Little Moons

Gr 9 Up–A fictional depiction of true events that brings to light the discussion of missing people and how their disappearance affects those that are left behind, more specifically, in Indigenous and Native communities. This graphic novel takes on the difficult responsibility of expressing to readers that sometimes, even if it’s hard, even if there are no true answers, some things are important to speak about, read about, and talk about. Reanna’s sister Chelsea disappears on her way home from school. Each person in Chelsea’s community reconciles their grief in their own way; Reanna wants to hold on to Chelsea’s memory, while some members of her family want to forget and move forward. Then there are others who can see and feel Chelsea’s spirit lingering in the household. The text and illustrations, alongside Reanna’s perspective, offer readers a view into Ojibwe culture and heritage and the traditions that are performed in memoriam of a loved one. Viewed through Reanna’s eyes, the perspective makes it easy to empathize with their loss and with all of the characters; one can see how grief touches everyone in different ways. Though some may feel uncomfortable with the ambiguity of the story’s ending, the reality is that sometimes things are left uncertain, and as the author stated, “Grief is messy and complex; it is love with nowhere to go.”