Book Review: Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq

by Megan Amato

 Content Warning: Sexual abuse, rape, substance use 

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up Split Tooth by Inuk author Tanya Tagaq.  I was browsing a small bookstore in Whistler, British Columbia last winter when I spotted the cover faced out on the shelf: the forbidding white fox against the black background. A flip through at the combination of poetry, prose and illustrations made my interest keener. The blurb that promised a story woven around myth and a girl dealing with trauma and pregnancy in rural Nunavut during the 1970s had me pulling out my wallet.

The blurb lied. Or rather—it was so oversimplified that it did not prepare me for the beautiful and devastating journey I was about to embark on. Trauma does play a significant role, specifically sexual trauma—mixed vividly in the prose and more abstractly through the lines of poetry—but Tagaq does a frighteningly good job of normalizing sexual assault within the lines of the book through the bright-eyed lens of the protagonist. It’s done purposefully and with skill so that the reader can’t help but draw parallels to how normalized sexual abuse is in our own societies. 

One line in the blurb, however, especially buried the lede: “When she becomes pregnant, she must navigate all this.” It’s “this” I take issue with because nowhere in that little snippet did it tell me that said pregnancy would be the resultant progeny of the Northern Lights—you read that right—after It takes the girl by force. Possibly, I might have drawn this conclusion from “she knows…the raw, amoral power of the ice and sky,” but I think you could forgive me for not making the connection. The pregnancy only takes place two-thirds of the way through the book, so it’s not even a significant part of the story, and the birth of these celestial children plays a more significant role. 

I previously stated that I didn’t know what to expect from this book, and that theme continued on through every page that I read. The language Tagaq uses in terms of trauma is significant and intentional. Despite the almost carefree, child-like attitude of the protagonist, she doesn’t pull her punches or gently whisper euphemisms when it comes to trauma and sexual assault. It’s stated bluntly, simply, so that you have no choice but to confront the issue at hand even amid her flowing prose of poetry. 

Split Tooth is not an easy read despite how beautifully it’s written or the passages of poetry that shorten its 189 pages. It challenges and defies the reader at every turn. It weaves myth into the storyline in an intentionally coarse manner. This isn’t a fairytale, and that it is at least partially a memoir causes every tense muscle in your body to want to scream and cry and rage and take action. Please forgive me for a review nearly as vague as the blurb. I find that they actually did the right thing—this book needs to be read without too many assumptions imparted by those who read it before you. 

Book Review: Feelings by Manjit Thapp

by Kaylie Seed

Manjit Thapp’s gorgeous graphic novel Feelings is a story about how feelings change with the seasons and how that is only a natural human experience. Feelings takes the reader through six seasons: high summer, late summer, monsoon, autumn, winter, and spring. In each chapter, Thapp focuses on the feelings that she associates with that season, and at the same time, she has chosen colours and drawings that reflect those feelings. Thapp has written Feelings like a graphic novel, where the illustrations have more power than the words used, however she manages to blend the two exquisitely, leaving the reader to ponder their own feelings.

Thapp’s main theme is mental health and she has captured the highs and lows we all experience so fluidly. The graphics Thapp has drawn for Feelings are soft, dainty, and truly help express the feelings that Thapp is portraying. I personally really resonated with Feelings and found Thapp’s writing to be sincere and to the point; the entire book is a stunning piece of art. This quick read can be finished in one sitting but the reader will find themselves opening Feelings even after they’ve read it just to admire the artistry.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Bacchanal by Veronica Henry

by Meghan Mazzaferro

Release date: June 1st, 2021

Content warning: racial tensions, racial violence, instances of violence and gore 

Veronica Henry’s novel Bacchanal follows Liza, a Black woman in the 1930s American South with a secret power to communicate with animals. When a mysterious carnival, Bacchanal, asks her to join their group, Liza sees a way out of her backwater town by making her own money, gaining independence, and hopefully finding the family who abandoned her. But there is a darkness lurking within the carnival, one that traces back to Nigeria and Liza’s ancestors, and if she has any hope of escaping, she needs to learn to control her powers and quickly. 

This book has a lot of potential. Liza is a strong, passionate woman who is easy to root for, and her powers are unique. I haven’t read many books where the main character can speak to animals, and the way in which Liza communicates with them is definitely really interesting. Many of the side characters are also compelling. Though darkness surrounds the carnival, all of its workers are interesting and developed, and Henry did an excellent job of showing how the carnival benefits the people who work there. While the reader knows about the darkness at Bacchanal’s heart, it is impossible to fully root against the villain, because those we come to care about while reading will also suffer if the carnival falls. 

The book is heavily influenced by African culture and traditions, with a major theme being Liza’s exploration of her ancestry; learning about herself and her African roots is the only way for her to embrace her powers and face the threat within Bacchanal. I have little knowledge of African cultures, but I never got lost in the story. That being said, there are many things that would definitely have held more significance if I had a deeper knowledge of African histories and cultures. I have seen other reviewers of this book say that Henry sometimes asks the reader to meet her halfway. I agree with that statement, and I think it makes the novel stronger. Henry explores both 1930s American culture and African cultures and traditions without spoon-feeding the audience exposition, trusting that the story can carry itself, and that the reader will put in the work to understand. I commend that, and I think it makes the book a very immersive read. 

Unfortunately, there are a few areas where I found the story falls a little flat. The narrative is actually quite slow. While the story is immersive, it became clear to me pretty quickly that there wasn’t as much conflict in the narrative as one might expect. There were many instances where it seemed like there would be challenges to Liza or the carnival that unfortunately fizzled into nothing, and it made the book feel a little lacking by the time I reached the conclusion. Likewise, while many of the side characters were fleshed out and interesting in their own rights, their interactions with each other tended to be underexplored. I was often told how characters felt about each other rather than being shown, which led to some of the character relationships feeling slightly forced and underdeveloped. 

That being said, the book was still an enjoyable read. While I found the central plot lacking a certain depth to really make it stand out, Henry does an excellent job of making you question what you think will happen next. For that, as well as for the book’s representation of the balance between modernity and heritage in the 1930s American South, I would say I overall enjoyed this book.

Thank you, Wunderkind Publicity, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: What Boys Like by Amy Jones

by Dahl Botterill

"How much do I cost?" Devin asked.

"I don't know yet," Jenny answered. 

Amy Jones' debut collection of short stories What Boys Like and Other Stories is an engrossing read. The stories cover a lot of ground, populated by a wide variety of characters that share a world of possibility, disappointment, and everything in between. The stories vary in tone and approach, as Jones employs first-, third-, and even second-person perspectives while weaving her tales, but one thing they all share is her comfortable prose. Her writing draws the reader in until they aren't reading so much as experiencing the story blossoming around them.

What Boys Like collects 15 stories under one cover, and none of them feel like an outright miss. There's sufficient variety that any given reader will have their own personal preferences, but every story offers up something special.

“A Good Girl” introduces a young man in his early thirties entangled with an 18-year-old who views their relationship through very different lenses than his own. He's not completely oblivious to this—he moves on romantically to other, more stable situations—but his everyday actions are at odds with his reactions whenever she pops back into his life. He just can't shake his desire, nor can he rid himself of the idea that she could somehow change into the person he wants her to be, despite all evidence to the contrary.

“Army of One” draws the reader into a bit of a reversal, following two people who are long-time best friends—and occasionally more—who similarly find themselves on very different pages. He's getting married, and she's not quite able or willing to let go of this man who never really chooses her. Their relationship is messy, comfortable, and totally broken all at the same time. 

“Twelve Weeks” is about a young woman returning to her childhood home, seeking comfort and resolution from a place that may no longer be capable of providing such things. There's a palpable sense of loss, regret, and hopelessness that lingers in the air between Jenny and her father.

Amy Jones creates characters that feel and sound real, and the combination of clean prose and smart dialogue place her reader in the middle of every scene. The result is a very solid book of short stories that's an absolute pleasure to read.

Book Review: Good Mothers Don't by Laura Best

by Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: mental illness

Laura Best’s Good Mothers Don’t follows Elizabeth McKay and her experience with mental illness in the 1960s and 1970s while living in a small farming community in Nova Scotia. Elizabeth has two young children, Jacob and Jewel, and a husband named Cliff, who all love her dearly; she’s living a good life. Elizabeth begins to unravel as she starts hearing voices and imagining herself harming her children. She’s aware that something is wrong, but she can’t seem to control her impulses. A testament to the fact that mental illness can affect anyone regardless of their life situation, Good Mothers Don’t attempts to shed light on how mental illness was treated in the sixties and seventies. 

Elizabeth’s narration in the beginning of the story is very scattered, obviously to show the reader the mental state that she is in, yet at times it can be difficult to follow because it’s like being in the mind of someone who cannot control their thoughts. As Elizabeth unravels, the reader will see the lack of support for her mental illness from her husband’s family, who simply think she is “crazy” and not actually in need of help. This part of the novel feels rushed, and Elizabeth’s mental illness feels undeveloped because there is a sudden jump in time to when Elizabeth is well. 

Best has clearly done her research when it comes to how mental illness was viewed and treated in this era. Elizabeth is taken away and is prescribed pills and electroshock therapy to help cure her ailments, which causes memory loss for her. Elizabeth is getting well but cannot remember much of her life before she was in Harmony House; but as she begins to find out who she was, her voice becomes clearer than it was in the beginning. The issue with Good Mothers Don’t is that it feels like only the surface has been scratched, and it is lacking depth. Best’s prose draws the reader in, yet something feels missing even when the story comes to an end. Good Mothers Don’t is a lovely piece of Canadian historical fiction, I just wish that it went even deeper with the themes that were presented and that the plot was more developed in places.

Thank you Nimbus Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: If I Tell You the Truth by Jasmin Kaur

by Kaylie Seed

Content warning: sexual assault, police brutality, immigrant trauma, victim-blaming, domestic violence, alcoholism, mental illness

Jasmin Kaur has crafted an extraordinary piece of art with her novel If I Tell You the Truth. Kaur has blended poetry, prose, and illustrations to create a story of heartache, pain, and love between mother and daughter. Kiran moved to Canada at nineteen to attend university, but her reason goes far beyond just wanting an education. Kiran is fleeing Punjab from the man who raped her— not only to save herself, but to save the unborn child she is carrying because of his heinous act. After giving birth to her daughter Sahaara, Kiran overstays her student visa and ends up living in Canada illegally as an undocumented immigrant for nearly two decades. Kaur also weaves in Sahaara’s own coming-of-age story, as she learns the truth of Kiran’s past and begins seeking justice for her mother. 

Kaur’s characterization is nearly flawless and even manages to make the poetry that Kiran and Sahaara write sound so distinctive as Kaur goes back and forth between their perspectives. If I Tell You the Truth is part poetry and part prose, something that has become quite popular in the last few years. Readers will experience this story through poetry, that helps carry the story forward, and also through the narrative between characters. Kaur blends these mediums along with illustrations that help to give more dimension to the novel.

If I Tell You the Truth has a lot of heavy topics that play off one another as the story progresses. Sexual assault, immigrant trauma, and victim-blaming are the central topics of this novel but at the same time so are unconditional love, the mother-daughter relationship, and how art is a positive release for negative energy. Kaur certainly is talented, and it’s no surprise that this novel has high praise; not only is If I Tell You the Truth timely, but it is also loud and unapologetic, leaving the reader feeling empowered. While this 400+ page book may seem daunting to some readers, it should be noted that while there are heavy topics in If I Tell You the Truth, Kaur has written them in such a light and airy way that the reader can finish it quite quickly. If I Tell You the Truth is a story that will stay with me for a long time. Kaur has so much to share with the reading world, and I cannot wait to see what she creates next. 

*Thank you HarperCollins Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: This Town is Not Alright by M.K. Krys

By Kim McCullough

This Town is Not All Right by Thunder Bay author M.K. Krys is a middle-grade sci-fi novel that blends fast-moving action and sympathetic, captivating characters with a dark, moody setting and surprising plot twists. 

Beacon and his twin sister Everleigh are not thrilled when their father uproots them from their home in Los Angeles to make a new start in the small coastal town of Driftwood Harbor. After the death of the twins’ older brother Jasper, a fresh start may be just what the family needs. Despite his sadness at leaving his friends behind, Beacon hopes the move will shake his sister from the grief and guilt she feels over the tragedy. 

The family has barely arrived when strange events start to occur. The twins meet the too-perfect, mannequin-like Jane, leader of the Gold Stars, a “youth group that aims to promote social responsibility in kids.” 

Beacon, Everleigh and their father settle into a local inn until they find a house of their own. The owner, Donna, is fierce and angry for no reason that Beacon can see. Unable to sleep his first night under her roof, Beacon is staring out his window at the ocean when he sees Jane disappear into the waves. When the local sheriff arrives, he is unconcerned about the drowning girl. Beacon is later shocked to find out that Jane was home, safe in her bed all along.

The next day, Everleigh heads off to the local auto shop. She is a genius at fixing cars—her brother Jasper taught her everything she knows. Beacon, left on his own, heads out on his skateboard to explore. Before long, he finds himself in a dark forest, where he meets Arthur, a science nerd who studies aliens. He tells Beacon about the rumoured UFO that crash-landed in Driftwood Harbor years before. Strange things have been happening ever since.

Once the twins start at their new school, Beacon’s suspicion of the innkeeper and sheriff grows to include the school nurse, and the exceptionally well-behaved students. When Everleigh undergoes an inexplicable personality change and shows up to dinner in a skirt, Beacon knows something is really wrong.

Beacon and Arthur team up to solve the mystery. Their investigation takes them from the nurse’s office to church basements and beyond as they try to outrun danger at every turn.

Krys keeps the plot rollicking along with enough character detail and plot development to keep a middle-schooler engaged, but not so much that the story gets bogged down in wordy descriptions. She’s crafted a mystery where everyone in the town seems to be hiding a dark secret—Jane, the owner of the inn, the sheriff, and even the twins’ father.

What is going on with Jane? What is the twins’ father really doing in Driftwood Harbor? Will Beacon’s sister ever go back to normal? And will they survive the coming battle? Just when it seems these questions will be answered, the twist ending leaves the reader hanging, wanting more. 

Book Review: Ties that Tether by Jane Igharo

by Kaylie Seed

Content warning: traumatic birth

Ties That Tether, set in Toronto, Canada, is a unique love story that addresses immigration, race, and culture in a lighthearted manner. Author Jane Igharo immigrated to Canada from Nigeria when she was twelve and it’s evident that her own experience helped inspire the creation of her contemporary romance novel. Twenty-five-year-old Azere wants nothing more than to please her mother, who has a high regard for their Edo heritage and culture, but when Azere falls head over heels for Rafael, a white man her mother would never approve of, she begins to question all that she’s ever known. Told from Azere’s perspective (and occasionally Rafael’s), Ties That Tether pulls on the reader’s heartstrings as Azere and Rafael attempt to figure out what it is that seems to tie them together.

Igharo addresses so many important topics throughout Ties That Tether, including heritage, immigration, culture, traditions, race, interracial relationships, identity, the mother-daughter relationship, family dysfunction, unconditional love, and so much more. Ties That Tether is a love story at its core, but the layers and topics that are woven into the story make it so much more complex, which is more engaging for the reader. Igharo mixes in some of the Edo language throughout Ties That Tether and really immerses the reader into the culture, which also helps bring depth to this story. Igharo’s prose flows incredibly smoothly, making the reading experience enjoyable. Throughout the story, Igharo nods to various romantic movies, all of which Azere adores, and this brings in a lovely pop culture note to Ties That Tether. A contemporary romance that also identifies the struggles of the immigrant experience, Ties That Tether is a playful, easy read. Igharo’s story made its way into my heart and I know that Ties That Tether will stay with me for a very long time.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam

by Christine McFaul

Punching the Air is a stunning, contemporary YA novel co-written by best-selling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist, Yusef Salaam, of the Exonerated Five. Drawing on Salaam’s life experiences, it tells the story of sixteen-year-old Amal Shahid—artist, poet, and free-thinker—whose life is derailed when an altercation amongst teens in a gentrifying neighbourhood ends with a white youth in a coma.

Amal, who is Black and Muslim, must now defend himself, 

because where I come from

jail or death

were the two options…handed to us

because where he comes from

the American Dream

was the option…handed to them

It does not matter that Amal is innocent. He is convicted of a crime he did not commit and sent to prison. There, despair and anger threaten to overwhelm him, but love, community, and self-expression through art keep his mind free.

Amal's story unfurls in verse. Zoboi’s powerful lyricism is amplified by subtle and brilliant textual choices. The unique presentation of words on the page, shifting, scattering, grouping again, and interspersed with illustrations, mimic the effect of thoughts flowing through Amal’s mind. When combined with the first-person point of view, it makes the reader's experience of the narrative powerfully intimate and deeply personal. The absence of any period punctuation marks enables the flow and emphasizes where question marks are used, creating full stops where the reader must slow down and consider the importance of questions being posed. 

Why me? Why us?

Intelligent and self-aware, Amal provides the answers through an incisive unmasking of cultural and social systems. From a media that shapes him and his friends into “thugs hoodlums men” while the white and racist teenagers who incited the fight are “having fun loved…full of potential boys” to the sinister injustices of a supposed justice system where for Amal, “it’s guilty until proven innocent” the rush from “kid to criminal to felon to prisoner to inmate” greased by years in a “Prison Prep” school system, and ending with his entry into the modern prison system inextricably linked to slavery through the 13th Amendment. 

so when you did… 

whatever they think you did 

your life…belongs to them

Line by line Amal’s exposition manifests the stifling confinement felt at the intersection of so many deeply biased systems.

Pressing 

down on me

on us

so hard

that the weight 

of the world

made us crack

split in half 

And yet, Amal’s character rises, and love emerges as a powerful theme in this story. The rumination on its many, varied forms permeates the text throughout. In the form of family, friends, and community, their love an affirmation, “like Grandma’s needle and thread to fix me and put me back together again”. In gorgeously soft moments of introspection,

My umi’s face is

            the most beautiful in the world 

Skin

like sleeping in on snow days

beneath thick blankets

black 

Amal’s character at times uses words, and at times art to give outward expression to this exploration of love. With a crayon and paper “this little bit of freedom in my hands” the story culminates in an unforgettable last line "My truth” and the story ends with the hopeful act of Amal telling the world who he is on his own terms, through his art. 

Punching the Air is gutting and uplifting. I recommend that every teenager read this book before finishing high school. It is a timely and compelling example of the power of, and absolute necessity for, more #OwnVoices stories. 

*If you would like to find more children’s books by #OwnVoices authors/illustrators, the FOLD organization is an excellent resource for Canadian content/talent.

            FOLD Kids Promoting diverse Canadian children’s literature 

            thefoldcanada.org

            @FoldKids (on Instagram and Twitter) 

**If you are interested in reading more on the need for more representation and diversity in the publishing industry, The New York Times opinion piece by Richard Jean So & Gus Wezerek “Just How White is the Book Industry,” published December 11, 2020, is a great place to start.

Book Review: Dark Horses by Susan Mihalic

by Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: sexual abuse of a child, death of a pet, rape, graphic scenes

Susan Mihalic's debut psychological thriller Dark Horses is a twisted tale about finding our voices amongst chaos and learning how to overcome the darkest parts of ourselves. Mihalic has taken horses, a very innocent, innocuous topic, and has created a story filled with hurt, heartache, and malice. Roan Montgomery is an equestrian prodigy who plans to follow her father’s footsteps by making it to the Olympics, and she plans on not letting anything stand in her way. Soon, the reader will learn that Roan’s life is anything but the wholesome girl-next-door image that she portrays to her fans; Roan is living a life of pain, filled with a darkness that she compartmentalizes so well that she doesn’t even see the true evil that lurks in her life.

Dark Horses is written from Roan’s perspective and the reader will learn quickly that she is a lot more grown up than her age. What makes this even more layered is Mihalic’s use of the word “Daddy” that Roan uses for her father throughout the story. This truly shows that Roan has had to grow up a lot faster than she should have. Roan is a paradox in this case because she acts like someone much older than herself yet she is holding onto the childhood she was never given the chance to have, but desperately needed. Mihalic has crafted Roan to be both likeable and flawed; the reader will be rooting for her throughout Dark Horses.

Mihalic’s Dark Horses is not an easy read and it is not a book for everyone, yet it’s highly recommended. The topics brought up throughout the story can make it difficult for the reader if they aren’t mentally prepared, but Mihalic has crafted such an important story about resilience, particularly about surviving sexual abuse, that it warrants praise. Dark Horses is exquisitely written and Mihalic isn’t afraid to push boundaries, which is one reason why this book is so fantastic. Other themes that Mihalic has written about in Dark Horses include power, coming-of-age, unconditional love, and the father-daughter relationship. Mihalic’s prose flows incredibly smoothly, making Dark Horses a book the reader will fly through. As this is Mihalic’s debut, I’m very interested to see what she comes up with next. She is an author we need to keep on our radar.

Thank you, Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: This Close to Okay by Leesa Cross-Smith

by Kaylie Seed

Content warning: suicide, suicidal ideation, mental illness, infidelity, infertility, loss of a child

Leesa Cross-Smith’s latest novel This Close to Okay is a story about hope and taking chances. Tallie notices a young man sitting on the edge of a bridge and feels obligated to intervene. Even though she is a therapist, she is reaching out to this young man not because of her job, but because she feels like it’s her duty as a human being. Emmett just isn’t sure if there is anything left out there for him and is seriously contemplating suicide when this woman reaches out to help. Telling the story  in the third person from both Tallie and Emmett’s perspectives, Cross-Smith weaves together a stunning tale filled with secrets, compassion, and healing.

Tallie and Emmett form a bond with one another that can only be described as that of soulmates. They were destined to meet and change each other’s lives. Cross-Smith has lovingly crafted these characters with strengths and flaws that make them feel incredibly real. Tallie and Emmett both have lessons for the reader to learn throughout This Close to Okay, and Cross-Smith accomplishes this flawlessly.

Cross-Smith’s prose is rich and decadent. She has clearly put a lot of time and effort into creating her characters, the setting, and the overall story. Even with the heavy topics that are brought up all throughout This Close to Okay, Cross-Smith is eloquent and respectful. This is how a book about mental illness should be written. The themes all work together well, and while the topics are not new to the writing world, Cross-Smith has still managed to make them her own. This Close to Okay is nuanced beautifully and it is evident to the reader that Cross-Smith is a seasoned writer who is passionate about what she creates. I personally need to check out more of her work, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next.

*Thank you Grand Central Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review

Book Review: The Butterfly House by Katrine Engberg

by Kaylie Seed

Katrine Engberg’s forthcoming novel, The Butterfly House, features detectives Jeppe Kørner and Anette Werner, who were also the main characters in her debut, The Tenant. In this Nordic crime novel, the reader will get a glimpse into the psychiatric system in Denmark, where Engberg hails from. Jeppe sets out to find a killer who is murdering victims by draining them of blood, while at the same time Anette struggles to adjust to life as a parent and wants nothing more than to get back to work. While switching between multiple characters' perspectives, Engberg creates twists and turns that are only revealed when she wants the reader to know about them.

Engberg focuses on mental illness, homelessness, and the psychiatric system in The Butterfly House and manages to connect these themes together throughout the story to show the reader the struggles Denmark faces when it comes to mental health. Engberg has written The Butterfly House to be a book in the same series as The Tenant, however the reader does not need to have read The Tenant to understand what is going on. Engberg’s character development is near flawless, and those who have not read her first novel will still find The Butterfly House satisfying in letting the reader know who these characters are.

The Butterfly House is an entertaining whodunit that will keep readers guessing what is going to happen next. Engberg jumps to different characters throughout The Butterfly House and doesn’t necessarily say which one the narrator is following, so the reader really needs to pay attention when reading the story or they may get lost in the plot. This was the only major drawback to the novel because the focus character is switched up mid-chapter and sometimes characters are switched up multiple times, so the reader needs to make sure they’re paying attention. Overall, Engberg has created an engaging read that will leave readers wondering what is going to happen next for Jeppe and Anette.

*Thank you Simon& Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: September Love by Lang Leav

by Jodene Wylie

It was during a casual afternoon that I found myself mindlessly scrolling through Pinterest. Beautiful houses, delicious foods, and inspirational quotes and ideas make up the bulk of my feed. I came across a poem by Lang Leav titled “Stardust,” and the rhythm of the words, the concept and idea, and the simple and effective presentation brought me to a pause. In some way, somehow, it made me feel ever so slightly more connected to our world and the people who occupy it. It was from this moment that I began to devour Lang Leav’s poetry. 

            Published in November of 2020, September Love is Lang Leav's most recent book. This capsule of escapist poetry speaks to all people in all manner of settings, but in many ways it speaks most strongly to the writer. There are poems about the “Ingredients of a Poem,” “Why [She] Write[s],” and “The Path of a Writer.” There is a poem responding to dissenting voices after they’ve read her words in “To the Guy Who Claims My Poetry Was the Cause of His Break-Up,” and one about what it is like to be a poet in today’s world in the short and succinct “Be a Poet.”

            When I read this collection, I knew that this was a book that needed to be recommended on Cloud Lake Literary’s website and social media. As writers, we seek voices and material that not only inform us but commiserate with us. We want to be understood by our peers, by those who have walked the road before us, and by those we admire. Leav's words are straightforward—by offering a specific perspective and opinion—while at the same time offering an idea for the reader to connect with in their own way and on their own terms.

            This collection presents diversified content. “Motherhood” offers a nod to mothers and the role they play. “A Life Unlived” encourages us to get out of our heads and to be more present. I also greatly appreciate “A Woman,” which reflects on societal conditions and expectations, and directs the reader to be whoever they are and to live the life they want for themselves. Even in this age of COVID-19 and its various variants, “Always Will” reminds us of a time before all of this change, difficulty, heartache, and upheaval, and takes us back to when we would never have imagined losing our “normality” and how fortunate we once were to take it for granted. Leav also shares her thoughts on love, from the beautiful and heart-warming, to the fleeting, to the devastating, and to the fond memories and reflections love has provided. 

            Leav does not seek to speak above the reader: there is no ego in her words, no attempts to outthink or outsmart, only to share her thoughts. By the end of the book you will feel as though you and Leav are dear friends, connected through her poetry of secrets, opinions, advice, and stories. She does not maintain a consistent structure, which is refreshing as you read through her collection. Poems may be designed as a paragraph, a sentence, or written in the more traditional stanza form. She puts enough words on the page to convey her thoughts and a specific emotion without bogging down the piece unnecessarily. It is both a comfort and a pleasure to read her work.

            Should you be looking for a new book of poetry to read, I highly recommend September Love. Add it to your nightstand and read a poem or two each evening and perhaps journal your thoughts on what you’ve just read. Do you connect with it? Have you experienced what she has written about? What poem would you write in response to the one you’ve just read? September Love is wonderful collection and I hope you are able to dive into it soon.

Book Review: White Ivy by Susie Yang

by Kaylie Seed

*Content warning: corporal punishment, abusive relationships

Susie Yang's debut novel White Ivy is a coming-of-age story about the immigrant experience, with many dark undertones. Two years after Ivy Lin was born in China, her parents decided to leave her with Meifeng, her maternal grandmother, so that they could pursue the American Dream, coming back for Ivy when they could afford to do so. When Ivy and Meifeng end up in America with Ivy’s parents and new baby brother, it's the beginning of a tumultuous upbringing that sets up everything that Ivy will become: a thief, a liar, and a woman who will stop at nothing to be drenched in success.

Throughout White Ivy, the reader will see Ivy’s relationships with many different characters. Yang has sculpted such intimate details between Ivy and various characters, yet there is no relationship more important to Ivy than the one with her grandmother. Ivy and Meifeng’s bond is unlike any other in White Ivy and Yang has reminded readers that our elders are a huge reason that we end up the way we do. Ivy can be a love-to-hate character. She will make the reader mad at the choices she makes, but it’s important to remember Ivy’s life as a whole to understand the reasoning for her choices.

Yang has created a dark, slow-burn novel that keeps the reader engaged as they learn about what's going on in Ivy's life. Yang’s prose throughout White Ivy is breathtaking and captures the reader’s attention all throughout the story. Yang addresses themes such as corporal punishment, immigration, language barriers, racism, abusive relationships, and intergenerational trauma. All of these themes entwine with one another and it's clear that Yang has put a lot of thought into how Ivy's upbringing will affect her in the present. White Ivy is a raw, real, and heartbreaking coming-of-age story that reminds readers that their childhoods can truly dictate their future if they let them.

*Thank you Simon & Schuster Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Malaika's Surprise by Nadia L. Hohn

by Ashliegh Gehl

Nadia L. Hohn builds on her children’s literature legacy with Malaika’s Surprise, her third picture book published by Groundwood Books. 

Hohn, a Toronto-based writer, educator, musician and artist, threads the breadth of her expertise through this memorable series to present a heartwarming narrative enriched by Irene Luxbacher’s stunning illustrations. It’s fair to say that Hohn and Luxbacher are a dream team making culturally-rich picture book magic that will stand the test of time.

If you’re new to Malaika’s world, prepare to be enveloped in the warmth of her strong, beautiful voice which is a blend of standard English and Caribbean patois. Malaika was born in the Caribbean, her mother is Afro-Caribbean, and her step-father and step-sister are White French-Canadians. The series’ linguistic stylings embody a diverse community wrapped in inclusivity. The glossary of Caribbean, French and Arabic terms in the frontmatter give a sneak peek to the book’s vibrancy.

What’s great about this series, is that Malaika’s Costume, Malaika’s Winter Carnival and Malaika’s Surprisehave the strength to stand on their own as independent reads. However, when read together, they soar even higher, reaching new heights as Malaika changes and develops. Children and adults alike can believe in Malaika, and empathize with her challenges and understand her worries. 

In Malaika’s Surprise, Hohn strategically builds on the robust foundation of her storyline while preserving Malaika’s observant, curious and caring nature. When Malaika spies a new neighbour, she instantly translates it into the possibility of making a new friend. A friend who speaks Arabic and, much like Malaika, is new to Canada. Within the beauty of differences are the roots of similarities. Through their gestures and interactions is a friendship taking shape. One which the reader hopes to see more of, possibly in future books, as this budding relationship flourishes and blossoms. 

The heart of this series is tethered to family and in Malaika’s Surprise surfaces thoughts about purpose and place. When Malaika learns that she’s about to be a big sister to Émile, her forthcoming baby brother, she wonders how her family will change, and how it will alter the relationship she has with her mother. The idea of a new baby fills Malaika with curiosity, but also with hesitation, worry and doubt. 

Hohn’s writing is deep and immersive. The reader doesn’t think of the writer, but hears and feels Malaika as she navigates her circumstances and the emotions they summon. Only when the book ends, and Malaika is left between the pages, does Hohn’s mastery of the craft command a standing ovation. 

Book Review: East of West, The Apocalypse: Year Three by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta

by Dahl Botterill

Jonathan Hickan - Writer, Nick Dragotta - Artist, Frank Martin - Colourist

"We would tell you to pray, but it wouldn't do any good. You have earned what is coming to you."

Jonathan Hickman's comic book series East of West began as an alternate history of the United States, opening with a story of seven nations rising from the ashes of a long-extended American Civil War. It quickly expanded, incorporating dystopian science fiction, political intrigue, horror, mysticism, and countless other aspects into a genre-bending epic western of prophecy, inhumanity, and the end of the world. The Apocalypse: Year Three concludes the tale, collecting issues 30 through 45 into a deluxe, oversized hardcover format that really gives the art an opportunity to shine.

Hickman's story has tremendous scope, and Nick Dragotta brings it to life with an ability to transform both the best and worst that humanity has to offer into something beautiful. By this third and final year of the story, the world has already been in the grips of the apocalypse for a couple years, and the various plans and machinations of those in power are either coming to fruition or being dashed to pieces. Death, despite having found his son Babylon, is still trying to save him, and the remaining horsemen are seeking the same in their efforts to usher in the end. The Chosen (those leaders that have been working to fulfill the prophetic claims of the Message) are forced to reckon with what they've wrought upon the world and what price they're obligated to pay. The characters are numerous and are all fully realized, as is the alternate future America they inhabit. Every character, from game-shaping protagonist to small but significant minor role, leaves a mark.

Hickman and Dragotta complement each other brilliantly, and the result is a stunning work of both art and literature. It won't be for everybody; it's often dark, violent, and bleak—it is the apocalypse, after all—but if it appeals to you at all, you'll probably love it. "What is the world but the arena in which we are tested?" Well, the end of that world is here, and each of the Seven Nations of America lives and breathes as a world unto itself, resulting in an America that's just as thoroughly realized as the characters. In a similar way, every genre that East of West incorporates brings something unique to the book, and the resulting graphic novel is an expressive and expansive tale that grabs the reader and doesn't let go until the final panel. 

Book Review: Downfall by Robert Rotenberg

by Kaylie Seed

Accomplished Canadian author and criminal lawyer Robert Rotenberg’s newest crime novel Downfall focuses on the rampant issue of homelessness and poverty in Canada’s richest city, Toronto; something that is both hidden yet very visible. Not only is Downfall an entertaining read, it is also incredibly informative, as Rotenberg’s powerful prose reminds the reader that poverty and homelessness are societal issues that plague the streets of many cities across the world. Rotenberg’s research into these issues is evident throughout Downfall, and while his story is fiction, it’s easy for the reader to see that Rotenberg is incredibly passionate about this ever-worsening real life concern that begs the question: how is it that we live in such wealthy places, yet people continue to be homeless and hungry year after year? 

Nancy Parish is a lawyer who is always bailing out her best friend Melissa when she gets into trouble. When Melissa turns up telling Nancy about a killer targeting the homeless, Nancy has a hard time believing her erratic friend, but after a second body is discovered in the Humber River Valley, Nancy realizes that something sinister is going on. Head of the homicide squad Ari Greene and his partner Daniel Kennicott are tasked with finding out who is singling out and killing people in the homeless population of Toronto. At the same time, Ari’s daughter Alison is reporting the untold story of extreme poverty in Toronto and how the issues are shadowed by ignorance and privilege. 

Rotenberg has created Downfall by mixing police procedural, courtroom drama, and mystery all into one stunning novel. His characters are interesting and diverse, which is no doubt a nod to the multicultural epicentre that Toronto is. Rotenberg is clearly passionate about the issues of homelessness and poverty and that passion comes through in Downfall. There were a couple of times where things didn’t seem to flow smoothly, but overall Downfall kept my attention the entire time. Personally, this is my first time reading one of Rotenberg’s novels and I know that I’ll be keeping an eye out for his other literary works.

*Thank you Jillian Levick from Simon & Schuster Canada for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Avatars Inc.: A Sci-Fi Anthology Edited by Ann Vandermeer

by Megan Amato

The sci-fi genre is nearly as vast as space itself, so capturing a theme across a collection of stories can be difficult. Avatars Inc attempts to address this issue by creating a timeline of 49 years within twenty-four melancholic short stories that showcase a history through the eyes of an avatar—a robot that a person can mentally control in order to navigate the world without being physically present. 

Creating tension in a story with an avatar can be tricky, as the human body is, in theory, removed from immediate danger. Tension must be derived from more personal motives. “Add Oil” introduces us to an avatar’s mechanisms along with an issue that’s familiar—the rising tension between Hong Kong and mainland China—and reminds us that fighting for justice is not only the duty of the young. “La Mer Donne” appears sweet on the surface but depicts how desensitized we have become to human suffering. This theme continues with “Oannes, From the Flood,” which was hard to follow at times, but the message was clear: people matter more than artifacts. In “Bounty,” some people have become artifacts in a world where humans are dying out, and a governmental body pays poorer humans to collect others that meet the parameters of a “Noah’s Ark.” This was simultaneously the most uncomfortable and the most satisfying story, with effective worldbuilding and characters who showed agency, despite the short nature of the tale..

If we left earth now, nature would find a way to heal. Despite our need to intervene, nature thrives on its own and “A Bird Does Not Sing Because it Has an Answer” enforces how saviour complexes, in almost any scenario, aren’t as helpful as we think they are—even the birds understand this. So do the deep-sea creatures in “Behold the Deep Never Seen,” where the protagonist wasn’t strictly an avatar. I forgave this flaw because the story is full of imagination and could possibly be the beginning of a superhero or villain origin story. “Banding” proves that we should leave nature alone, and this story will linger in my nightmares for years to come. Unlike Bikini Bottom, you won’t find talking sponges or starfish in “Banding,” but millipedes that have evolved and surpassed what humans hybridized them for. Dr. Ian Malcolm said, “Life, uh, finds a way” in Jurassic Park, and “In the Lands of the Spill,” Vietnam has been nearly claimed by the sea in the south and an oil spill in the north that has created unfriendly sentient beings. 

Despite those who insist on denying it, humans are driving climate change, and some studies claim that the damage is now irreversible. “Robot and Girl with Flowers” illustrates older generations’ apathy regarding environmental degradation, as they leave it for younger generations to fix. However, corporations and capitalism are the biggest drivers of climate change. The protagonist in “Two Watersheds” is hired by a company to mitigate climate change results in the Rockies while escaping a present she feels forced into. “Waiting for Amelia” adds the theme of how colonization prioritizes the immediate amusement of the privileged over the long term needs of Indigenous and underprivileged people. “Overburden” questions how to deal with the aftereffects of toxic environmental damage done by mining, and humanizes those in the communities that have to deal with their cancerous environment—in this case literally.  All these stories highlight how capitalism and colonization bring destruction in the name of progress and leave it for others to clean up.

Avatar Inc did not leave me with a skip in my step—nor should it. It is a collection of bleak, melancholic stories, some more hopeful than others, that remind us to be mindful of our actions. 

Book Review: Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys

by Kim McCullough

The murder in the opening section of Rabbit Foot Bill by Helen Humphreys is based on a true-life event in Canwell, Saskatchewan in 1947. Twelve-year-old Leonard Flint is a lonely boy who befriends the town hobo, known to the disapproving townsfolk as Rabbit Foot Bill. Bill is an odd man, a loner who doesn’t seem to like people. He catches rabbits and cuts off their feet to sell to locals looking for luck. Leonard shadows Rabbit Foot Bill throughout town, and asks Bill to teach him to snare rabbits, to garden—all the things Leonard’s own father is not doing. Their odd friendship comes to a swift and violent end when Bill sinks a pair of pruning shears into the chest of Leonard’s number one bully. Bill is tried and found guilty, and sent away.

Years later, Leonard, now known as Dr. Flint, finishes university in Montreal and becomes a psychiatrist. Hired for a plum position at the Weyburn Mental Hospital back in Saskatchewan, Leonard begins his career ready to take on what seems to be a wonderful opportunity. However, it’s quickly evident that things are not going to be easy for Leonard. 

The Weyburn Mental Hospital is known at this time for research into the treatment of patients with LSD. The hospital is helmed by Dr. Christianson, who expects his doctors, including an unsure Leonard, to use LSD in order to better understand their patients’ experiences with psychedelic drugs. Being the newest and youngest of the doctors, Leonard feels like an imposter, as though his patients and the other doctors can see through him.  

Then Leonard discovers that Rabbit Foot Bill is one of the patients at the hospital, and his interest in Bill is stronger than ever. Humphreys expertly controls the tension in this section, as Leonard becomes increasingly more unstable and isolated from his peers. Leonard makes decisions that bring him ever closer to sabotaging his chance at a successful medical career. One day, under the influence of LSD, Leonard witnesses an act of brutal violence that will bring his time at the hospital to an end, but will not ease his obsession with Rabbit Foot Bill. 

Years later, Leonard’s story comes full-circle when he returns back home to Canwell seeking the truth of not only Rabbit Foot Bill’s story, but also the truth of his own traumatic past. 

The novel is beautifully written in prose both lyrical and clear. Descriptions of the Saskatchewan landscape capture both the beauty and severity of the prairies and the hard lives of those who live there. Humphreys addresses the unconscionable use of mentally ill human beings as LSD test subjects with subtlety and strength, and she ties this, and Leonard’s own mental health issues to a more universal theme of how mental health is viewed today. 

Rabbit Foot Bill is a novel that shows how the traumas and secrets of the past—unspoken words, unaddressed violence—never go away, but are always there, hiding. 

Waiting. 

Book Review: Fire on the Island by Timothy Jay Smith

By: Meghan Mazzaferro

Fire on the Island by Timothy Jay Smith takes place on the Greek island of Vourvoulos, and follows Greek-American FBI agent Nick Damigos as he investigates a series of fires drawing ever nearer to the village, while developing an unexpected relationship with a younger man. Set against the backdrop of Greece’s growing refugee crisis, and exploring tensions of religion, sexual orientation, nationality, and more, this novel seeks to explore all the elements of a conservative village that can drive someone to explode, while also proving to the reader that the village’s occupants do not deserve their fate.  

This book does an excellent job of establishing the village of Vourvoulos and its occupants. Each character has a distinct voice and story, with clear motivations and conscious actions that all come together in surprising and compelling ways. Each character’s story fits into the plot, but more importantly, every one feels as though they exist beyond the story Smith is trying to tell. Many of the storylines are compelling, and Smith excelled at making me invested in each character, even if I didn’t necessarily like all of them. 

There is a deft handling of the complex politics at play within the book’s story. Smith explores the realities of the refugee crisis, presenting the racism and xenophobic fears that plague the people of Vourvoulos without validating them. Likewise, he explores the mindsets of both immigrants and refugees with an unbiased but considerate eye, highlighting most of all the importance of understanding and kindness for other human beings regardless of their circumstances.  

Where Smith thrives is in character building and exploring the romances at play throughout the story. Nick and Takis’s relationship is well developed, engaging with the stigmas of same-sex relationships within a conservative village through a tender but realistic lens, while the turbulence of Athina and Ridi’s romance reflects the changing nature of relationships for late teens—from casual flings to real emotional connections. Likewise, Smith handles most of the novel’s subplots well, particularly those regarding Father Alexis and the church, which were some of the most engaging chapters to read. 

Where the novel falls short, however, is the mystery. While I enjoyed following Nick on his investigation, the novel lacked the sense of urgency that I needed to get invested in the growing threat to the village. Had the novel simply been a contemporary exploration of the realities of life in a Greek village for those outside the conservative norm, I think it would have excelled, but with one of the main plots concerning the rising threat of arson and the motivations behind it, I was missing a sense of franticness and suspense from either the narrative or Nick.  

The climax, in which the arsonist’s identity is revealed while the village is at the brink of destruction, also falls flat. Smith’s voice, which so perfectly captures the slow rhythm of daily life on the island, does not translate well to a startling discovery and desperate attempt to prevent disaster, and the reveal falls flat. 

That being said, Fire on the Island is an excellent novel in its character building and exploration of the complicated experience of life on a small Greek island. I would advise prospective readers to approach it as a contemporary life study exploring the politics and experience of life in Vourvoulos, and to consider the mystery a subplot rather than a major element of the story. That way you will be able to enjoy the excellence that is the rest of the book without feeling underwhelmed by the resolution of the arson plot, which is the only weak element of the book. As the main plot, this lessens the entire story, but as a subplot, it is simply one weak thread of an otherwise captivating work.