A Blanket of Butterflies - (The Spirit of Denendeh) 2nd Edition by Richard Van Camp (Paperback)

About the Book

A mysterious suit of armour. A man in search of redemption. A butterfly tattoo. Can Shinobu regain his lost samurai sword and, with it, his family's honour? Can 10-year-old Sonny and his grandmother help Shinobu while keeping the peace in their community? Find new historical and cultural context in this full-colour edition.

Book Synopsis

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 Tlı̨chǫ 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.

Review Quotes

Nominated for YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens List for 2024

-- "Young Adult Library Association"

Among American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) Best Books 2022

-- "American Indians in Children's Literature"

A Blanket of Butterflies is a powerful tribute to the ways that different peoples' cultures and histories have crossed and become connected throughout history. This book has stunning and intricately crafted action sequences.

--Spencer Miller "49th Kids"

Among CBC Books The Best Canadian Comics of 2022

-- "CBC Books"

This beautiful new edition, illustrated in full colour for the first time, tells the story of a young Dene boy and his grandmother helping a Japanese man recover his grandfather's armour.

--Sean Graham "Active History"

The connections are mind-blowing...a beautiful book...a fascinating story.

--Shelagh Rogers "The Next Chapter"

A Blanket of Butterflies is a great addition to a high school library's graphic novel collection, a good choice as a supplemental novel for high school English classes, and certainly a must for any Indigenous studies class. Recommended.

--Joanne Peters "CM Reviews"

Among CBC Books 22 Canadian comics we can't wait to read this fall

--CBC Books "CBC Books"

Richard Van Camp on his hope for The Spirit of Denendeh feature interview in the Quill & Quire.

--Angela Wright "Quill & Quire"

The story and messages of honor, respect, peace, and human connection are powerful and moving. Valuable cultural and historical insights...support the story.

--Kirkus Reviews "Kirkus Reviews"

Get a copy of A Blanket of Butterflies for your library or classroom, or for your own young readers. I really like it and highly recommend it.

--Debbie Reese "AICL"

About the Author

Richard Van Camp (he/him/his) is a proud member of the Tlı̨chǫ Nation from Fort Smith, Northwest Territories. He is the author of more than 25 books including The Lesser Blessed (also a feature film), the Eisner Award-nominated graphic novel A Blanket of Butterflies (with Scott B. Henderson), and Three Feathers (also a feature film). He is a contributor to the groundbreaking graphic novel anthology This Place: 150 Years Retold. Richard is also the author of five collections of short stories, including Night Moves, and six baby books, including the award-winning Little You (with Julie Flett).

Scott B. Henderson (he/him/his) is author/artist of the sci-fi/fantasy comic The Chronicles of Era and has illustrated select titles in the Tales From Big Spirit series, as well as the A Girl Called Echo, The Reckoner Rises, and 7 Generations series. He is also the artist for AIYLA Honour Book Fire Starters, Eisner Award-nominee A Blanket of Butterflies, and select stories in This Place: 150 Years Retold. In 2016, he was the recipient of the C4 Central Canada Comic Con Storyteller Award. Find Scott on social media with @ouroboros09.