Northwest Resistance

The third volume in the "A Girl Called Echo" series, this time readers (and Echo) are taken back in time to 1884-85. Following the Red River Resistance efforts that ultimately ended with the Canadian government making Metis land part of Canada, the Metis fled to and made their home in the North-West territory. However, more and more settlers are arriving and the buffalo are disappearing. The Metis are ready to once again make their stand against the Canadian government.

This graphic novel series is short, but incredibly well-done. There is not only the amazing concept of teaching history through a graphic novel format, but the way that the main character--Echo--interacts with her history by literally allowing her to travel through time (the mechanics of which are never explained, and can honestly continue to be left to the imagination) as she makes friends to guide her through the time period. Echo's history teacher in the present also serves well as a sort-of narrator for certain parts, which well emphasizes that this event--just like the Pemmican Wars and the Red River Resistance--is part of Echo's past, present, and future as a Metis.

Again, this graphic novel series is phenomenal and I wish more like it existed: blending art, story-telling, and history together in a captivating way for readers young and old. I look forward to more books featuring Echo's time-travel escapades, especially with the little cliffhanger in Echo's present that we are left with on the very last page, the "To be continued..." dangling like a carrot on a stick.

As a Canadian teacher, I find the ‘A Girl Called Echo’ series particularly relevant for the classroom. This is the 3rd installment in a series about Echo Dejardins, a Métis youth living in the present day. Each book tackles a different aspect of Métis history (a subject that is often missing from many historical perspectives). Echo travels back in time to visit the time period each event occurred so the books jump back and forth between present and past.

This particular book focuses on The Northwest Resistance, an uprising against the Canadian Government led by the Métis. What I love most about these books is the sense of identity Echo is gaining as the books progress. Each time she learns about her heritage she discovers a piece of herself.

The graphic novel format is perfect for the classroom and provides an interesting way to look at Indigenous issues in a lens that is relevant for students.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a copy of this title!

Northwest Resistance is the third volume of the A Girl Named Echo graphic novel series, and like the first two volumes, is quite good. The story once again follows the titular Echo as she is transported mysteriously to the relevant time periods significant to Metis history. In this case the 1885 resistance.
Plot: Echo encounters Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont at the outset and throughout the conflict, dropping in periodically such as at the Battle of Duck Lake. Weaving through the historical narrative is the contemporary one, Echo and her concern for her ill mother reflects the violent struggle of the Metis fighting for their rights. A major theme present in both is hope. Hope that things will improve and holding out hope under implausible odds.
Setting: Physically, the story takes place in the prairie provinces (Saskatchewan, Manitoba mostly), while the time period jumps back and forth between the present day and 1885.
Characters: Echo is once again our protagonist, with several major and minor supporting characters including Echo’s own ancestors, and important Canadian historical figures like Louis Riel. The characterization is mostly broad, but well done. Echo herself is a little thinly drawn.
Final Thoughts: For a series that provides historical knowledge and context while attempting to tell its own narrative, you can do far worse than Katherena Vermette’s series.
8/10
Recommended Grade Level: 7+

I would recommend that anyone looking to read this series actually read the entire three volumes because they are short and highly enjoyable! Informative and entertaining!

This comic is a wonderful way to teach parts of history many people might have forgotten. To who that Canadain Indigenous people went through many of the same things that happen in America. It shows the history in a way that would be easy for a younger audience to understand, along with keeping their interest. Though many places seemed very information drop, overall it is an amazing graphic novel.

[I was sent a copy of this comic on Netgalley in return for an honest review.]

'Northwest Resistance' is the third volume in the graphic novel series, 'A Girl called Echo'. It follows the main character (Echo) as she explores her heritage and the history behind The Settlers and the Canadian government.

Despite being only a short read, the comic is extremely well written and presents the story in both a captivating and interesting manner. We explore the history directly alongside the main character, and are given a more in depth understanding of how things may have turned out the way that they did.

I thought the artwork was beautiful and did a great job of conveying Echo's emotions, along with the story as a whole. The comic is perfect for both young and old readers as it is rather straight forward and easy to understand.

Overall, I thought the comic was very informative and I would definitely be interested to read the 4th volume when it comes out!

Rating: 4/5

The illustrations and graphic detail in this graphic novel are fabulous - the colours are so apt for the storyline and the characters have wonderful facial expressions.

I haven't read the first two volumes but that doesn't mean I couldn't read this as a standalone.

I enjoyed learning something about Canadian History as I am from the UK and it is not something I have ever learned about. The timeline at the end is useful but it would have been nice to have some more of that detail in the graphic novel itself. Well researched and thought provoking.

I didn't really engage with the main character though and the subject matter itself wasn't of massive interest personally.

Thanks to Netgalley and Highwater Press for this ARC.

I have enjoyed the Girl Called Echo series. It follows Echo, who is Metis, as she time travels back and forth from the present day to the time of the Metis resistance. It reminds me of Kindred by Octavia Butler.
My biggest issue with the series is that the volumes are so short. It would be easier to follow if the author made each volume longer and spent more time with Echo in the present day. The author should also slow down the plot when she travels back in time. It's difficult to keep track of everything that's going on in the past. The author tries to compensate for this by providing a timeline at the end, but it is a huge information dump for such a short book.
I would love to see more of what is going on with Echo and her mother in the present day. After three volumes, I still don't feel connected to her character. She is more of a device that's being used to present the historical information, but her present-day issues are throwaway material.
I don't know much about the history of Canadian Indigenous people and I appreciate an owned-voices series that shows what they went through. Flaws aside, I think it is a great tool for teachers and recommend it to anyone who doesn't know about the Metis or Canadian Indigenous history.

This is a great addition to the serie. Beautifully drawn, everything matches the ambiance. The subject really heavy but everything is handled with care and you can't help but fall for this girl.

This series value is in its gorgeous artwork and dedication to excellent and educational storytelling. I continuosly recommend this to any teachers I work with and will be doing so with this newest title as well.

This graphic novel is the third in the "A Girl Called Echo" series about a girl (named Echo) living in modern day Manitoba who travels back in time to the age of Louis Riel and the Metis resistance. These stories are quite short, bu they do a good job of sharing important facts about a time period in Canadian history that my schooling just glimpsed over. I really enjoy the imagery throughout the book and it is a very easy read that also makes you think and learn a lot.

I really also enjoy that there is a timeline at the end to take you through what was going on throughout the story and the things that maybe weren't mentioned.

Overall this is a great series and I will be definitely reading more as they come out.