The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne by Sonya Ballantyne, Azby Whitecalf, Kielamel Sibal and Rhael McGregor is an interesting story that has intense concepts. These concepts are handled well, still it is not for all readers as the subjects are serious in nature with such things as bullying, self-harm, racism, depression, some language and more.
The basics points are there (girl deals with bullies, deals with issues at home, the dynamics of different generations) but as they are set with a background of our main character being of Native descent, the backdrop is different. Also, how the scene unfolds differs from the unusual methods. Ballantyne’s story takes on the form of diary entries, memories and as if they are talking directly to you, the reader. And though Ballantyne does not skip important events, overall we are given more highlights as they are respecting their younger self memories and personal space. It is a good way to be introduced to things without becoming bogged down in something that might not “work” for you. She grows up before our eyes, “just a kid growing up on the rez” but also much more.
I requested a reader’s copy of the book through an online forum, but it is currently available. I would like to see a finished version to compare illustrations. They are not completely “fleshed out” and I was not sure if that was a style choice or because it was a reader copy. With that said, the images are lighthearted and keep an upbeat tone while we follow Sonya’s journey from a young girl to the eve of her college journey.
Ballantyne’s story of Sonya Ballantyne is memoir that reads as fiction, focusing on Indigenous characters. I have seen some other works by them, but now that I have dipped my toe into their world, I might go back and find older titles they have created.
