Book review: Will I See?

Reviewed by Karl Hele

Will I See is a powerful, evocative story that is amplified by visually stunning graphics. Through the eyes and actions of a teenage girl who resides with her Nokomis in a large city, the graphic novel speaks to the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada.

The story begins with the teen walking home. Along the way, a cat befriends her and together they find objects left behind, such as an earring, ring, and key chain. Unbeknownst to the girl, these objects were dropped by missing and murdered women. This is indicated by streaks of blood attached to each object or with a ghostly image of how the object was lost. Eventually, the girl and cat arrive at Nokomis’ home where the objects are made into a necklace.

Nokomis speaks to the teen about missing women while presenting an Indigenous vision of these women’s spirits and ongoing presence. The necklace, with its connection to missing and murdered women, opens a pathway to these spirits. Together, the spirits, the cat, and the teen are confronted with evil that needs to be overcome. In the end, the teen and Nokomis decide to share the necklace to help remember the missing.

Throughout the story, the teen remains nameless, as does the grandmother. The public namelessness, as the teen and Nokomis know each other’s name, adds to the story by allowing for a connection and identification between the reader and the two women. It also raises the question throughout the graphic novel of whether or not the teen will become another nameless woman who vanishes.

Will I See? is an excellent and accessible window into missing and murdered women. It is a powerful vehicle for any reader. Its subject matter and graphic imagery, however, carries a trigger warning for its depiction of violence. Keeping the warning in mind, the graphic novel is a masterful way to approach the subject of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls for a variety of readers. Regardless, it cannot stand alone and needs to be supported by supplemental readings or a Knowledge Keeper that will aid in understanding, create dialogue, and move people to action. I would recommend the graphic novel for readers that are 15 years and older.

Story by Iskwé and Erin Leslie, Script by David Alexander Robertson, Art by GMB Chomichuk, Will I See? (Winnipeg: Highwater Press, 2016).