The Outside Circle

The Outside Circle, a 2015 graphic novel from Groundwood Books/House of Anansi Press, is a standalone story that follows two Indigenous brothers in Edmonton, Canada, as they navigate systemic racism, gang involvement, and the healing power of art and cultural reconnection. Written and illustrated by Patti LaBoucane-Benson and Kelly Mellings, respectively, the book is a poignant, fact-based exploration of restorative justice and intergenerational trauma, drawn from LaBoucane-Benson's work with Indigenous youth. Its single-issue format delivers a complete, emotionally resonant narrative that matters for its unflinching yet hopeful portrayal of resilience and community.