Young Adult Nonfiction

In this heartfelt and often-funny memoir, author Sonya Ballantyne gives us a look at her younger self’s diary and inner life as she struggles to find herself in the pop culture she loves.

Before she was a successful writer, Sonya Ballantyne was just another kid growing up on the rez, searching for her place in the world. Her love of comics, fantasy novels, movies, and all things geeky helped her understand her life at school, her relationships with her family, and her identity. But growing up wasn’t easy and Sonya faced racism and bullying at school. Sonya takes the lessons from superhero comics to be brave in the face of adversity, to grow from strife, and to keep pushing forward towards her dreams. How did she find her way to the other side and live to tell the tale?
 

Helen Betty Osborne, known as Betty to her closest friends and family, dreamed of becoming a teacher. She left home to attend residential school and later moved to The Pas, Manitoba, to attend high school. On November 13, 1971, Betty was abducted and brutally murdered by four young men. Initially met with silence and indifference, her tragic murder resonates loudly today. Betty represents one of almost 1,200 Indigenous women in Canada who have been murdered or gone missing. This is her story.

Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story has been selected as a White Raven 2016 by the International Youth Library for its annual catalogue of book recommendations in the field of international children’s and youth literature. This year’s White Ravens catalogue contains 200 titles in 42 languages from 60 countries.

When the author learns of the death of her brother overseas, she embarks on a journey to bring him home. Through memories and dreams of all they shared together and through her Dene traditions, she finds comfort and strength.

The lyrical art and story leave readers with a universal message of hope and love.

In this heartfelt and often-funny memoir, author Sonya Ballantyne gives us a look at her younger self’s diary and inner life as she struggles to find herself in the pop culture she loves.

Before she was a successful writer, Sonya Ballantyne was just another kid growing up on the rez, searching for her place in the world. Her love of comics, fantasy novels, movies, and all things geeky helped her understand her life at school, her relationships with her family, and her identity. But growing up wasn’t easy and Sonya faced racism and bullying at school. Sonya takes the lessons from superhero comics to be brave in the face of adversity, to grow from strife, and to keep pushing forward towards her dreams. How did she find her way to the other side and live to tell the tale?
 

Helen Betty Osborne, known as Betty to her closest friends and family, dreamed of becoming a teacher. She left home to attend residential school and later moved to The Pas, Manitoba, to attend high school. On November 13, 1971, Betty was abducted and brutally murdered by four young men. Initially met with silence and indifference, her tragic murder resonates loudly today. Betty represents one of almost 1,200 Indigenous women in Canada who have been murdered or gone missing. This is her story.

Betty: The Helen Betty Osborne Story has been selected as a White Raven 2016 by the International Youth Library for its annual catalogue of book recommendations in the field of international children’s and youth literature. This year’s White Ravens catalogue contains 200 titles in 42 languages from 60 countries.

When the author learns of the death of her brother overseas, she embarks on a journey to bring him home. Through memories and dreams of all they shared together and through her Dene traditions, she finds comfort and strength.

The lyrical art and story leave readers with a universal message of hope and love.