Description
A Blanket of Butterflies is the second edition of The Spirit of Denendeh Book 1 written by Richard Van Camp, a proud member of the Tlicho Nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, and illustrated by Scott B. Henderson, an author/artist, Donovan Yaciuk, who has done colouring work on comics, and Nickolej Villiger, an Illustrator and comic artist.
No one knows how a suit of samurai armour ended up in the Fort Smith museum. When a mysterious stranger turns up to claim it, Sonny, a young Tli?cho Dene boy, is eager to help.
Shinobu has travelled to Fort Smith, NWT, to reclaim his grandfather’s samurai sword and armour. But when he discovers that the sword was lost in a poker game, he must confront the man known as Benny the Bank. Along the way, Shinobu must rely on unlikely heroes—Sonny, his grandmother, and a visitor from the spirit world. Together, they face Benny and his men, including the giant they call Flinch.
Will Shinobu be able to regain the lost sword and, with it, his family’s honour? Can Sonny and his grandmother help Shinobu while keeping the peace in their community?
Now in full-colour, this new edition includes additional background information and cultural context. Learn about the real-life inspiration behind the story and the intersections between Indigenous and Japanese-Canadian experiences during the Second World War.
First Nation Communities READ 2023-2024 Award Young Adult/Adult Shortlist.