut."
Read the full review here!
STARRED REVIEW FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The Ribbon Skirt is a whimsical, heartwarming exploration of what it's like to be at the intersection of queer and Anishinaabe identities. A celebration of being yourself, even if others are slow to accept it.
Bex Burgess
I loved the cultural richness of this story and would recommend it to anyone looking for queer BIPOC graphic novels that teach young readers to be proud of their authentic selves!
Michelle Chan
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
This comic was a joy to read with easy, gentle and flowing pacing/paneling, which I think the target audience will really appreciate.
Xiran Jay Zhao
The Ribbon Skirt is a quiet, uplifting story about the (beautiful! intricate!) threads that bind Anang to their friends, to their community, and to the spirits guiding them on their path.
★★★★★
Niki Smith
The Ribbon Skirt is an informative journey of self acceptance and expression specific to the cultural experience of Two-Spirit Indigenous tween Anang. Follow along their colorful quest to discover what being Two-Spirit means for them.
★★★★★
Jes & Cin Wibobo
Publishers Weekly
The Ribbon Skirt in the news
Publishers Weekly
"Graphix twirls into fall with The Ribbon Skirt by Cameron Mukwa"
"This season... kid-lit stars from across generations enter the bustling middle grade category—where realistic coming-of-age dramas and fantastical escapes fill up the same tween backpacks."
Chapter and Middle Grade Books
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