The Rez Doctor

by Gitz Crazyboy, Veronika Barinova (Illustrator), Azby Whitecalf (Colours)

Young Ryan Fox gets good grades, but he’s not sure what he wants to be when he grows up. It isn’t until he meets a Blackfoot doctor during a school assembly that he starts to dream big.

However, becoming a doctor isn’t easy. University takes Ryan away from his family and the Siksikaitsitapi community, and without their support, he begins to struggle. Faced with more stress than he’s ever experienced, he turns to partying. Distracted from his responsibilities, his grades start to slip. His bills pile up. Getting into med school feels impossible. And now his beloved uncle is in jail. Can Ryan regain his footing to walk the path he saw so clearly as a boy?

This inspiring graphic novel for young adults is based on a true story.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Young Adult, Indigenous, Fiction, Middle Grade, Family, Comics

64 pages, Paperback

First published September 10, 2024

Reviews

[Brittni · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this story! It's YA, but a little realistic. The MC doesn't go down a straight path, his decisions and life zigzagged like in real life. But yay, a HEA! I liked the illustrations. I don't usually read graphic novels, so this was a nice introduction. I wanted something short to read that wasn't high angst, so this did the job for me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

Despite the style of the art and overall tone of this short (64 pages) graphic novel being reminiscent of the educational free comics you might have read as a kid in a doctor's office waiting room, there's honestly still a lot going for this one, and I honestly think that element works in its favour here (it's charming!). The story follows Ryan from childhood to adulthood in his journey to becoming a doctor in his Siksikaitsitapi community, showing how hard he works, the relationships that are important to him, and the numerous struggles he faces on his path. It's a sweet little story about perseverance, hard work, community, and family.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relatable

[Katie Lawrence · Rating 3 out of 5]

A really important generational story about addiction, finding your purpose and familial bonds. I would have loved it if this was a lot longer and more fleshed out. You kind of get the bare bones of a lot of stories here with some positive messages about perseverance, but I wanted more detail for sure.

[J MaK · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.7) Really quick read but very insightful (the artwork is okay). The author addresses the inequalities and successes of a young indigenous man on his path becoming a doctor. He perseveres to become an active and positive influence in the community.

[Alison · Rating 3 out of 5]

Overall, a positive and encouraging story of perseverance presented as an extended comic form (vs true graphic novel). It is effective for child audiences, but I wanted the story to go deeper.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I need a sequel to this ASAP.

[Steve S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad this book is out there to inspire kids.

[Yentl ♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very quick read about an indigenous boy who grows up to be a doctor despite everything that is against him. It was great how Ryan was able to reach his goals and finally be able to use what he had learned to help his own community. I liked the illustration style and how colorful this was. And while it was a simple story to follow along, the inspiring message comes through.

[Elonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good graphic novel! It follows an Indigenous boy from childhood to adulthood and discusses many obstacles in his life, while pursuing his dreams of becoming a doctor. While growing up he discovers the inequity that Indigenous people were facing on and off the reservation.

[Chiemi]

Ordered from the library for my Native Voices challenge. I thought the content would be good and the length was great for this time of year. It’s a graphic novel that primarily takes place in Alberta. I might have my son read this before I get it back to the library.

[Amy 💖 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really quick read and the art in this book was BEAUTIFUL

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another in this pseudo series that I just wish was longer, I enjoyed it but there isn't enough meat here to quantify it as a graphic novel; it's more of a longer comic. Fun, though, and very interesting. Definitely the strongest I've read so far.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short-and-sweet, warmhearted and uplifting telling of one Indigenous Albertan kid growing up in his close-knit family and pursuing his dream of becoming a doctor, showing how representation matters (he only got the idea that HE *could* become one after an Indigenous doctor gave a talk at his school), how easy it is for others to beat down or derail someone else's dream (the unsupportive grade-school teacher calling his high score 'a fluke' instead of congratulating him; college friends luring him out for drinking & partying and teasing 'the squares' who don't do), and the importance of making a positive contribution to one's community (his community's emphasis on helping others, whether that means sharing food, giving shelter, or...becoming a doctor!) as well as the sweet story of how he met his future wife at university and started a family during all the difficulties along the way. Also shows the importance of feeling connected to one's culture, as Ryan felt isolated at school but welcomed and included within his loving family and Indigenous community, and how feeling connected to his ancestors helped him through difficult times.

Because it's so short, you don't get a whole lot of depth into most characters, but what you see does make for an encouraging Own Voices story, and for non-Indigenous readers a good glimpse into some modern-day Indigenous communities.

Content concerns: no heavy swearing or nudity/sex scenes (a few kisses in the context of loving relationships, but nothing 'spicy'); unsupportive and prejudiced adults and authority figures (snide comments, unsupportive attitudes); low-key exclusion at school (not getting invited to things, etc); glimpses of alcoholism and drinking (college parties) and allusion to drug use on campus, struggles with temptation to join in; incarcerated family member

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is great if it was just 300+ pages instead of 64, ha! It follows an Indigenous kid, Ryan Fox, who wants to be a doctor when he grows up after meeting a Blackfoot doctor, who inspires him. But his grades aren't very good. He works hard, gets his grades up, but it college he starts partying hard and his grades slip. Then he meets a college student and falls in love.

A lot happens. It follows Ryan from around 8 to his 30s, and there are lots of interesting people in his life I would've loved to read more about. And he has an interesting character arc. That's just a lot of ground to cover in 64 pages!

[YSBR · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ryan Fox sees that his indigenous community is treated differently from the white community and that others look down on him because of his heritage. And he wants to do something about it, something to help his home and support his people. So Ryan decides to be a doctor, inspired by a Blackfoot physician who visits his school. But becoming a doctor isn’t easy. He must study away from his Siksikaitsitapi community and lose that network; keeping up grades becomes a struggle and the stress just piles up. Parties, alcohol, and skipping classes seem to make things better, but as his grades fall and the bills pile up, his vision of being a doctor slips further away. Can Ryan find the right path again and fulfill his dreams?

The Rez Doctor is an authentic story of an indigenous teen trying to find his purpose in life and running into many roadblocks along the way. Based on a true story, this graphic novel follows Chase as he grows from a kid, to a college student, to an adult and a dad, and, eventually, a doctor, and he narrates the whole experience in a reflective and honest perspective. Readers will root for Chase as he struggles with realistic problems like failing grades, acute stress, near-alcoholism, bills, and suddenly becoming a dad. What holds him together and pushes Chase to do better is his need to help his family and give back to his community, filling the story with sincerity.  The art is stylistic but not cartoonish, simplifying realistic features to make imagery easy to depict and read. There is minimal shading, but the color is bright, eye-catching, and especially vibrant during scenes of happiness, emotion, and reflection. Overall, The Rez Doctor is an uplifting and realistic narrative of achieving your dreams and giving back to your community. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this in a listing of book for Native American Heritage Month and checked it out on a whim. It’s a very quick read with a positive focus on making choices, doing your best, and the power of supportive family and community, all of which are universal. The specific culture and community here is Native Canadian and while this book does not go in depth on anything in particular, the prejudice and discrimination from the dominant culture is there in the background alongside the support and love from the main character’s family and community.

Interestingly, in college, Ryan seems less subjected to discrimination based on his race and ethnicity, however he is also away from the support of his community and struggles more rather than less at this time. He turns himself around, however the young woman he falls in love with is instrumental in helping him make changes as he wants to be with her and she clearly values her education and studying. Unfortunately, the reader does not find out what becomes of her educational and career goals once she becomes pregnant, and while it’s nice to see Ryan succeed in achieving his dreams after years of struggle and hard work, it would also be nice to know that Charm didn’t have to sacrifice her dreams to make this happen (and she may not have - the reader doesn’t find out).

[Sandra Ruttan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Rez Doctor is a compelling story that follows Ryan’s journey from his life as a boy and the racism he experienced to his pursuit of his dream to become a doctor and help his people. One of the things that really stood out to me in this story was the strong sense of community instilled in Indigenous persons, and how they took care of each other. It was ironic to see Ryan’s white classmates exclude him from social gatherings, yet their actions were about exclusion rather than being about fostering community. Then, when Ryan is included in college, it’s harmful and detracts him from his studies and his goal. Through his journey, he must learn to focus on his priorities and think long-term instead of letting temptations distract him, and that part of the story is one I think most readers will connect with. This story gives an unflinching look at the struggles young people - particularly young Indigenous people - face and the rewards of persevering.

I don’t read many graphic novels, but I really enjoyed this story. It would be great to have this in classrooms because I think it could be a powerful motivator and a good discussion prompt for young people.

[Sotto · Rating 2 out of 5]

A shortish graphic comic volume about a Kainai reservation boy's journey to becoming a medical doctor, mostly taking place in Alberta, Canada. It's a pretty predictable inspiration story drawn with bright colors and a relative lack of motion. Sadly, the author is not actual doctor nor did he consult much with actual doctors in writing this, as it lacks the interior depth of feeling that might have made it stand out if it did. Instead, what we get is pretty generic "study hard and make something of your life" story for indigeous youth, but lacking any specific advice for actual medical school, including the intern process. This comic also does not get the reader to ask any useful questions about what it means to become a biomedical (European science-based) doctor versus being a medicine person in any indigenous tradition. I suppose, that being an adult and not indigenous, I am not the target audience for this work. However, I am nevertheless disappointed about the lack of cultural or professional specificity.

[Kansas Hoppe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for starting to learn about the realities of existing as an Indigenous person, and understanding the power we still have to heal our communities and make better lives possible. Overall I would call this a story of real perseverance, struggle, and triumph. Themes like interpersonal and systemic racism are touched on within the education and medical settings but it's overall kept light enough that you can read this with a kid and teach them about the realities of our world and its history. I think it's important to learn the harder truths at the same time as learning communal responsibility and the power everyone has to create positive change. This is a great introduction to those ideas. Drug/alcohol addiction, intergenerational trauma and unjust criminal treatment are also touched on, but again it's kept light enough to be an introduction to kids. Hope, love and resilience take the centre stage.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm usually a fan of "issue" graphic novels. I think they are a great way to introduce a complex or difficult subject in a non-threatening, easy-to-understand way. Looking at a picture is sometimes more informative than wading through page after page of description.

This book is only 60 pages, rather short even for a graphic novel. The story and the subject matter are great, but the book could have fleshed out the story a bit more. Every time you turn the page, he is in a different school, grade school, high school, college, or residency with very little time spent on his experiences there, aside from many pages about how much he drinks in college, we don't get much information about these parts of his li
This book did give me a very quick way to meet the "native voices" section of the fall reading challenge

[Dale Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a native American Ryan Fox who became a doctor. I liked the pictures in this graphic novel. Ryan decided to become a doctor after hearing from a native american doctor who spoke at a school assembly. He studied hard and got into college, but he had adjustment problems and partied too much. His Uncle was in jail, but continued to mentor him and give him good advice- including not ending up in prison. He fell in love and his girlfriend got pregnant, but he kept on working hard and studying and got into medical school. The values of hard work an study came through well in this graphic novel. He asked for spiritual guidance in a ceremony and decided what values he would bring to his healing role. On the other hand, the book did not explain the integration of native american healing and western medicine doctoring. The story starts with some discussion of the problems, but there is no clarity about how Ryan helped resolve it.

[Samantha Dennis · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cards on the table...when I saw the books in the "Native Voices" category of the current Goodreads Challenge, I thought it might just stop me from completing the challenge as absolutely none of them were inspiring me to buy. But then i saw this one that had a fun cover and a tiny 64 pages and figured it could probably manage 64 pages even if i wasnt keen!

Then when it arrived, I was surprised to find it was an illustrated, comic book style storybook. It follows Ryan Fox, a guy raised on the rez (Indian reservation) and his struggled against prejudice and battle to achieve his dreams. It teaches us to work hard and never give up. Sadly this style is really not my thing but it was a cute story.

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very sweet, inspiring, relatable story. The MC deals with a lot of realistic challenges, and doesn't always respond the right way - it's only when he opens up to his community that he's able to move forward. A wonderful example of how most people aren't born great, they work and struggle towards being a good person, and that's admirable! I think the author handles addiction and the impacts it has on family and community particularly well. Instead of condemning the MC's uncle, the author hints at some of the causes of addiction in his community, and separately from the uncle, offers a good example of someone who overcame addiction and is now able to help his community. Overall, this touches on a lot of topics, and does so with grace.

[Cathy Newman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ooof... no. First of all, I knew what type of story this was going to be as soon as I read "colonizer medicine was cold and sterile" 🙄 Yes, just as preachy as I thought -- Indigenous people and culture good, white people and their society bad. Completely unrealistic that this kid manages to have every negative stereotype about Natives in non-Indigenous society happen to him in a short time: doctors are rude and racist to his family (not likely), kids ignore him (possible), teachers are condescending (not likely), drunk uncle getting arrested, etc. This is so cartoonishly bad, I'm sorry.

Extra star for the very nice illustrations, though.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: alcohol abuse, incarceration of a family member

3.5 stars

A very short but very to-the-point graphic novel about the difficulties for First Nations youth in being away from community and country when they move away for university and finding the drive to fight for their dreams despite those difficulties. I would have liked it to be a LITTLE longer than it was, just because I feel like I didn't really get to know the characters as much as I would have liked, but it does what it sets out to do.

[Meagan Grauel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very uplifting graphic novel about continuing to try to reach a goal, no matter what stands in your way, even if what stands in your way is sometimes yourself. I think it had a positive message, and touches on the struggles and prejudices that indigenous people face. The graphic novel format makes it easy to read and a more approachable way for kids to read subject matters that might feel heavier in chapter book form. I liked it and will definitely be recommending the story to my daughter!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Graphic novels are an important tool for encouraging young readers. There are simply not enough books written about Native Americans, especially that are this encouraging and inspiring for the younger generation. Life is tough but to keep on keeping on is the message in this book. It does not gloss over the facts that living as a minority is hard, but instead shows what can be accomplished by keeping your eye on the "prize". Nicely illustrated, with some mention of alcohol, pills, and prisons, but all of this is relevant to the story. An easy read with a good message

[M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story based on real events. I know it is YA, but I believe there could have been more detail in the story - especially about Ryan’s time in college and working through his many issues. More information that would have helped the reader understand the time and effort it took Ryan to get to medical school. Also, a bit more depth into his time at med school.

The story is one that needs to be told and shared with many. I like the fact that this was in a graphic novel to make it a bit more accessible. The artwork was beautiful.