Mira

Abstract

Mira is on a quest to learn who her genetic father is. But the more questions she asks about the sperm donor her parents used to create her, the more she risks destroying the most important relationships in her life. This is a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of new ways of family building through ART (Assisted Reproductive Technology). Mira’s journey of discovery interrogates greater practical and moral implications of sperm donation and this secretive industry. Does Mira have a right to know who her genetic father is? What sacrifices should she be willing to take on to achieve this goal? What role does blood play in identity formation? Set on the shores of Georgian Bay, Ontario the narrative references stories borrowed from mythology to explore contemporary conundrums regarding the use of reproductive technologies and their connection to age-old themes of human identity.