The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne

by Sonya Ballantyne, Rhael McGregor (Illustrator)

Overview

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?
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781774921371
Publisher:	Portage & Main Press
Publication date:	03/10/2026
Pages:	64
Product dimensions:	6.50(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.00(d)
Age Range:	12 - 14 Years

About the Author

Sonya Ballantyne (she, they) is a Swampy Cree writer, filmmaker, and speaker based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Her work explores contemporary and futuristic portrayals of Indigenous women and girls. Her award-winning projects include the documentary Nosisim (2024 Barry Lank Award) and the graphic novel Little by Little (In The Margins, 2025 Top Ten Title). Sonya is also the author of the children’s book Kerri Berry Lynn, contributor to anthologies such as Pros and (Comic) Cons and Women Love Wrestling, and co-director of The Death Tour, which was screened at Cannes in 2023 with a world premiere at the Slamdance Film Festival in 2024.

Rhael McGregor (they/them/theirs) is a Winnipeg-based, Métis & Queer comic artist. They’ve been in the indie comics scene since 2018 with their debut comic Tinder and have recently stepped into the publishing world with their work on the books Mortified from Harper Collins and Little by Little from HighWater Press. Rhael’s work mainly revolves around Indigenous and Queer literature in Fantasy or Sci-Fi settings, focusing on representation, the connections between people, character growth, and spreading joy.

Azby Whitecalf (they/them/theirs) is a Plains Cree character designer and illustrator based out of North Battleford, Saskatchewan in Treaty 6 Territory. A graduate of the Alberta University of the Arts, they hold a Bachelor Degree in Visual Communication (Character Design). Their artistic practice focuses on fun and exciting stories with memorable and unique characters, and they enjoy working with bright colours, strong contrast, and fun shapes. Azby is passionate about creating accurate and positive representation of Indigenous Peoples and cultures, as well as exploring how to portray Indigenous Peoples in a way that celebrates multidimensional identities.

Kielamel Sibal (she, her) is a Filipino Canadian letterer, graphic designer, cartoonist, writer, and illustrator. She is passionately curious about the craft of different storytelling methods, from comics and video games to film and illustration. Born in Pampanga, Philippines, Kiela currently conducts her sparkling antics of wizardry in Winnipeg, Manitoba.