Identity And Identity In Thomas King's 'Borders'

Thomas King’s “Borders” is a very interesting story to read on as it is written wonderfully well with interesting characters involved in the story having played interesting roles through-out one after the other making sure the reader will not get bored out and keep them hooked up by arousing curiosity in the reader’s mind about what fate is decided on the kid’s mom. Just like the title says “Borders”, it really does not only mean the physical border between U.S.A. and Canada but also the border between one’s identity and his/her nationality which is understood only once when it is read. King through the kid’s mom tries to show us that identity and roots is above all as she protests constantly with the guards patrolling at the border makes us really wonder what really happens to her next.
The story is narrated by a young boy when he was around 12 or 13 years old who recalls the incidents

occurred back then. Usually kids tend to tell the truth in their innocent ways about understanding world so does this young kid who has immense observatory skills and great memory to remember such minute details. His childishness is found through the lines where he craves for hamburgers when his mom tries to tell him stories. He accompanies his mom to the other side of the border to meet his elder sister who shifted there to work leaving them behind. While at the border they encountered a hassle in different locations regarding the same topic when asked to declare their citizenship. They faced three American guards questioned them in three different ways but found the Canadian guard to be the most friendliest as she wished she was Blackfoot like them too. His mom was found to be quite stubborn about the fact that she kept telling that she is black-footed when asked to declare her nationality not scaring if she is sent back for not getting well along with the guards there. Idiomatic words like “stand-off” were used by her as she was sure that she is going to fight back once again on the same matter just after the other. The media guy who is “good looking”, “In a dark blue suit and orange tie with little ducks on it” is another instance where the kid impresses with his great observatory skills and no doubt about his memory leaving the readers undoubted about the story’s authenticity. “Do you think Mel is going to bring us the hamburgers” said the kid when his mom was telling them stories is another instance where the kid’s focus is only on food rather than anything else.
“Justice was a damn hard thing to get, but that we shouldn’t give up” said by Mel really makes us thrive for more and keep trying until we get what look for.

Mel was the one who provided them with light snacks and later called up the media to cover their interesting story. They got quite popular overnight and the guards were enthralled to let them cross the border by declaring their citizenship to be black-footed. Even Laetitia was astonished about this news coverage and was surprised about to see her mom’s heroics. All her misconceptions were cleared and she was a proud Black-footed once again. She even thought of shifting back to her mom’s place.
Overall Thomas King’s “Borders” is a great story and every must read it. The author successfully sends an important message through the protagonist’s character that our identity, our culture, our traditions comes above all and we should back it no matter what. King auspiciously wrote the story by giving the readers a refreshing yet fruitful time to spend on reading this great story “Borders” through the innocent eyes of the young

kid.