The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne
Sonya Ballantyne author Rhael McGregor illustrator
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Portage & Main Press
Published:23rd Apr '26
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Armed with a stack of comics and fantasy novels, Sonya Ballantyne shares her story of growing up on the rez.
A funny and fiercely authentic graphic novel memoir about finding your power, surviving high school, and growing up as a queer, geeky Indigenous kid.
In her heartfelt 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, and movies 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. Turning to her favourite stories for strength, 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?
Inside, readers will discover:
- Inclusive 2SLGBTQI+ representation: A vital, intersectional story exploring what it means to search for a reflection of yourself in the mainstream media you love.
- The power of fandom: A relatable look at how comic books, sci-fi, and geek culture can serve as a lifeline and a tool for resilience.
- Grounded and relatable themes: Lighthearted yet profound, tackling heavy subjects like school bullying, racism, and identity with humour and grace.
- Perfect for classrooms: An exceptional fit for middle grade and high school libraries (ages 12+) and Indigenous Studies curricula. <
The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne will appeal to younger teens, especially those who rarely see themselves in graphic novels. The story manages to be both specific and broadly relatable for those who feel isolated or invisible. The darker themes in the book are something to be aware of, but do not overwhelm what is ultimately a story of triumph over obstacles as Sonya proves her detractors wrong.
This story provides a collection of reflections that span the course of [Sonya’s] childhood, and dispenses various nuggets of wisdom [Sonya’s] picked up along the way for the benefit of younger readers. The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne has bold line work and vivid color throughout. Despite some heavy subject matter, the art carries a lot of energy.
-- Andrew Irvin * The Comic Book Yeti *The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne follows a young girl determined to overcome racism, bullying, and self-doubt on her way to finding her strength.
-- Shari Narine * Windspeaker.com *[Sonya Ballantyne] finds a way to make her anger her superpower, becoming an activist, finishing high school, going to university, and never limiting herself as others might. Because The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne is a graphic novel, the art gives much of the story, supporting it with visuals of Sonya's real life and that of her superhero alter ego. These graphic elements enhance the storytelling...while making us want to know more.
-- Helen K * CanLit for LittleCanadians *If you love comics, pop culture, and stories with real punk spirit, The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne features a bit of everything to get your heavy metal spirit on!
-- Ed Sum * Otaku No Culture *Charming and heartfelt. This memoir feels very Canadian, which is great for any Canadian audience or for libraries looking to expand the geographic diversity of their graphic novel section.
* Librarian, Ventress Memorial LibraISBN: 9781774921371
Dimensions: 254mm x 165mm x 4mm
Weight: 181g
64 pages