Indiginerds

by Alina Pete (Editor)

Overview

YALSA's 2025 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

"This colorful, inviting graphic memoir anthology shatters narrow ideas about what a nerd (or a Native person) looks like." — KIRKUS

First Nations culture is living, vibrant, and evolving, and generations of Indigenous kids have grown up with pop culture creeping inexorably into our lives. From gaming to social media, pirate radio to garage bands, Star Trek to D&D, and missed connections at the pow wow, Indigenous culture is so much more than how it’s usually portrayed. INDIGNERDS is here to celebrate those stories!

Featuring an all-Indigenous creative team, INDIGNERDS is an exhilarating anthology collecting 11 stories about Indigenous people balancing traditional ways of knowing with modern pop culture. Includes work by ALINA PETE, PJ UNDERWOOD, KAMERON WHITE, RHAEL MCGREGOR, and many more!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781638991335
Publisher:	Iron Circus Comics
Publication date:	08/27/2024
Pages:	120
Product dimensions:	6.62(w) x 10.25(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Editor Alina Pete is a nehiyaw (Cree) artist and writer from Little Pine First Nation in western Saskatchewan. They grew up urban but spent summers wandering the Qu'Appelle valley with their cousin from Cowessess First Nation. Alina is best known for their award-winning comics, but they also write short stories, poems and ttrpg supplements, and specialize in compositing and VFX. Their work can be found at alina-pete.com.

Full Creator Listing: Tate Allen, Ida Aronson, Jordanna George, Raven John, Nipinet Landsem, Rhael McGregor, Sam “Mushki” Medlock, Alina Pete, Wren Rios, PJ Underwood, Kameron White

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR INDIGINERDS CREATORS

“Visually and stylistically exciting and just fascinating to read." — SMASH PAGES (Alina Pete, The Woman in the Woods)

"A unique showcase for some new and up-and-coming Native American talents." — SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL (Alina Pete, The Woman in the Woods)

"The stories nicely showcase the rich variety of Indigenous perspectives, cultures, and communities throughout the continent." — BOOKLIST (Alina Pete, The Woman in the Woods)

"Celebrates the joys and passions of Indigenous people." — SCREEN RANT
"An illuminating graphic novel collection." — PUBLISHERS WEEKLY

"This engaging compilation shows that nerd culture can be a powerful way to find your community." — KIRKUS

"These stories show a wide range of modern teens balancing modern culture with traditional ways of knowing." — ARLINGTON MAGAZINE

"A must-read for anthology fans and a celebration of the creative impact pop-culture has on Indigenous lives." — IN BETWEEN DRAFTS

"A fun addition to any school or classroom library." — RICH IN COLOR

"A joyous celebration that looks reality in the eye and says, 'We can do better!'” — SKIFFY AND FANTY

From the Publisher

2024-05-04
A book of 11 different stories featuring Indigenous geeks as the throughline.

This compact graphic memoir anthology covers a lot of ground, including stories with ensemble casts and ones that focus on a single protagonist. Some entries include positive queer representation, and many show that Indigenous people come in all shapes and colors. Each one is anchored in themes around healing and looking to the future. Another thread connecting them is the characters’ Native heritage and passion for various forms of contemporary pop culture, including tabletop role-playing games, virtual reality, TikTok, and Star Trek. This collection stands out for centering on contemporary representations of First Nations peoples rather than their history. Several of the stories address darker themes such as bullying, peer pressure, and domestic violence, although the characters also engage in activism by setting up pirate radio stations to strengthen communities, supporting language revitalization over Twitch, and exploring Indigenous representation in speculative fiction. The authors and artists come from many different backgrounds, and they highlight their own nations’ cultures. Another of the book’s major strengths is the variety of art styles it features; the contributors all offer readers a different visual perspective and a taste of their craft. This engaging compilation shows that nerd culture can be a powerful way to find your community.

A compelling volume that explores different worlds through a nerdy Indigenous lens. (concepts and development, contributors) (Graphic anthology. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews