Surviving the City

New York Times bestselling author Tasha Spillett’s graphic novel debut, Surviving the City, is a story about womanhood, friendship, colonialism, and the anguish of a missing loved one.

Winner of the Indigenous Voices Award, Surviving the City by Tasha Spillett is a powerful, critically acclaimed young adult graphic novel about friendship, identity, and resilience.

In the heart of Winnipeg, Manitoba, best friends Miikwan and Dez are inseparable. Miikwan is Anishinaabe, and Dez is Inninew. Together, they navigate the complexities of growing up in an urban landscape—balancing the beauty of their culture with the harsh truths of modern life.

When Dez’s grandmother falls gravely ill, Dez is devastated. Terrified of the child welfare system and being sent to a group home, Dez disappears into the city. Left behind, Miikwan is heartbroken as the painful memory of her own missing mother resurfaces.

Surviving the City centers on Indigenous people confronting the real-world crisis of MMIWG2S (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People). This story tackles themes of coming of age, feminism, and systemic colonialism. 

• Perfect for fans of contemporary graphic novels exploring urban Indigenous experiences, cultural traditions like the Berry Fast, and friendship.
• Ideal for education and classroom use—an invaluable teaching resource for middle school, high school, and university curricula covering Indigenous literature, Canadian history, social justice, and human rights.
• Essential community reading—a must-have for library collections, book clubs, youth programs, and awareness discussions surrounding REDress Day and MMIWG2S advocacy.
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