Beautiful, Beautiful by Brandon Reid is a poignant middle-grade novel that follows 12-year-old Derik Mormin on a transformative journey to Bella Bella for his grandfather's funeral. Set against the backdrop of the remote coastal community, the novel explores Derik’s emotional growth as he grapples with grief, family bonds, and his Indigenous heritage. Reid sensitively portrays Derik’s internal struggles and his evolving understanding of loss and cultural identity. The book offers rich themes suitable for curriculum integration, particularly in Language Arts where students can analyze character development, narrative structure, and themes of resilience and belonging. It also provides insights into Indigenous cultures and Traditions, making it relevant for social studies discussions on community dynamics and cross-cultural studies.

Additionally, Beautiful, Beautiful serves as a valuable resource for discussions on mental health and coping strategies, aligning with health and well-being curriculum goals. Overall, Reid’s novel resonates with its exploration of universal themes through the eyes of a young protagonist navigating profound personal and cultural challenges.

Cautions / Content Warnings: Death
Other End Matter: None
Images: None
Contributor Affiliation: Brandon Reid (Heiltsuk First Nation)
Bibliography: No
Index: No

Evaluator: David D., Indigenous Educator & Administrator, Indigenous Books for Schools

Brandon Reid holds a B.Ed. from UBC with a specialization in Indigenous education, and a journalism diploma from Langara College. His work has been published in the Barely South Review, the Richmond Review and The Province. He is a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, with a mix of Indigenous and English ancestry. He resides in Richmond, BC, where he works as a TTOC. In his spare time, he enjoys cooking, playing music and listening to comedy podcasts. His debut novel, Beautiful Beautiful, was published with Nightwood Editions in fall 2023.

Brandon Reid's profile page

• Short-listed, Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize
• Short-listed, William Saroyan International Prize for Writing

“Beautiful Beautiful is a fitting title for Brandon Reid's novel, for it describes the work itself—it's simply beautiful. Reid manages to capture hypnotic traditional storytelling in written form—by stretching, manipulating and breaking traditional rules and conventions of the English language. Reid draws us into the tormentous but stunning world of a boy who, while young in years, is an ancient soul. Through brilliant description, mind-blowing shifting of perspective and a brilliant use of the boy's internal voice, we join the daily toils of a Heiltsuk family as they struggle to live off the capricious bounty of the Pacific Ocean. Like Omar El Akkad’s What Strange Paradise, Beautiful Beautiful stakes out new ground in the literary scene.”

Darrel J. McLeod, author of <i>A Season in Chezgh’un<i>