Darcy Whitecrow (Across the Ice) and comics author Cail Judy's Makade Asin/Black Stone is a striking and contemplative dual-language picture book based on a traditional Indigenous story. The work opens with a question: "When you are full of fear... how do you stop being afraid?" This query immediately situates readers within an effectively direct emotional and philosophical framework. The abstract tone, though, may require a moment of adjustment for younger audiences before the narrative's action begins.
An unnamed Indigenous child seeks guidance from an elder, who instructs them to find a mysterious black stone that will lessen the hold of fear. The child embarks on a perilous trek through various landscapes: thick jungle, rushing waters, and quicksand. The episodic structure emphasizes moments of confrontation and self-realization as the child faces each challenge with increasing resolve.
The full-bleed digital illustrations by Maya McKibbin (The Song That Called Them Home, with David A. Robertson) make powerful use of the page, even adding panels atop areas of blank space. Swirling, kinetic lines and jagged forms heighten the sense of danger and urgency, and contrasting colors distinguish emotional states. The imagery is dense and immersive, reinforcing the intensity of the youth's experiences.
The bilingual presentation, with text in both Anishinaabemowin and English (translated by Pamela Johnson), adds an important cultural dimension. The narrative underscores themes of inner strength, cultural continuity, and self-discovery. The conclusion remains deliberately open-ended, allowing readers space to consider their own answers. Readers of any age--especially those with an appreciation for Daniel Nayeri and Matt Rockefeller's Drawn Onward--may leave Makade Asin/Black Stone with a feeling of strength, courage, solemnity, and creativity. --Julie Danielson