• Age: 12 to 18
• Grade: 8 to 12
• Reading age: 12 to 18

Young, urban Natives powerfully show how their culture and values can survive—and enrich—city life.
Much of the popular discourse on Native Americans and Aboriginals focuses on reservation life. But the majority of Natives in North America live off the rez. How do they stay rooted to their culture? How do they connect with their community?
Urban Tribes offers unique insight into this growing and often misperceived group. Emotionally potent and visually arresting, the anthology profiles young urban Natives from across North America, exploring how they connect with Native culture and values in their contemporary lives. Their stories are as diverse as they are. From a young Dene woman pursuing a MBA at Stanford to a Pima photographer in Phoenix to a Mohawk actress in New York, these urban Natives share their unique perspectives to bridge the divide between their past and their future, their cultural home, and their adopted cities.
Unflinchingly honest and deeply moving, contributors explore a wide-range of topics. From the trials and tribulations of dating in the city to the alienating experience of leaving a remote reserve to attend high school in the city, from the mainstream success of Electric Pow wow music to the humiliation of dealing with racist school mascots, personal perspectives illuminate larger political issues. An innovative and highly visual design offers a dynamic, reading experience.

Lisa Charleyboy is a storyteller living in Toronto, who has a background in fashion and a heart in all things Indigenous. She has written about everything from Native appropriations and pop-culture to politics, and has been named one of Toronto’s Top Bloggers and one of Canada’s Top Ten Fashion Bloggers. Recently, she has been touted by Huffington Post as one of three Aboriginal Millennials to watch, and recommended for a Toronto DiverseCity Fellowship for 2013-2014.With over eight years as a published writer, she has written for publications such as The Guardian, CBC, THIS Magazine, Spirituality & Health, Job Postings, and SPIRIT Magazine.Lisa started reading at the young age of four when her mother discovered her reading to her neighbor. She clearly loves the written word and spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in books—she would even get in trouble for trying to bring her books to the dinner table!Her love of writing began as a young adu

Lisa Charleyboy's profile page

Mary Beth Leatherdale is a seasoned veteran of children’s publishing, having written, edited, and consulted on children’s books, magazines, and educational resources for more than twenty-five years. She was a founding editor of Chirp, Canada’s first pre-school magazine, and the editor of OWL magazine. As Editorial Director at Owlkids, Mary Beth oversaw the publishing program for Chirp, chickaDEE,and OWL, as well as the development of a number of award-winning books. She was the Senior Acquisitions Editor for McGraw-Hill Ryerson’s iLit Digital Collection, developing an online bank of original works by leading Canadian authors for high school English students. Recently, she edited Legends, Icons & Rebels by Grammy-award winner Robbie Robertson and music industry veterans Jim Guerinot, Sebastian Robertson, and Jared Levine.Mary Beth’s interest in Indigenous issues developed early while attending Howard Harwich Moravian Public School (now called the N

Mary Beth Leatherdale's profile page

• Short-listed, Information Book Award finalist, Children's Literature Roundtables of Canada
• Nominated, Red Maple Award nomination, Ontario Library Association
• Joint winner, Skipping Stones Honor Book
• Best Books for Kids & Teens, *starred selection, Canadian Children’s Book Centre

“… stereotype-dispelling … ”—Kirkus Reviews, 08/26/15

School Library Journal, *starred review, 12/15

“Compelling.”

Canadian Children’s Book News, Spring/16

“Compelling.”

Canadian Children’s Book News, Spring/16

“A useful survey of the lives and conditions of a wide variety of urban Natives.”

Booklist, 12/01/15

“An inspiring and thought-provoking work . . . offers social commentary, personal biography, vibrant graphic art and photography, and insight into cultural identity. Definitely worth acquiring for high school libraries and an excellent resource for Aboriginal/Native Studies courses.”

CM Reviews, 10/16/15

“Emotionally potent and visually arresting.”

Just Us Books, 02/04/16

“An important book and should be part of all Native Studies courses being offered now, or being readied for study in our high schools. They are stories that are deserving of our attention and admiration.”

Sal’s Fiction Addiction, 04/01/16

“Pushing boundaries and troubling stereotypes, the editors offer a deeper understanding of the multiplicities of lives.”

The Deakin Review of Children’s Literature, Winter/16

“Delightful, gorgeous pages.”

American Indians in Children's Literature, 10/27/15

“Visually beautiful.”

International Literacy Association, 11/16/15

“Stereotype-dispelling.”

Kirkus Reviews, 08/26/15

“The exploration of these individuals is intriguing, inspirational and eye opening. A wonderful book!”

Youth Services Book Review, 11/09/15