Book Review: Great Adventures for the Faint of Heart by Cary Fagan

By Larissa Page

Cary Fagan is a Canadian legend when it comes to literature. Our household is a big fan of a few of his children’s books, but I wasn’t sure what to expect when diving into this new collection of short stories. In general, I don’t gravitate toward short stories, but when I read the description for this collection, I knew I wanted to read it—and I was not disappointed.

Great Adventures for the Faint of Heart is a collection of short stories about ordinary people taking steps toward small but meaningful adventures within their own lives. Each of the ten stories is unique, masterful, compelling, and yet incredibly relatable. Each one filled me with warm fuzzy feelings.

I was surprised at the way the first story, “My Father’s Picasso,” stole my heart, but then I found that same feeling reflected in most (though not all) of the stories that came after. Sometimes it still surprises me that there can be so much depth put into a short story, so many lessons taught. In “My Father’s Picasso,” the love between stepfather and stepdaughter is so apparent, and the lesson learned in it, the need for the daughter to “acquire a wall to hang it [the Picasso] on,” is so perceivably unadventurous and yet, it is exactly an adventure in its own way.

This happened again and again throughout the stories, a common theme of small adventures. Mediocre or sometimes perceived to be mundane things that are, in fact, grand adventures in the scope of a life.

Each of these stories brought hope and connection into the lives of its subjects, from a woman who gets to know the aging neighbours her community are starting to see as a nuisance and building a connection with them as the neighbourhood is gentrified, to the puppeteer who decides (with some encouragement) to step outside of his comfort zone and travel the parks of Toronto instead of turning down a dream because it meant travelling too far. These stories show us how we already have what we need for an adventurous life right in front of us.

I am a huge fan of finding the marvellous in the mediocre, in the adventure right around the corner, of looking at the life you have right now and seeing the small little things you can do to make it amazing without making huge steps and changes. Because let’s face it; usually the things we see as “adventures” are too huge to take the steps toward; they’re too frightening for most of us who want to feel safe in our day to day lives. There are so many small things you can do right now in your own life to make it an adventure, to make it exciting and inspiring and also safe and comfortable.

These short stories are that philosophy embodied. And I think our world needs more of it.

*Thank you, Freehand Books, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Wildflower by Briana Corr Scott

By Kaylie Seed

Briana Corr Scott’s latest children’s book Wildflower brings in the spirit of the original Thumbelina tale while giving it a modern twist to teach young readers about the importance of respecting nature. Scott’s Wildflower is also a reminder to parents that as our children grow, we must learn to let them go and explore on their own so that they can learn without us.

Scott has written about a woman who wants nothing more than a child. She is granted her wish when Wildflower is born the size of a thumb, from inside a flower. The old woman soon learns that she cannot hold onto her Wildflower forever and must let her go, and in doing so allows Wildflower to grow and blossom into herself. 

The artwork in Wildflower is breathtaking and really draws the reader into the story and the simple rhyming of sentences is bound to be intriguing to young readers. Scott’s main messages are a celebration of the love between a mother and her child, bravery, and the respect we must show to nature. Scott’s artwork is enough for me to go back to her work time and time again and I am looking forward to her next story!

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

Book Review: So-Called Normal by Mark Henick

By Christine McFaul

Content warning: abuse (physical, mental, emotional, verbal, sexual, domestic, and child abuse), alcohol and drug misuse, bullying, death, car accident, psychiatric restraint, police interaction, self-harm, suicide/suicidal ideation, trauma 

So-Called Normal is an unflinching memoir of “family, depression and resilience,” written by Canadian Mark Henick. Henick’s many accolades include having served as the youngest president of a provincial Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) division, interviewing professionals and celebrities on the topic of mental health, and international speaking engagements. But he is perhaps most recognizable from a powerful TEDx talk he delivered on the topic of suicide. One of the most watched TEDx talks ever, Henick used his own experiences with mental health. In his words, he wanted to: “expose people to a different way of thinking about suicide. I wanted to do it not as an expert, because I wasn’t, but from the perspective of my lived experience of recovery.”

Expanding on that TEDx talk, Henick’s memoir begins at the end. 

This is the end. Henick is sure of that. Or at least, he thinks he’s sure. The book opens with a younger Henick on the edge of an overpass, planning to end his life while an empathetic stranger calmly speaks with him, trying to convince him otherwise.

The narrative then backtracks to Henick’s tumultuous childhood in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. We meet the colourful members of Henick’s “devout Catholic family” and learn about his small hometown, once booming due to the steel plant and support industries. By the time Henick is born, that former glory is gone, and so too the “work and wages.”  Set against this gritty backdrop, Henick speaks bravely, candidly, and with the benefit of hindsight, about his failing mental health and the events that led him to that fateful evening on the bridge. 

And though Henick does jump from the overpass, the stranger catches him. Both Henick and the book are then able to move forward to reveal an equally gritty, realistic, but ultimately hope-filled look at recovery.  Summarized pragmatically and beautifully with Henick’s observation that over time, he “learned to struggle well.”

In detailing his lived experience, Henick’s memoir also provides an illuminating account of the Canadian systems set up to support mental health—resources in schools, hospitals, children’s hospitals, outpatient programs, and more—all from the rarely heard perspective of the patient.

His voice ranges from the clinical: “I felt objectified because I was—I was a problem, a risk, an illness to be treated” to the heartbreaking: “Procedure sometimes leads to collateral damage, mundane trauma—an unintended consequence of following the rules.”

All of his experiences are leading to the conclusion that there is still much work to be done to eliminate the stigma and biases regarding mental health that permeate our health system.

Henick’s insights and challenges within the health care system drove him to seek an education in that field and to get actively involved in changing the experience for future generations. He continues to speak and write openly on the subject as a passionate advocate for change.  

So-Called Normal contains complicated, no-holds barred material. Henick’s family as well as himself are portrayed as beautifully human. Both their flaws and redeeming qualities are unraveled in an intimate, brave, pragmatic, and ultimately very real narrative that leads the reader up to and through the moment on the overpass and down the road of recovery. This is an invaluable story for anyone who lives with mental illness or loves someone who does. 

NOTE: Before his text begins, Henick included an author’s note which I found particularly empathetic, and which I summarize here for anyone who is thinking about reading this book: 

“This story is my truth. Don’t take that to mean that it’s anyone else’s truth…part of this journey for me is about learning and respecting people’s limits…Discomfort is a healthy, even necessary, part of growth…but if you find yourself passing from discomfort into distress, put the book down. Engage, or discover, your self-care and coping routines, and reach out for help. Do not struggle in silence.” 

Thank you to HarperCollins for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Review: The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten

By Carly Smith

Content warning: mental illness, suicidal ideation

The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B follows the life of Adam Spencer Ross, a teen with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Adam’s days are filled with fear and worry as he navigates school, friendships, home life with divorced parents, individual and group counselling, and his new acquaintance Robyn. On a minute-by-minute basis, Adam is consumed by thoughts of counting odd numbers and performing rituals that are fueled by his OCD; they inundate his daily life and make simple tasks more challenging and sometimes even impossible. 

Adam’s most recent preoccupation is Robyn, a young woman who recently joined his group support program. He adores her, and works hard to be sensitive to her needs, as she was recently released from a residential treatment program for her OCD. Toten realistically chronicles Adam’s life, from typical teenage woes to less common troubles. She pieces together an eye-opening series of events that help readers who are unfamiliar with OCD better understand the condition and its sometimes-debilitating behaviours. 

Adam’s character is one that is both relatable yet different; he has everyday issues that readers can connect to—like befriending a crush, hopping between his mother’s home and his father’s, and making and maintaining friendships. But there are also other aspects of Adam’s life that are not as easy to empathize with, such as the part of his OCD where he obsesses with counting, rituals regarding entering certain rooms and buildings, and his relationship with his mother, which Toten dissects carefully and believably, so that readers who are more ignorant to such topics can better understand. Readers are also offered glimpses into the lives of Robyn and Adam’s mother, Carmella. Robyn is a kind, keen young woman who has suffered tragedy and is working on coping with the effects of it. Carmella is grappling with the weight of a divorce, her own mental health spiraling as the book continues.  

Toten gracefully intertwines common, everyday difficulties with more serious, long-lasting hardships. She captures the lives of those living with mental illness realistically and respectfully, and allows readers to vividly immerse themselves in likely unfamiliar circumstances. While her writing is captivating and leaves the audience wanting to read on, I found the language used in conversations between the teenage characters in the book to miss the mark and not genuinely reflect how youth truly speak. Overall, The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B was an excellent read, one that should be on the bookshelf in every middle school classroom.

Book Review: She Dreams of Sable Island by Briana Corr Scott

By Kaylie Seed

Sable Island is a real place in Canada, and it is home to one of the largest grey seal colonies in the world! Briana Corr Scott takes Sable Island—a location that not many people on earth will ever see—and turns it into a mystical place that feels like a fairy tale. She Dreams of Sable Island is about a little girl who just wants to be where the seals are and surround herself with nature. 

Scott includes some history about Sable Island at the back of this children’s book and also shows the reader the various plants, bugs, and animals that call this island home. Scott uses this story to remind children that plants and animals in their natural habitat are to be respected and that we must do our best to keep their homes safe and clean.

She Dreams of Sable Island, along with the other children’s books that I have read by Scott, all focus on nature and how we must respect it. As always, the artwork is beautiful, and the easy-to-read dialogue makes this perfect for young readers ready to read books on their own. Scott’s artwork is light, airy, and inspiring; I will be on the hunt for more of her work in the future!

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

Book Review: Kill the Mall by Pasha Malla

By Kim McCullough

Kill the Mall by Pasha Malla opens with an eloquent letter penned by a never-named narrator seeking a placement as the local shopping mall’s artist-in-residence. After winning, he finds himself on display, mandated to “make art” and “engage the public.” 

The mall security guard, K. Sohail, shows the narrator around and gets him settled. The narrator is disconcerted to find that the guard’s last task before leaving each night is to lock him into his room. One of the few named characters in the book, K. Sohail anchors both narrator and reader to the outside world as events inside the mall descend into fantastical strangeness. She moves in and out of the story at critical junctures; the reader can never be sure if she is friend or foe. 

The menace that lurks beneath the familiar throbs with hints of malice right from the start. Soon, horrific interactions and supernatural threats arise from the usually commonplace customers and stores the reader expects in a mall.

Malla amps up the creepiness through his use of adversaries like hostile clumps of hair and a gang of cars in the parkade. Teenagers who prepare whole roasted chickens at the food court’s only restaurant are blank and robotic. The narrator’s friendship with a salesman from a jeans store is detached yet obsessive. By the time his true nemesis arrives, stealing his artist-in-residence limelight, the reader has left behind all expectations and is invested in seeing if the narrator makes it out alive.

Malla balances the story between horror and hilarity—the tension between these two poles never lets up. There is a low-grade hum of disorientation throughout the story that calls to mind psychological horror stories by Iain Reid, Stephen King, and at times, whiffs of Edgar Allan Poe. The ridiculousness of some scenes cannot be overstated. Not to give anything away, but the scenes with the ponytails will make the reader laugh—nervous laughter underscored with unease. These things couldn’t really happen. Or could they?

Malla’s control over the narrative is impressive. The progress report sections are brilliant in their syntax and construction. Every week the reports heighten the deepening unreality of the narrator’s situation. Malla never clears up whether the events of the story are in the narrator’s head or if they’re actually happening, but in the end, the reader’s desire for answers is sated by the beautiful sentences, deftly set mood, and incredible craftsmanship of the book. 

Book Review: Gold Spun by Brandie June

By Christine McFaul

Young adult fantasy novel Gold Spun by Brandie June is a modern retelling of the Rumpelstiltskin fairy tale. The way the book ends, or rather doesn’t quite end, suggests there may be plans for the storyline and characters to be continued in future books.

Gold Spun opens with 17-year-old protagonist, Elenora, or Nor for short, rescuing a beautiful and enigmatic faerie, Pel, from his human captors. To repay her kindness, Pel gifts Nor a golden thread and the ability to summon him for one further favour.  

Blameless victims of the Southern War between Reynallis and Faradisia, Nor and her three brothers have learned to get by without parents or home. Left to fend for themselves, they’ve relied on a combination of grit, thieving, and cons to survive. So, it doesn’t take long before they concoct the ultimate grift using Nor’s newly acquired gold. But in doing so, they unwittingly draw the attention of 19-year-old Prince Casper, newly returned to a depleted Reynallis to assume the crown. If there is anything Prince Casper hates more than a faerie (who he believes are responsible for the death of his brother, the late King) it’s a liar. Soon Nor finds herself a prisoner at Prince Casper’s castle. Initially held against her will, it takes surprisingly little time for Nor to begin falling for the Prince, a pursuit which entails becoming entrenched in mastering dinner etiquette, learning to choose the right dresses, petty arguments with other women at court, being mansplained politics, and of course, keeping her relationship with Pel a secret.

Now, I stan a modern take on the classics, and fairy tales are such rich fodder for unique, dark, empowering, incisive, and layered re-imaginings (think upcoming Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas). And while I loved June’s unexpected choice to riff on Rumpelstiltskin, I was disappointed to find the narrative relatively uninspired. 

June’s worldbuilding is undercooked. Lacking specificity and dedication, it orients the reader with, at best, a vaguely “old-time-y” feel. And though it is touted as a ‘modern re-telling of a fairytale,’ it reads mainly as white and heteronormative as the fairy tales of yore. 

“I was actually looking at a faerie…He looked stunningly, painfully beautiful. His hair was gold, not simply golden blonde, and it shone in the morning light. His large almond eyes were deep, emerald green and his skin was pale almost luminous.”

While the pacing is done well and June can tell a story, Gold Spun simply does not offer anything new or interesting to challenge or delight its readers. Instead, it resorts to an uninspired love triangle and a myriad of cringe-y tropes to drive the plot. A swing and a miss that today’s savvy readers of YA are likely to find tired given other choices on the market. 

Book Review: Seeds by Carme Lemniscates

By Kaylie Seed

Carme Lemniscates’s adorable children’s book Seeds is a book about the various seeds in our world, including the life cycle of plants and how seeds grow, while also being a tool meant to teach children about kindness. The artwork in Seeds is fun and easy on the eyes, so both children and adults will enjoy looking at the gorgeous pictures. This would be a great book to use in a classroom, where it could be used in both a science setting as well as a way to talk about anti-bullying and how impactful being kind or not being kind is.  

Children’s books like Seeds will keep the child’s attention and will offer lots to discuss as the story progresses, because of the different colours, plants, and facial expressions present throughout. There are also a lot of activities that caregivers and teachers can create to parallel Seeds—they can do art projects around the life cycle of a plant, plant seeds and watch them grow in real time, and continue to teach children about our kindness seeds and how we must plant them no matter where we go in life. This bright and colourful story will take children through different types of seeds and how they come to be while also tying in how our actions impact others. 

*Thank you to Candlewick Press for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Prince and the Dressmaker by Jen Wang

By Larissa Page

Content warning (for young minds): Alcohol use

The Prince and the Dressmaker is a middle-grade graphic novel I recently picked up to buddy read with my eight-year-old.  She read it before I did and was very excited when I picked it up as well.

It follows a prince who hires a personal seamstress to make him custom dresses so he can stop wearing his mother’s in secret. With her help, he attends events and makes friends and connections as Lady Crystallia. They become close friends and the seamstress makes her own connections for her fashion genius. When fear of being discovered causes the Prince to take actions that hurt the seamstress, she’s sent back to working for someone else instead of making her mark on the fashion world. When the Prince is found out anyway, he risks being disowned by his parents and the larger world in general. For fear of ruining it, I will not include the ending except to say it is wholesome, heartwarming, and completely lovely.

This graphic novel creates an incredible doorway into talking to your kids about what it means to be true to themselves and the importance of loving others as they are, even for their differences. The prince describes very well “why” he sometimes dresses in dresses and sometimes in his princely clothing (sometimes as Lady Crystallia and sometimes as Prince Sebastian). It is important to place these types of books into the hands of youth (and adults!) to build empathy towards people. I feel this one does that particularly well. I also really appreciated the underlying romance because even though Prince Sebastian sometimes felt more comfortable dressing as Lady Crystallia, it didn’t assume that he was also attracted to men. Perhaps he was, but by allowing romance to happen between him and the seamstress, it shows us (and our children) that clothing, gender identity, and sexual orientation are all different aspects of someone’s personality.

Book Review: Waiting Under Water by Riel Nason

By Carly Smith

In Waiting Under Water, all Hope wants is enjoy summer vacation with the bittersweet feeling of returning to school in the fall. That’s not possible, though, since her folks told her they are moving to Toronto from St. David’s, a small town in New Brunswick. Even though she has most of the summer to enjoy St. David’s and its small village charm, she can’t help but think about moving provinces, changing schools, and leaving her best friend Willa behind. The big move and the adjustments that accompany it aren’t the only changes that Hope is presented with either when it’s announced that her hometown is in the running to be Canada’s top small community. What may mean more tourism and a stronger economy in the future also means more hustle and bustle as the town works hard to stay in the contest. Riel Nason makes it very easy to follow along with this heartwarming summer read and make space for Hope’s emotions as she navigates the final weeks of life in St. David’s.

Hope is a clever, fairly optimistic young woman. She is wise beyond her years or, as her father describes her, an “old soul.” Her outlook towards moving is one of uncertainty, naturally, but her insight offers a mature and logical perspective on such a significant change. Readers will see Hope grapple with difficult feelings as time moves closer to her departure date. What is more are her tics that appear when she is overwhelmed or nervous; Hope’s tics return in the form of a verbal sound. They are noticeable and an easy target for teasing. The more she thinks about them, the more present they make themselves. Helping her through this emotional time is Willa, another optimistic young woman whose maturity and community spirit add yet another element of comfort to the book. Willa and Hope’s friendship is unbreakable and together the girls are unstoppable. 

Nason writes from the perspective of Hope in the present tense. I typically find these reads very hard to finish, but Nason makes it effortless for the reader to turn the page. Her descriptive writing transports the reader to the east coast. Whether you’ve visited there or it’s on your must-travel list, Nason creates an unequivocal familiarity about this corner of Canada and nearly leaves readers with the taste of saltwater in their mouth. In addition to her detailed writing, Nason ensures a small element of suspense near the end of almost every chapter. An engaging, relatable, and delightful read, Waiting Under Water has me anxiously awaiting Nason’s next book. 

Book Review: Near the Bone by Christina Henry

By Kaylie Seed

Content warning: domestic violence, gore, animal violence, sexual assault, miscarriage

Christina Henry’s latest horror novel Near the Bone is twisted, compelling, and intense. Mattie and her husband William live a secluded life in the mountains, but life for Mattie is far from idyllic. Mattie hasn’t seen another person for as long as she can remember, and her life is constantly in danger. During one of her regular checks at a rabbit snare, Mattie comes across the body of a mutilated fox and is no longer sure that she and William are alone on the mountain.

Mattie has an interesting character arc and without giving anything away, she goes from timid and submissive in the beginning to finding herself in the end. Near the Bone is written in the third person, however there is a heavy focus on Mattie’s inner dialogue and the reader will get to know Mattie as if the story was being told from her perspective. Henry focuses on the present but also ties in Mattie’s past so that the reader can understand why she acts the way she does.

Henry has created a story that evokes dread and creates suspense for the reader, something that not all authors can do with ease. While Henry has written a horror novel that is meant to spook the reader, she has managed to include some themes in Near the Bone that are quite important, including bravery, coming-of-age, and self-discovery. Near the Bone will keep the reader up until all hours of the night wanting to know what will happen next while also wanting to keep the lights on because it has quite the scare factor. With some supernatural aspects, Near the Bone reminds readers that some of the most terrifying monsters are closer than we would like to think.

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

Book Review: The Quiet is Loud by Samantha Garner

By Megan Amato

Samantha Garner’s debut novel The Quiet is Loud is an intriguing, grounded sci-fi that develops through poignant moments in the past, dream sequences, and present first-person narrative to unveil a story that transcends the pages and takes you on a tour across Canada as you play connect-the-dots with the protagonist’s life.  

After ten-year-old Freya Tanangco’s dream of her mother’s death comes true, she discovers that she is one of the rare people with extra mental abilities. Blaming herself for her mother’s death, she keeps her secret to herself, especially from her prejudiced father. As an adult, Freya works hard to keep her head down in a world cruel to those like her, but when her visions start to bleed into her waking life, she is forced to seek help from a “paradextrous” support group. Just as she starts to find her footing with her abilities, her trust in the wrong person threatens to expose her ability to the world—and to her notorious father, whose refusal to consider the feelings of a family member has already torn a hole in their family. 

This story is subtle. When I first started reading, I thought it would be one of those books that I would stop and start as I worked my way through the plot, but I should have had more faith in the author. Rather deftly, Garner layers and weaves details throughout the book that draw you in through the moments of the past that shaped Freya’s fear, to the present, where she must overcome that fear to save someone she loves and free herself from the threat of discovery looming over her.

It was hard not to empathize with Freya as she grew, learned lessons about the people in her life and the world, and withdrew from a society she feared and that feared her in return. She is supported by endearing characters, including a cousin who may not understand her but will do anything to support her; a brainy support group leader who would make those even with eidetic memories jealous; and an inherently kind paradextrous man who proves that different genders can be friends and remarkable ones at that. However, my favourite character was Freya’s fastidious aunt, who has purposely pushed those she loved away due to her own trauma but steps up when people need her the most.

The only character who I thought was slightly underdeveloped was the antagonist. I felt like their relationship with the protagonist developed too quickly and deteriorated just as fast. However, part of me wonders if this was done purposely to show how those with charisma and self-righteousness draw bees like honey but can be just as quick to use that power to destroy real people’s lives for the “greater good.”

I believe that every story teaches you something, be it a recipe for a dessert or a valued life lesson from an elder. In The Quiet is Loud, I learned more about tarot readings and how they can be deciphered, about Norse and Filipino mythology, and that people who try to change the world without consulting those they’re trying to help can do more harm than good. However, the main message is clear: our stories are ours to tell, and how they are told can be more important than the telling itself. 

You can pick up a copy of Samantha Garner’s The Quiet is Loud from Canadian indie publisher Invisible Publishing. It’s definitely worth the read.

Book Review: Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi

By Erica Wiggins

Content Warnings: violence, death 

Sparks Like Stars is Nadia Hashimi’s fourth adult novel. She has also written two middle-grade novels. As a novelist and pediatrician, her heritage and experiences shine through in her stories. She is heavily involved in the Afghan community, working on several committees to help provide education to vulnerable children and support to upcoming female leaders.   

Hashimi is an auto-buy author for me. Everything she writes has a way of transporting you through space and time and planting you in the middle of the story. You feel the characters pain, struggle with them through their challenges, and celebrate their triumphs. She teaches her readers about places and cultures in a simple, straightforward way that feels more autobiographical than fiction. Her writing is thoughtful and beautifully written. Once I dive into the story, I am fully immersed and savouring every word, often reading more slowly to make it last longer. I have loved all of her previous novels, and Sparks Like Stars did not disappoint.  

“Were it not for the day my buried life appeared before me announced, I might have kept it all hidden forever.”  

Sparks Like Stars drew me in with a quick three-page prologue that leaves you asking yourself a whole lot of questions and ready to find out some answers. 

Part one jumps from the present time to April 1978 in Kabul, Afghanistan. We follow the story of Sitara, a young, privileged girl whose father works for the president. She and her family often spend time at the palace playing with the grandchildren of the president while her father works. One night there is a coup as soldiers turn on the president and there are many deaths. Sitara survives this attack and finds herself with two American women who help her get to safety. The first half gives you a glimpse into what life was like in Afghanistan. 

Part two transitions to November 2008, where Sitara is now living under the name Aryana and is working in New York as an oncologist. She has never been able to get over the experiences from her childhood. She holds the people in her life at a distance and lets almost no one know her real story. One day Shair, the guard who saved her that fateful night, enters her clinic. When Aryana recognizes him, a doorway to her past opens, and the memories she has tried to bury return to the surface. Aryana makes choices to try to get answers about her past, but can she ever move on from her childhood?  

Be ready to feel everything about this book. It is so hard to not feel invested. This writing style makes me want to learn and grow—to be a better person.  

Sparks Like Stars is heartbreaking, tragic, and hopeful. Sitara (Aryana) grows through her hardships to become a strong, smart, and resilient woman. This story should be read by anyone looking to learn more about Afghan culture and strong women. If you have not read her books, I highly recommend you check them out. You will not be disappointed. Her stories will linger with you long after you finish reading them.  

Book Review: I Lost My Talk written by Rita Joe and illustrated by Pauline Young

By Kaylie Seed

Content warning: residential schools

Rita Joe’s I Lost My Talk is a simple yet powerful children’s book about the children who were forcibly taken from their families and sent to residential schools in Canada between 1870–1996. These children lost who they were—their culture, their words, their families, their way of life—and were forced to assimilate to the ways of the Catholic Church. I Lost My Talk is a fantastic book for parents to introduce their children to what the residential schools did in the most basic of descriptions.

Joe uses little words throughout I Lost My Talk, yet they are extremely powerful, as she is able to describe what was taken from her without using much detail. Joe also brings up how she just wanted to use her words to share everything about herself, something that was forbidden for Indigenous children to do while in residential schools. Books like I Lost My Talk are a great place to start for parents who are trying to teach their young children about the horrors that happened at the residential schools.

I encourage and urge fellow settlers like myself to continue to educate not only yourself but the children in your life about residential schools and the devastating impact it has had on countless generations within various Indigenous communities.

*I am not an #OwnVoices reviewer and I encourage you to seek out #OwnVoices reviewers for this title.

*Thank you to Nimbus Publishing for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern

By Melissa Khan

I picked up The Starless Sea with great expectations, thinking that a story about stories was one I couldn’t not enjoy. The story follows Zachary Ezra Rawlins, a graduate student studying video game narratives, just shy of his 25th birthday. While browsing the fiction section of his campus library, Zachary finds a “cloth-covered, wine-coloured volume” called Sweet Sorrows, with no author listed. When Zachary takes the book home and begins to read, he finds a story from his childhood told within the pages. This spurs Zachary on his quest to discover where the book came from and how he came to be in it. 

His journey takes him to Manhattan and a mysterious costume party where he meets a man, Dorian, and a woman, Mirabel, and discovers the existence of a secret society that knows a suspicious amount about him. Zachary doesn’t know what is going on and soon finds himself in an underground library that feels like a dream. Doors are opened, keys turn hands, and there’s a low buzzing throughout it all. 

After having read and reread certain passages, I’m not entirely sure what, in a story about stories, the plot of this book was. I felt like Alice down the rabbit hole, except there was no satisfaction or method in the madness. Zachary’s story felt oddly unfinished, and the characters underdeveloped. The story flipped between the main storyline and excerpts from various books, which left little time to get to know the characters enough to feel invested in their struggles. When romance was introduced between the characters, I felt blindsided with no build-up. I would’ve loved to understand why Zachary’s story was in Sweet Sorrows or why he was prophesized to sail the Starless Sea, but unfortunately, it felt like things were just happening. 

Towards the end of the novel, we get to hear from one of Zachary’s friends who notices him missing and goes on her own journey to find him. Although it was introduced late in the novel, I think this storyline was the most interesting.

I did sink into the lyricism of the prose. I let it flow over me like honey, sticky sweet and indulgent. Any lover of literature would enjoy the mystique of the language, the literary references, and the worldbuilding. The Starless Sea itself seems like a magical and twisted place. 

Eleanor, in the novel, says it best, “Books are always better when read rather than explained.” This book was complicated and difficult to describe, and although disappointed with the plot and some of the characters, I still found myself unable to put it down. Whether that was because I was hoping and searching for something to satisfy what I felt it was lacking, or because the writing was so beautiful, I’m not sure. But I don’t regret sailing across The Starless Sea, and I hope if you give it a chance, you won’t either.

Book Review: The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin

By Robyn Rossit

The Nature of Witches by Rachel Griffin is a timely and easy-to-read addition to the YA fantasy genre. I was stunned to learn that this was the author’s debut. Set in modern times, witches have maintained the climate for centuries; however, climate change is causing some erratic and off-season weather, leading witches to deplete their power at an alarming rate. A witch’s power is tied to the season in which they were born, but Clara, the protagonist, is a rare ever witch whose power is tied to every season. She is powerful, but her magic is volatile, causing her to distance herself from the ones she loves. The price of her magic often means losing loved ones, and she often feels like she must choose between her power and her happiness.

The Nature of Witches is a coming-of-age story that touches on themes of grief and the pressures of power. Clara is still a young witch attending school but has so much riding on her as she is unique and is essential to preventing natural disasters unlike anything anyone has seen before. However, losing control means endangering the people she loves, which not only isolates her but also causes her to resent her gifts.

What I loved the most about the Nature of Witches was that the evil the witches were fighting against was climate change caused by human carelessness. It wasn't a demon, dragon or anything else you would typically find in a fantasy book, but something we are fighting in everyday life, which made it very relatable. 

The writing is beautiful, and there are so many scenes that elicited beautiful seasonal imagery as the book takes the reader through a full year, season by season. My head was full of flowers in the spring and colourful, crisp leaves in the fall. There were so many scenes I could see vividly in my mind's eye.

Rachel Griffin certainly exceeded at writing a beautiful and relatable work of YA fantasy. I think even readers who don't usually read the genre would enjoy it. Even though it touched on some real-world issues, it was done in an easy-to-read way that doesn't overwhelm the reader. While it is a standalone novel, I cannot wait to see what else Griffin has up her sleeve.

Book Review: My Book of Butterflies by Geraldo Valério

By Kaylie Seed

Geraldo Valério has always found butterflies to be fascinating and enjoyed watching them transform—from caterpillars to chrysalides to finally becoming butterflies. Valério wanted to create a book where he could share his love of butterflies and their life cycle with children. My Book of Butterflies looks at the life cycle of butterflies, where butterflies live, and the parts of the butterfly, and then goes into detail about various butterflies found around the world. Valério’s passion comes through in My Book of Butterflies and will likely encourage children to learn more about these beautiful creatures. 

Valério created the images of butterflies in his children’s book by layering paper into collages, which gives the butterflies a 3-D effect. The artwork is stunning, vibrant, and detailed, and is a nice complement to the scientific aspects of My Book of Butterflies. Valério shows each butterfly in its caterpillar state, with its wings open, and with its wings closed, to show just how unique each of these bugs are in their different states. My Book of Butterflies also mentions the butterflies’ scientific name, some interesting facts about each butterfly, and what they eat. 

This is a fun and educating read for ages 7–9 as they start to learn about the world around them in more detail. My Book of Butterflies is a great resource for parents and children to learn about the different butterflies around the world while also being able to admire the gorgeous artwork that Valério has clearly put his heart into.

Thank you to Groundwood Books for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: Women Talking by Miriam Toews

By Danielle Szewc

Content warning: references to sexual assault, rape, pedophilia, suicide

Women Talking by Miriam Toews gives a fictional voice to the multiple assaults of over 100 Bolivian Mennonite women who were drugged with cattle anesthetics and raped by several men from their colony from 2005 to 2009. As with the women in Bolivia, the women of Molotschna—Toews' fictional South American colony—initially believe the assaults that occurred before the novel takes place to be divine punishment by demons. The assaults are also dismissed by the colony's leader, Peters, as made-up dreams and products of the hysterical female imagination. Once the men are proven to be the assailants, Peters only has the men arrested to avoid being harmed by the vengeful women.

Toews, an ex-Mennonite herself, creates a fictional narrative of the women's two days of decision making. It secretly takes place in a hayloft while the men of the colony are posting bail for the eight men who assaulted the women. The two choices the women have are to either stay and fight the men in the colony or leave the colony and all they know forever. These eight women know they cannot do nothing and have limited time to make a life-changing decision for the women of the colony. They have asked August Epp, the only man in the colony they trust due to his past ex-communication and friendship with Ona Friesen, to record the minutes of their meeting as Mennonite women are not taught how to read or write.

Having August as the minute taker showed that there is hope and allyship in men, as well as that it was necessary for the given situation and circumstances. The women want a written record of their voices, their first act of defiance against the colony, and ownership of themselves. However, his feelings for Ona take away from this aspect as he states he is only taking the minutes since he is in love with her.

The women make difficult decisions based on their upbringing and faith—can they forgive the men so they are able to enter the Kingdom of God, and if not, where would they go as they can neither read nor write and have no knowledge of the outside world. The women make valid arguments as they struggle with their beliefs before making a final decision.

The use of the different ages and generations within the same matriarchal families adds to the principal themes of family and upbringing displayed in Toews' novel. Faith and its role in creating the idea of the submissive female is called into question as these women realize they can be the writers of their own lives. Overall, in Women Talking, Toews has expertly crafted and created a #metoo piece for women whose voices may never be fully heard.

Book Review: My Mother's Daughter by Perdita Felicien

By Christina McLaurine

Content warnings: domestic abuse and violence

My Mother's Daughter is a raw and honest intergenerational story of two-time Olympian Perdita Felicien and her mother, Catherine. Felicien is candid and open in her memoir as she details her mother's life in St. Lucia prior to immigrating to Canada and the struggles and challenges she faced while trying to gain citizenship. Felicien's upbringing, athletic career, and transition into journalism are told in tandem with Catherine's story.

My Mother's Daughter is equal parts inspiring and heartbreaking. Felicien writes, “I came to believe that every single person is a hurdler, even if they don’t know it. While most aren’t sprinting over literal fences, everyone has something to overcome. Sometimes we fall in our attempts, and that’s okay because there is always a reason to pick yourself up and move forward.” Before Felicien even knew what a hurdle was, she was jumping them with her mother. Despite the ill-treatment, abuse, and poverty, Catherine remained determined to make a better life for herself and her children on Canadian soil. Through it all, no matter the hurdle, they were her reason to keep moving forward.

This same tenacity and determination are evident in Felicien’s recount of the 2004 Athens Olympics. Readers will find themselves holding their breaths and at the edge of their seats as Felicien shares her side of the story and the events that unfolded in the aftermath of this pivotal moment in both her life and athletic career. She doesn't shy away from talking about the grief and devastation that followed, as well as her struggle to come to terms and make sense of it all. Felicien proves that she is her mother's daughter as she picked herself up and forges ahead just as her mother had during previous adversities.

Felicien's prose is clear, and the story easy to follow. Told in chronological order, My Mother's Daughter is divided into three parts, allowing the reader to easily situate where they are in Catherine's and Felicien's story. The admiration Felicien feels for her mother is evident on every page. My Mother's Daughter will give readers familiar with Felicien and her quest for Olympic gold a chance to see a different, more intimate side of the former track and field star.

Thank you to Doubleday Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!

Book Review: The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey

By Dahl Botterill

Years ago, the first time I saw The Girl With All the Gifts sitting on a shelf, I noted Carey's name on the cover and thought it seemed interesting that there was another Carey out there writing. That it should be the same writer that I knew from the pages of Hellblazer and Lucifer didn't occur to me at all. Maybe I'd have read it much sooner had I known. Regardless, I'm certainly glad to have done so now.

The Girl With All the Gifts opens slowly and carefully, first introducing a young girl named Melanie and her teacher Miss Justineau. Melanie's entire life consists of a cell, a corridor, a classroom, and a shower room that she sees once a week. She lives alone in the cell, attends classes with other children in the classroom, and uses the corridor to travel between the two, strapped into a wheelchair and under armed guard. Melanie has a few teachers, but only Miss Justineau matters to her. Miss Justineau is kind, thoughtful, and—though Melanie perhaps doesn't initially realize this for what it is—sometimes sees the children as children. This is notable because, as we soon learn, the children are not merely children, but an anomalous type of monster that can think and feel when they're not desperately trying to eat people, and Melanie's world is a bunker in a military base, one of the few remaining strongholds of civilization in a world overrun by zombies.

Things soon fall apart, as things so often do in these stories, and Carey focuses for much of the story on a few individuals. The plot is not complicated, but that isn't really a problem, as the driving force behind The Girl With All the Gifts is in the characters. Melanie and her companions are pretty archetypal at first, but as they are each forced to compromise and develop during their journey, they grow into more realized individuals.

Miss Justineau never ceases to be a teacher, Caldwell will always be an obsessed scientist, and the soldiers are still soldiers, but as they explore the world that humanity has lost control over, they each become much more than their role. 

Melanie develops the most, of course, as she's experiencing almost every aspect of the world for the first time, but some of the most interesting aspects of her growth relate to her relationship with those around her and the power dynamics between them. She goes from being rendered almost powerless because of the way her potential power is feared, to gaining more autonomy, but also a different sort of power—more about what she is capable of as a person than her potential for violence as a monster.

M. R. Carey's The Girl With All the Gifts is a great read, slipping from horrifying to human and back again, reveling in the struggle to find hope at the end of the world.