If I Go Missing

by Brianna Jonnie

If I Go Missing is derived from excerpts of a letter that went viral and was also the basis of a documentary film. In her letter, Jonnie calls out the authorities for neglecting to immediately investigate missing Indigenous people and urges them to "not treat me as the Indigenous person I am proud to be" if she were to be reported missing. Indigenous artist Neal Shannacappo provides the artwork. Through his illustrations, he imagines a situation in which a young Indigenous woman does disappear, portraying the reaction of her community, her friends, the police, and media.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Indigenous, Canada, Comics, True Crime, Teen

64 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 3, 2019

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by the letter written by 14 year old, Brianna Jonnie to Winnipeg's chief of police, this illustrated book brings voice to what being an Indigenous teen in Canada means today. The book includes an informative essay which provides readers with the context of the Missing Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada inquiry.

Goodreads review published 27/10/20

[madame Gabrielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

cet album est puissant et tellement d’actualité, malheureusement ...

cette histoire, elle est celle de Briannie Joannie, une jeune autochtone de quatorze ans. tous les jours, elle craint pour sa vie, elle se sait observée, ressent le jugement et craint et sait qu’elle a moins de chances de survie que d’autres. et cela est épouvantable.

cet album nous amène à réfléchir sur les conditions des autochtones et plus particulièrement sur celles des femmes autochtones. cet album permettra certainement de belles discussions en classe et est à lire vraiment vraiment parce qu’il ne pourrait pas être plus d’actualité qu’en ce moment ...

cette collection (Griff) est incroyable et ce petit bijou de roman graphique s’ajoute tout naturellement au reste de cette collection si riche. l’histoire de Briannie n’est pas à prendre à la légère et elle est celle de trop de jeunes femmes.

[Rod Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gut punch, devastating with its respectful tone and reasoned arguments, unforgiving in its sadness and resignation. Brianna Jonnie speaks the unspoken message that is sent by the double standard in how missing person cases are pursued by police and the media depending on race and gender.

I've read several graphic novels about the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S) and this is the most powerful yet, adapting then 14-year-old Brianna Jonnie's 2016 open letter to the chief of the Winnipeg Police Service into a graphic novel/picture book. The full text of that letter is included in the back of the book, and it is even more moving than the adaptation.

Highly recommended.

[Noémie Hauver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Je pense que c’est mon préféré de la collection Griff 💔 Ca fait mal, ça met à l’envers, mais il faut le lire.

[Plumette · Rating 4 out of 5]

À lire! Courte et frappante, cette BD illustre une réalité dérangeante.

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good short read dealing with a very important issue on missing girls/violence towards people of indigenous origin especially towards women.

The letter towards the end broke me…

The book is just too short but it’s okay.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Truly, unrateable. And important.

My copy was purchased from the IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Art in Santa Fe, NM.

[Emilie | La prof de français · Rating 5 out of 5]

Si je disparais.. c’est une lecture essentielle. D’abord l’adaptation de la lettre en album est très réussie. Ensuite les illustrations sont parfaites avec la référence au rouge. Les pages explicatives à la fin sont pertinentes. Cet album est absolument nécessaire. Il doit être lu en classe pour amener les élèves à se conscientiser à la triste réalité des autochtones (et particulièrement des femmes).

[Audreanne Bellavance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Une lecture simple, rapide et dynamique, mais tellement impactante. C’est une belle façon de sensibiliser!

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I Go Missing by Canadian teenager Brianna Jonnie is short, powerful and poignant. It is based on a letter, told in graphic novel format, that Brianna wrote to the Chief of Police in Winnipeg Man. She thanks the police for their prompt response in investigating and finding a missing teenager but then goes on to elaborate on how their response differs when this child / teenager is an indigenous person. She ends her letter by providing her photo and asking that if she ever goes missing (one that is a stronger likelihood for indigenous teenagers) that said photo be used in the press announcement. And also if she is found dead, that her mother be told that they are sorry and that Brianna wishes to be buried in her red dress (Look up The REDress Project at http://www.the redressproject.org for more info).

The story finishes with facts on the imbalance between white and indigenous (or black) women when it comes to homicide. 'In Australia, indigenous women are victims of homicide six times more often than non-indigenous women. They represent 16 percent of all female murder victims, even though indigenous people make up only 3 percent of the Australian population." There are other facts from the US and Canada.

Brianna makes a simple point but does so concisely and emotionally. Statistics are startling but she does end by saying that maybe the conversation is shifting. Let's hope. (4 stars)

[Care · Rating 4 out of 5]

Powerful letter poem illustrated. All the dangers that Canada disproportionately threatens indigenous women with because of the intersectional relationship of race and gender. Heartbreaking that a fourteen year old Winnipegger has seen so much violence against her people already that she wrote this letter to the police department which has, in many cases, done little to stop (and in some cases contributed to) the violence or to solve the crimes against missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit people.

[Lire.Papier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un album qui ne nous laisse pas indifférent.
Une histoire vraie, et encore tellement d'actualité. Des illustrations incroyables.

À lire.

[Tabrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and James Lorimer & Company for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Haunting is not even the word. Such beautiful artwork that highlights such an important and vital issue and makes it known to society. And the way it depicts a real-life letter was just both innovative and complete genius. This eye-opening graphic novel that sheds the necessary light on the plight of the indigenous people.

[Sara (onourshelves) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The letter is for sure very powerful, but I don't know that it was heightened by the illustrations. I read the full letter in the back, and I was a little confused as to why one of the most powerful lines in the letter (My mom needs me, and I want my future) was not in the novel. I am grateful that this graphic novel introduced me to this letter.

[darce vader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The letter at the end was very powerful.

[Audrey | Adapter au secondaire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cet album est nécessaire. Pertinent. Important.

Passer par la littérature jeunesse et mettre des images pour accompagner une réalité choquante est du génie. C’est un thème qui se doit d’être abordé en classe partout au Canada.

Les repères culturels sont nombreux et tout aussi importants à exploiter. C’est une belle façon d’aborder cette fameuse Enquête nationale ainsi que les mouvements sociaux qui luttent pour les femmes autochtones.

En tant qu’enseignant.e.s., nous avons un devoir de discuter de cette réalité avec nos élèves parce que, malheureusement, ce ne sont pas les médias qui le feront.

...

Côté plus critique, j’ai trouvé très original de reprendre la lettre de Brianna Jonnie pour cet album. Le message est clair et les explications jointes à la fin sont vraiment pertinentes.

Toutefois, j’aurais aimé que la lettre présentée tout au long de l’histoire soit plus détaillée et imagée. C’était trop rapide pour moi. Tant au niveau des illustrations que de l’histoire, il manquait un peu de « chair autour de l’os » pour moi.

[Sophie lit ça · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lien vers la critique complète : http://sophielit.ca/critique.php?id=2587

Cette nouveauté Griff chez Isatis (qui propose des œuvres alliant narration, poésie dans certains cas, et images fortes) est devenue mon titre préféré de la collection, rien de moins. Il faut dire que Si je disparais aborde un sujet brulant, d’actualité, interpelant… et que c’est superbement écrit, avec une structure narrative des plus efficaces. Des semaines après l’avoir lu, le récit nous hante encore.

[Sarah Couture · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un roman graphique qui aborde une réalité canadienne qui est connue, mais peu abordée. C’est un roman touchant, en toute simplicité, qui porte à réfléchir.

[Gabrielle Stoller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abductions are horrible no matter how you look at them.

However, I do struggle with the way our society brings life and awareness to them.

As a white woman, I know I will receive more press coverage than my coworker of Hispanic heritage (though we both will pale in comparison to the blond haired individual). Yet there are indigenous women who go missing far more often and society does not bat an eye. There is rarely press coverage and if there is, the negative sides of the woman's life, heritage, background are displayed

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

This is a lyrical letter, and a true life one, of an indigenous girl who is begging this to not be her fate. To have someone put in effort for caring after HER life. That she matters.

It's a picture book in format with red being the sole color used (other than black and white.) It has a huge visual impact to the reader; it stays with you long after you are finished.

[Kailyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this book is beautiful, except the reason for the letter in the first place. The illustrations are exquisitely apt. So much power in such a short read. Wonderful book.

[Audrey-Maude Lavoie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ce livre m'a vraiment ébranlée en seulement 60 pages. Étant enseignante en univers social au secondaire, j'essaie d'inclure les réalités et les perspectives autochtones autant que possible dans mes cours : ce sera donc un magnifique ajout à ma bibliothèque de classe, pour continuer à sensibiliser mes élèves. Bien que je ne puisse pas totalement comprendre le vécu présenté, me sachant privilégiée, j'y suis toutefois très sensible et empathique. 1200 femmes autochtones disparues ou assassinées, c'est troublant. Je n'avais pas réalisé pleinement l'ampleur du double standard racial lorsqu'il est question du traitement des affaires criminelles. Ce livre est encore plus percutant étant tiré d'une véritable lettre écrite par l'autrice à 14 ans. Le visuel avec les touches de rouge est aussi fort que les mots utilisés. C'est un beau livre pour se familiariser avec les romans graphiques/bandes dessinées.

[Jessica Di Salvio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Conseillé par mon amie Riley, je le remercie de m’avoir fait broyé.

Ce livre devrait être placardé sur les murs de toutes les villes. Sur toutes les pancartes. Partout. 🥺😭

[Vanna Book-Mage · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful. Poignant. I cannot do this book justice with my words.

[Mireya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Knowing a 14 year old wrote this was a gut punch. I had chills.

[Maggie Carr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not obtuse to the statistics surrounding missing indigenous women. Based on what became viral request for police to actively search for the letter writer should she go missing if effort to not become a statistic herself is powerful! This is a very quick read with a glossary for additional resources and information.

[Victoria Arroyo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le message est très fort et important. Très intéressant. Malheureusement, je n'ai pas du tout aimé les dessins.

[Krystel Dallas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never underestimate the power of a letter written to authorities and the powers that be. Powerful words from this young woman. There are several parts of this book I would have liked to point out, words, art, but really, the whole thing is incredible.

[Doe · Rating 4 out of 5]

If I Go Missing is the novelization of the open letter that Brianna Johnnie wrote to the Winnipeg Police as a fourteen year old girl, urging the authorities to deal with the issue of so many neglected cases of crimes against indigenous women better. Her words terrify and move the reader. Despite being so young, there is a certain maturity to her voice that is heartbreaking to bear witness to.

It is really hard for me to rate and review non-fiction like this because honestly, what can you say?! There is nothing but truth in this book, and I can only hope that it reaches the people it needs to reach and fosters the change it aims to bring in the world. I'm neither from Canada nor am I indigenous in this context, but I empathize. And I acknowledge this work for the much needed conversation starter that it is.

My only issue with this book is that it felt too short. I feel like dding a few more stories from the community would have given this book an extra umph. It is too short and concise and I fear that this will affect the impact that it will create. I was also not a huge fan of the art style, although I loved how the only colour used in the panels was red, an ode to the REDress project!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an early copy of this book to review! All opinions are my own

[Fraser Simons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This takes excerpts from a real letter written to the Winnipeg police force, imploring them to do better, and specifically telling them that should she go missing, to treat her like a white person and not like the proud indigenous person she is, because the police don’t care about them.

It’s short, simple, and heartbreaking. At the end there is the full letter as written and statistics about indigenous women going missing and/or murder rates, and other stats. Then there are resources too.

The art is fairly good, if simplistic. I can’t tell if the lack of perspective is on purpose or what, but it’s worth the 5-10 minute consumption and hopefully moves people enough to check out the stats and the letter, and so I think it succeeds exactly at doing what it sets out to do, regardless.