Swift Fox All Along

Rebecca Thomas, illustrated by Maya McKibbin

Image | BOOK COVER: Swift Fox All Along by Rebecca Thomas, illustrated by Maya McKibbin

(Annick Press)

What does it mean to be Mi'kmaq? And if Swift Fox can't find the answer, will she ever feel like part of her family?When Swift Fox's father picks her up to go visit her aunties, uncles, and cousins, her belly is already full of butterflies. And when he tells her that today is the day that she'll learn how to be Mi'kmaq, the butterflies grow even bigger. Though her father reassures her that Mi'kmaq is who she is from her eyes to her toes, Swift Fox doesn't understand what that means. Her family welcomes her with smiles and hugs, but when it's time to smudge and everyone else knows how, Swift Fox feels even more like she doesn't belong. Then she meets her cousin Sully and realizes that she's not the only one who's unsure—and she may even be the one to teach him something about what being Mi'kmaq means. Based on the author's own experience, with striking illustrations by Maya McKibbin, Swift Fox All Along is a poignant story about identity and belonging that is at once personal and universally resonant. (From Annick Press)
Swift Fox All Along was a finalist for the 2020 Governor General's Literary Prize for young people's literature — illustrated books.
Rebecca Thomas is a Mi'kmaw writer living in Nova Scotia. She was the Halifax poet laureate from 2016 to 2018. She is also the author of the children's book I'm Finding My Talk, which is a poem responding to the iconic Rita Joe poem I Lost My Talk and the poetry collection I place you into the fire.
Maya McKibbin is a two-spirited Ojibwe, Yoeme and Irish illustrator and filmmaker. Swift Fox All Along is her first picture book.

Interviews with Rebecca Thomas

Media | Reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous languages

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Media Audio | The Next Chapter : Rebecca Thomas on I place you into the fire

Caption: Rebecca Thomas talks to Shelagh Rogers about her poetry collection I place you into the fire.

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