This is a difficult book for me to review - not because it was bad because it most certainly is not. It is magnificent. It is so honest and raw and brutal all while being filled with love and hope and grace that I wept through much of it. It is a book that is best gone into blind - the less you know about what this book is about, the more powerful the punch it brings, and trust me, that is a very good thing. It is heartbreakingly real [it is fiction based on many true stories from the Indigenous who have been displaced again and again and again], it is filled with courage and bravery and loss and all that comes from all of those emotions.

Everyone should be reading this. People being forcibly removed from their homes is still happening and this needs to be talked about and the people responsible need to be dealt with and that starts with all of us. We need [and CAN] to make a difference. We can be brave too.

Thank you to NetGalley, Canizales, Sofia Huitron Martinez - Translator, and Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This graphic novel covers some very hard topics. These include deforestation, illegal mining, rape, child abuse, and the displacement of indigenous people. Very hard topics to cover but they seem to have created a book that covers the topics in a delicate way. The illustration style helps highlight the important elements related to the plot and themes.

This slim volume packs a powerful punch. This engaging story is based on true events and will hopefully help draw public awareness to the plight of native people who are being violently displaced in Columbian rainforests. The illustrations, using only a soft red and black and white, were beautifully done and the text flowed smoothly even in translation. This is a short graphic novel that will stick with the reader long after the last page.

TW: Attempted Rape

This review of an e-ARC made available through NetGalley and Lerner Publishing.

This is a powerful story of resistance & resilience & fighting for a voice & justice. The images are striking, mostly in black and white with occasional pinks and reds to highlight the emotion of the scene. Absolutely worth the read, but probably for older readers, as it deals with some heavy/disturbing events.

Amazona shows the journey of an Indigenous Amazonian woman returning to her homeland after being forced out. Canizales illustrates the pain of indigenous people so the story can be shared effectively and emotionally. The book features both environmental and indigenous cultural destruction in a way that presents the issues realistically yet still gives glimmers of hope to continue fighting back.

Though I do not think of myself as an expert in the scope of graphic novel illustrations, the illustrations here are different than others that I have seen. They are presented in predominantly greyscale with intentionally placed pieces of color.

Though I was aware of the topics discussed before I reading the novel, I felt a deeper emotional connection to the issues at hand.

Thank you NetGalley for the ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

A fictional take on the real events of the displacement of Indigenous Colombian peoples. We follow Andrea, a young Indigenous Colombian woman whose family has been displaced and resultantly loses her husband and child. In mourning, she decides to return to her village to lay her child to rest and expose the truths about their village's injustices.

While this isn't something I'd typically read, I learned a lot about a topic I didn't have much experience learning about and appreciate the fact that it's in a medium so easy to consume! Canizales' art style and use of minimal color sets a realistically grim and unsettling mood, especially in scenes where our characters are in emotional or physical danger. I felt the art balanced out the very blunt and factual voice of his writing. I did feel a little uncomfortable with scenes that depicted attempted sexual violence and how offhandedly they were approached and left behind.

Overall I am glad I read this!

I immensely enjoyed this graphic novel. The art is eye catching and detailed. The story is sad and empowering and educational. Andrea may be only a character, but her suffering represents so many indigenous peoples struggles. I also appreciated the short historical detail at the end of the novel.

Thank you to the Lerner Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced electronic review copy of this book. This is a moving story about Andrea, a Colombian indigenous woman forcibly removed from her ancestral land, who went back to record the atrocities happening there. Interesting art style and use of color portray strong emotions prevalent throughout the story. A quick, but powerful read.

Amazona is an eye opening account of the treatment of the indigenous people in Columbia. While fictional, it hits hard. The main character experiences so much loss and still continues pushing forward for justice for her people.

Quick and enlightening read. I highly recommend it.

Amazona tells the story of an Indigenous woman whose family has been run out of their home due to mining. This story dives into how it affect this one family and how determined they are to get their land back. The use of color throughout this story was spectacular as it really drew attention to certain points that really made it more impactful as it drew attention to important details.

The story really shows how colonization is still happening and Indigenous people deserve justice. This was a powerful story that had more information at the end that I thought was also important and powerful.

CW: SA, child death

3.5/5 - Rounded up to a 4

Amazona follows Andrea, a young indigenous Columbian woman, on her journey back to her homeland. After being driven out by soldiers with guns to use their land for mining, Andrea and her family flee and end up seeking asylum. After the devastating loss of her child, she treks back to bury her on sacred land. What she doesn't share is the hidden motive behind her journey - to get evidence for her lawyer.

Amazona is a chilling look at how easy it is to lose everything you own and have to start anew. My favorite part of this graphic novel were the illustrations, hands down. The use of black and white made everything that much more intense. The scenes in the darkness, also when the darkest parts of her life happen, are so unnerving because of the use of white ink/pencil on an all black background. I also liked the breakdown of what actually happened to people of these cultures since this was a fictional story based in fact. My only complaint is I wish it had been a little bit longer, some of the situations felt a bit rushed.

Trigger warning: infant death, Indigenous civil rights abuse, sexual assault, guns
A fabulous telling of a Columbian Indigenous woman fighting for her peoples' land while grieving the loss of her infant daughter. Wonderful illustrations and coloring pull you even deeper into this fictional story while showing the real-life terrors Columbian Indigenous peoples are facing daily.

Everyone should read this story.

Big shout-out to netgalley for lending me a digital copy of this book.

The art was magnificent, as was the storytelling. I am crying at 10:30 in the morning and further researching ways that I can possibly aide Indigenous people of the Amazon.

The story is further reminder that Indigenous lands and Indigenous people must be protected and respected, and that non-Indigenous people are not fucking owed anything. If the story makes a non-Indigenous person uncomfortable, then it's doing the job right. History has been told by the colonizers, and it's way past time that has changed.

Beautiful book! I love the message communicated. I would definitely read another book by this author. Great job!

I received a free digital ARC from Lerner Publishing Group via NetGalley. Andrea, an indigenous Colombian woman who has been chased from her land goes back to find evidence to prove the injustice she and her family are enduring. It is a daunting task.

While fictional, this story is sad, emotional and eye opening about the injustice of Indigenous people in the Amazon. It dramatically shows being run off your homeland and losing people you love. The art was powerful and the backstory of Andrea and Elkin helped drive the story forward.

At first glance this seemed like it was just going to be a graphic novel about a family living in forest setting… I was wrong but in a good way. This story had so much depth to it and made you sit and think about how the world truly is and how people struggle everyday and we just do not see it. I tested up reading it but I can say that this is something I will want to read over and over again.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Learning Publishing Group and Canizales for the opportunity to read this and the work that was put into it.

Amazing graphic novel that was both moving and informative. Although this book is a work of fiction the situations represented what is happening in real life. Awareness leads to change. Beautiful illustrations and informative story.

Amazona tells such an impactful story and shares a lesson that everyone should read. The artwork enhances the story and I would recommend this short graphic novel to anyone.

NetGalley has given me the opportunity to read this graphic novel.

The art in this graphic novel was not very pretty, but this was not a pretty story. It was a real one. One that continues to go on.

This tells the story of Andrea an Indigenous Minga Woman of Columbia who has been chased away from her native lands by guerilla groups and forced to migrate to Cali. She loses her husband to guerilla violence, and eventually her daughter to poor living conditions after they arrive in America.

The tenacity of the woman is inspiring, but my heart aches knowing the reality of this fiction. There are so many displaced people who don't find help and aren't able to do anything about the unfairness of their situations.

We can only hope that in telling these stories the voices can be heard by those who are in power who can make a change.

This is a quick but hard read, and I will recommend it.

“You are more powerful than their bullets.”
This graphic novel takes an unflinching look at displacement and loss. The art style is unique and has a rough quality that I enjoyed. The pacing was steady, though important transitional pieces (and time jumps) were not well defined. I wish there had been a bit more rising action exploring her path back to the village with her daughter. I also appreciate that a portion of the proceeds are slated for organizations supporting indigenous women in Columbia. Overall, I think this novella has an important and marginalized voice, told through good pacing and a unique art style.
That being said, I am conflicted about this novella - I definitely don't think it should be tagged #metoo. Despite many pros and despite having a female protagonist, there are definitive misogynistic notes, likely due to the male author. I find the opening lines derogatory to western feminist movements, but my real issue is the use of sexual assault/harassment as a convenient plot point. I think the way narrowly avoided rape and Andrea's assailant turning into her savior grossly undermines the experiences of women, especially considering the rates of SA among indigenous women. Additionally, Andrea's reactions to this abuse are approached in a way that is very men-writing-women.