# Surviving the City

**Author:** Tasha Spillett
**Grade range:** Grades 9–12
**First published:** 2018
**Page count:** 0
**Genre:** Young Adult
**ISBN-13:** `9781553798989`
**ISBN-10:** `1553798988`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/surviving-the-city
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

"Tasha Spillet's graphic-novel debut, Surviving the City, is a story about womanhood, friendship, resilience, and the anguish of a missing loved one. Miikwan and Dez are best friends. Miikwan's Anishinaabe; Dez is Inninew. Together, the teens navigate the challenges of growing up in an urban landscape -- they're so close, they even completed their Berry Fast together. However, when Dez's grandmother becomes too sick, Dez is told she can't stay with her anymore. With the threat of a group home looming, Dez can't bring herself to go home and disappears. Miikwan is devastated, and the wound of her missing mother resurfaces. Will Dez's community find her before it's too late? Will Miikwan be able to cope if they don't? Colonialism and the issue of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, 

## Where this book is assigned

### American Indian Youth Literature Award

- **recommended** · 9th grade — [source: American Indian Youth Literature Award (American Indian Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2020 AILA Honor (Young Adult)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Youth_Literature_Award)
- **recommended** · 10th grade — [source: American Indian Youth Literature Award (American Indian Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2020 AILA Honor (Young Adult)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Youth_Literature_Award)
- **recommended** · 11th grade — [source: American Indian Youth Literature Award (American Indian Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2020 AILA Honor (Young Adult)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Youth_Literature_Award)
- **recommended** · 12th grade — [source: American Indian Youth Literature Award (American Indian Library Association), via Wikipedia — 2020 AILA Honor (Young Adult)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Indian_Youth_Literature_Award)

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