Survival of the Goodest

“Boucher’s dynamic, original illustration style contains sharp angles that convey energy. The compelling story, illustrated in grayscale art, embraces a message of living harmoniously with all creatures.” — Kirkus

The Nameless City meets Princess Mononoke in this eco-adventure about a young messenger who taps into ancient magic to defend her island’s animal inhabitants.

Sable has lived in a tight-knit community on a remote island for her whole life. With support from her parents, she’s trained for years to take up her position as the next Kerpathic, a messenger who travels through the dangerous forest to share news, medicine, and culture. When her father, the current Kerpathic, has an accident, Sable must step into her pre-destined role.

As her first mission goes awry, she wonders if she’s ready for this important but dangerous work. Until a young naturalist arrives on the island and sets off to capture a mysterious animal that’s never been seen on the mainland. Sable realizes that she can use her skills as a Kerpathic to defend the island’s animals and their way of life. But she quickly learns that she can’t do it alone.

In Survival of the Goodest, Marianne Boucher (Talking to Strangers) explores ideas of animal sentience, interspecies communication, and environmental preservation.

About the Author

Marianne Boucher is a comics creator and painter from Kirkland Lake, Ontario. After graduating from the Ontario College of Art and Design, she worked as a court illustrator, covering crime stories for a Toronto television station for 30 years. Her graphic novel, Talking To Strangers, an adult memoir, was published by Penguin Random House in 2020, and was listed as one of the best Canadian comics in 2020 by CBC. She started a new graphic novel while attending the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia writer’s residency in Avonport in Fall of 2023. A recent move back to northern Ontario has rekindled her desire to return to painting. She is represented by Britton Gallery in Muskoka.

Publication Details

ISBN 9781772621044
8.5 x 6 inches
152 pages, black and white
trade paperback
October 2024

Ages 12+