Book Review: The Petting Zoos by K.S. Covert

By Larissa Page

It’s been ten years since a virus known as Henny Penny ravaged the world, causing many deaths and a “temporary” government called the regency to implement strict mask and glove laws. A series of BLT laws (“Behaviour Likely To” spread the virus) has caused Lily King, writer and former reporter, to live alone in fear in her apartment, only leaving to get the necessary food and provisions for the past decade. When she is mandated back to work and required to attend TTCs (therapeutic touch clinics) to help ease her back into the world, she discovers that living alone has lead her to experience something called Skin Hunger—her bodies way of reacting to not having been touched by another human in so long. As the clinics stop being enough for her, her boss asks her to investigate and report on the illegal underground businesses benefitting from humans’ need to touch and be touched with something called The Petting Zoos. Lily is sent on a life-changing self journey as she begins to experience the world around her, including human touch, again.

Pandemic based books have always been a popular genre of books, dystopian, post-apocalyptic, etc. I have personally found, since living through this pandemic we’re in right now, that I’ve needed to be careful reading these books as they have often given me added anxiety about the possibilities of our world that once seemed to only be in fiction. The Petting Zoos had aspects of that, and I had to remind myself it was fiction, but only at the beginning did I find myself in that space, as the world and story were set up for me. Once Lily returned to work and began to live her life outside her apartment, I felt my own fear of the unknown, fear of the pandemic, also lift.

I found this novel incredibly interesting and also incredibly relatable. Many of us are right now in a position of fearing to remove our masks in spaces that we, for the past two years, were told to fear. Lily lives with those same anxieties. I also found the need for human touch, and this novel’s highlighting of that, to be fascinating. It is something so true and so often taken advantage of by those who have it regularly, but just as mothers are told to hold their newborn babies skin to skin, adults too need that contact to live and function.

The levels of the petting zoos Lily works through and the relationship she develops become increasingly sexual, and while they were initially outside of Lily’s comfort zone, they may also be outside of the reader’s as well. I was so interested to find that much of Lily’s character growth, as a person coming out of a long depression, growing into a sexual being again, and becoming an individual for possibly the first time in her life, was so much about the symbolism of that growth versus so much about the sexual experiences she was having.

The Petting Zoos was a compelling, thought-provoking novel with excellent character development and a unique but incredibly relatable setting. K.S. Covert knocked this debut novel out of the park, and it is one that will stick with me for a bit.

Book Review: Little Witch Hazel by Phoebe Wahl

By Kaylie Seed

Author and Illustrator of Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest, Phoebe Whal, has created an adorable children’s book about a witch who lives in the forest. Hazel is loved by all the animals who live in the forest and appreciate the helping hand she is always willing to lend. While at first this may seem like a simple story, Whal has incorporated themes such as comfort and intimacy through nature that is bound to teach young readers about the importance of nature through the four seasons while invoking a love for the outdoors.

Split up into four sections, Whal takes the reader through a year in Hazel’s shoes as she makes her way through each season, completing different tasks. From spring to summer to autumn and winter, Whal has illustrated beautiful scenes that will help young readers appreciate nature and the four seasons we experience each year. Each section has Hazel focused on completing a task, and while all the sections are their own smaller story not necessarily impacted by the other sections, the central theme of helping and tending to nature is present throughout. Whal has sectioned this 96-page story into four parts, but it can still be read and enjoyed all at once. Parents will appreciate that there are shorter sentences that Whal has written instead of long paragraphs, and young readers will find joy in the beautiful illustrations as the tale goes on.

It's clear that Whal has a love of nature and wants to share that love with young readers. Parents who are hoping to instil a love of the outdoors will appreciate what this book has to offer. Young readers will enjoy pointing out different animals and seasons as they make their way through this book. Little Witch Hazel can be enjoyed at any point in the year, and while intended for readers aged 4-8, readers of all ages will find something to love in this children’s book that is clearly an ode to nature.

Thank you, Tundra Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas

By Christine McFaul

Content warning: death of children, trauma

Lost in the Never Woods by Aiden Thomas (whose debut, Cemetery Boys, was a New York Times Bestseller) is a deliciously dark YA retelling of the classic children’s story Peter Pan.

When yet another child goes missing in the small town of Astoria, Oregon, it sends eighteen-year-old Wendy Darling into a tailspin. The current events dredge up memories from five years earlier when Wendy and her two younger brothers disappeared under eerie circumstances from the woods behind their home. In what feels like a bad case of deja vu, the police are once again questioning Wendy and asking things like “why she returned from the forest while her brothers did not” and “can she really not remember anything about the six months she was gone.”

Wendy wishes she had the right answers. Ones that might bring her brothers, and all the lost children of Astoria, home safely. But like she has already told the police time and time again, she has no new information to share about what happened all those years ago—or at least none they would believe if she told them. Because how could it be possible that a boy with no shadow, who Wendy thought existed only in stories, has mysteriously come into her life. Peter says he knows who has taken the lost children and all he needs is her help to bring them home. But helping Peter means Wendy must first find the courage to remember—and to do that, she will have to return to the never woods to confront the darkness that waits for her there.

What a stellar set-up! If you follow my reviews here at Cloud Lake Literary, you probably know by now that I am always down to read a modern twist on an old classic. That said, when an author chooses to riff on an iconic story, it sets the bar high for my reading expectations. To land, the finished product must be flawlessly conceived as well as executed, borrowing just the right amount from the original tale while simultaneously creating something that feels completely new. And Thomas does not disappoint. Lost in the Never Woods delivers something that feels at once familiar and completely strange. The plot moves, shadowed and twisty, with plenty of reveals and just the right amount of dark pixie dust to have readers racing to flip the pages. 

In a story like this that is very plot-driven, I often enjoy the literary sprint but am left unsatisfied by an ending. I’m sure we could all point to some thrillers that left us with this exact hollow feeling. Thomas ensures that Lost In the Never Woods avoids that fate by grounding the plot with well-developed characters and a meticulously crafted setting. But, in my opinion, the real meat in this retelling reveals itself in how Thomas handles the story’s messaging. In my opinion, what has given the OG Peter Pan its lasting appeal is, in large part, its themes—longing for lost things, the poignancy of growing up, and the haunting nature of a forever childhood. These same themes are expertly threaded through Thomas’s retelling but explored from new angles and fresh perspectives, making the book itself a layered metaphor for growing up—beginning in the wild sweet ambience of early spring before Wendy’s childhood ultimately fades into the lush darkness of late summer and early adulthood.

Lost in the Never Woods is a smash. The strange elements of the book are fascinating, unique, and handled in a way that feels believable within its contemporary setting. Darker plot points are age-appropriate while not sacrificing the least on delivering thrills. A delicious shivery read for YA readers (as well as grown-ups who aspire to a Peter Pan approved reading philosophy—never grow up!). Pick up this book and save it for a dark summer night when you can binge in one sit. 

Thank you, Raincoast Books and Feiwel & Friends, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Roughest Draft by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

By Melissa Barbuzzi

The Roughest Draft follows literary stars Katrina Freeling and Nathan Van Huysen, who on the heels of their greatest success, ended their partnership on bad terms. They haven’t spoken in years—until their agent (who is also Katrina’s fiancé) forces the duo to reunite to write the final book on their contract. The Roughest Draft was marketed as a romance/rom-com, but I would categorize it under the contemporary fiction genre.

The coolest part about this book? It’s a book co-written by two authors (Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka, who are married in real life!) about two authors co-writing a book. I thought this was super cool, and while reading, I always found myself wondering who wrote what. 

I’ll start by saying that I enjoyed the general premise of this book: two authors working together, a potential friends to lovers romance, and a new bestselling book on the horizon. However, it ended up being not at all what I expected it to be. I really expected to love this book, thinking it would give me Beach Read and People We Meet on Vacation vibes, but sadly it fell short for me. The cover makes it seem like a light and fun rom-com, which is what originally caught my eye, but the book itself is the complete opposite. If I hadn’t gone in with the expectation of something light and fun, I may have enjoyed it more, but unfortunately, I didn’t, so here we are!

Where this book fell short for me was the relationships and chemistry (or lack of). What I expected to be a fun romance turned out to be a book filled with cheating, infidelity, and multiple relationships where I felt no chemistry at all. I think each character cheats on their significant other at least once throughout the book, and at one point, Kat’s fiancé even gives her permission to cheat (what!!). The physical and emotional cheating are really what set this book back for me.

Overall, there was so much potential here, and I was really disappointed to not have loved it as much as I thought I would. Two authors with a flirty past, reunited alone in a house to write their next book together, it’s the perfect rom-com set-up! I generally recommend going into books blind and with no expectations, but in this case, I recommend going into the book with certain expectations. I think if I didn’t go into the book expecting a fast and fun rom-com, I would have enjoyed it a lot more. I think this book finally taught me the lesson of “don’t judge a book by its cover” because that’s exactly what I did here!

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

Book Review: To Paradise by Hanya Yanagihara

By Carmen Lebar

Content warning: racism, homophobia, pandemics, death, ableism, classism, suicide 

To Paradise is Hanya Yanagihara’s newest novel since her massively popular A Little Life. The novel centres around three centuries of an alternate version of America, taking place mainly in New York City and following characters who are all unknowingly connected. It explores many difficult subject matters such as generational trauma, pandemics, classism, and much more. Split into three sections for the three centuries, a lot is explored in this novel. I found the overall novel was enjoyable, but I think it especially excelled in its final section.

What I enjoyed most about To Paradise was Yanagihara’s risk-taking when it came to genre-bending. The novel blends together historical and science fiction, first person and third person narration, and many other literary elements you wouldn’t expect in one novel. For example, in the first section, set in the late 1800s, we see a man deciding whether to marry the man he loves or a man who will give him status and security. In the third section, set in 2093, we see a world ravaged by pandemics, and New York City being heavily structured by regulations. (These are two very contrasting genres combined to tell one story.) With these various literary elements, Yanagihara can ask hard-hitting questions about humanity. What does it mean to be human? Who is accepted in this world, and who is forced into the margins? All of this is in the forefront of To Paradise.

Every character in this novel is searching for just that— paradise. And in the world that Yanagihara builds, it might not be so easy. There are a lot of harrowing events that occur in all three sections of the novel that make it exceptionally hard for these characters to reach a place where they belong or are at peace. I found it interesting to see how these characters cope and navigate the world they were born in, and how their actions ultimately influence the generations after them. We see characters from previous sections—100 years prior—help form the lives of the next section. However, these time separations sometimes were disadvantageous to the story.

My main critique of this novel was how disjointed it felt. Since the novel spans over 700 pages and is divided into three sections, it felt like I was reading three separate novels in a trilogy. I found the final section to be the most impactful and provocative, yet it needed the first two parts to make sense of what was happening. There were moments in the first two sections that I felt were too long, but I believe that the build-up to the final section is what makes it all worth it. The final section of this novel was my favourite part and brought up many important questions that our society faces today—like how to prevent the next pandemic.

To Paradise is an ambitious novel by Hanya Yanagihara that has many elements of different genres that will satisfy many readers, especially mood readers. It’s an introspective look into our world today through three alternate timelines—all eerily mimicking the problems in our reality. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes multiple genres, but also anyone who wants to venture out of their comfort genres. And of course, if you like Yanagihara’s novels, you’ll love this new risk-taking novel that will hopefully help you define what paradise is to you.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review. Please note that Carmen is employed with Penguin Random House Canada but all opinions are her own.

Book Review: What We Both Know by Fawn Parker

By Cassandra Navratil

There is something very familiar and comfortable about Fawn Parker’s writing style that drew me into her latest novel almost immediately. After the first few chapters, I tried to pin down what it was that had me so enthralled, barely able to set the book down. Was it the stream-of-consciousness style of narration? The main character’s description of her daily routines, and her state of mind? I finally settled on the fact that Fawn Parker seems to have woven her story together with tiny threads of nebulosity, leaving the reader to guess at major details until they are eventually revealed—without much fanfare, I might add, almost like they’re just casually dropped in front of you to pick up.

The novel begins with breakfast between the main character, unnamed until much later, and someone named Baby. There is a palpable tension between Baby and his caregiver right away, something that left me guessing, searching, scanning for hints that would let me in. It felt as though I was taking a peek through a door sitting ajar and eavesdropping on conversations and thoughts not necessarily meant for anyone else’s ears but the protagonist’s.

As the story unfolds, we meet more characters in the narrator’s life, and find that she is a middle-aged woman called Hilary Greene, and Baby is her father. Baby Davidson, aka Marcus Greene, a prolific author in his time, now struggles greatly with his mind and memory, falling into mental disrepair via the thief that is Alzheimer’s. His last project, a memoir, needs to be completed, and he is absolutely not up to the task. An extremely complicated and dark past, combined with his present issues, leaves both the memoir and Baby’s care firmly in Hilary’s lap. With new and revelatory information flooding Hilary’s brain on what seems like a constant loop, she is understandably overwhelmed, and working through reconciling who she is, who her father is, why her sister died by suicide, and how she is supposed to move forward with her own life when the past keeps coming to haunt her.

Is there such a thing as being pleasantly uncomfortable? In my opinion, that exact feeling is what kept me coming back to this book every time I set it down. I wanted to know more, yearned to find out why, how, and what the resolution(s) would be, if any. I found myself daydreaming about Hilary, worrying about what was going to come next in her story, and thinking about my own life and future with my parents as they age. This is a story that takes painfully real elements of humanity—both positive and negative—and interlaces them beautifully so that the reader cannot help but feel as though they are living vicariously through Hilary’s experiences. Fawn Parker has written another phenomenal novel, one that will undoubtedly live (haunt) in my mind for a long time.

Book Review: Look After Us by Rod Campbell

By Carly Smith

Rod Campbell, creator of Dear Zoo and Oh Dear! brings readers Look After Us, an interactive children’s book focusing on endangered animals. In this book, Campbell introduces his younger audience to animals whose populations are depleting. He presents a beautiful and necessary message—that humans are responsible for taking care of all animals, including wild ones.

The format of this book is consistent and predictable, making it suitable for emergent readers reading with an experienced reader, or for children who are drawn to patterns. On the left side of each spread, with the exception of the beginning and end of the book, is a small paragraph that introduces a new animal. On the right side of the spread is a flap with the animal’s habitat on the outer part, and the animal in focus behind the flap. Below each flap is a bit more text which encourages the reader to help endangered animals. The consistency Campbell creates by formatting the images and text this way supports new readers to infer, a great skill to develop early on and one which also helps maintain interest in the reading material. Another aspect of this book I was drawn to was the repetition of words and syntax; this is beneficial for readers encountering unfamiliar words, or for those who can remember what is being read and wish to join in with the person reading it to them. Moreover, the font is clear and representative of the way letters are taught and learned in school, making the pages even more accessible to a younger audience.

The illustrations in Look After Us offer additional opportunities for enjoyment, learning, and discussion. Firstly, the animals are drawn in their natural landscape. This can spark follow-up questions and comments, and may help with reading comprehension. There is also an option to take the discussion one step further and encourage numeracy skills. For example, the experienced reader could ask questions to the child about how many of each animal there are, what body parts some animals have more or less of compared to the other endangered animals in the book, or by posing questions about the landscapes to prompt estimation. Overall, Look After Us provides numerous occasions for readers to enhance not only decoding skills, but also comprehension, oral communication, and math skills.

There are some additional features that I enjoyed about the physical copy of this book, including its size and the durability of the pages and the flaps. It’s large enough that it will not get lost in a large collection of children’s books, but not too large that it cannot easily fit in a diaper bag or stroller pouch. Look After Us is a charming book, sure to be a hit with any toddler or child, especially those interested in animals or who are developing their fine motor skills.

Book Review: Such Big Dreams by Reema Patel

By Larissa Page

At the young age of seven, Rakhi escaped a bad situation and found herself on the streets of Bombay, quickly befriending Babloo and a rag tag gang of other street kids. She is now twenty-three and after a long stint in a girls home through her adolescent years, renowned human right lawyer Guari Ma’am has given her a “second chance” in the form of a job as an office assistant and covering her rent in a Mumbai slum. When a particular foreign intern takes an interest in Rakhi, asking her to show him the real India and encouraging her to reach farther than her office job, Rakhi’s life becomes more complicated and potentially fuller and brighter than before—unless things come falling down before that happens.

I really enjoyed this novel, both the current timeline storyline and the back story that leads us through Rakhi’s history as a street kid. The plot was quick moving and engaging, while the characters were complex. I felt drawn back every time I put it down, which is something that can be a bit hit or miss with literary fiction. I also felt like I learned a lot about a setting I wasn’t previously familiar with.

I think the relationships and characters in this novel will be a bit of a wake-up call for the typical reader. Particularly Guari Ma’am and Alex, both of whom act as if they are helping Rakhi, maybe even considered selfless or generous when in fact, their actions don’t really help Rakhi in the way she may necessarily need it, or perhaps not the way she needs it anymore. There seems to be a sense that these characters and relationships make the helpers feel like they are doing such great things and great work but ultimately, they haven’t asked Rakhi for her side of the story or her wants/needs. In the same vein, though, there is some aspect of Rakhi not acting in a way that reflects she recognizes she’s being helped at all. I really liked this aspect of the book as it gives us that realness, that people are not all good or all bad; they are complex.

There was a point toward the end that I wondered if it was not going to be terribly uplifting (which is okay), even though I felt it was hopeful all the way along. I am thrilled to say though, that once I finished, I felt this book had a lot of heart and a lot of hope through struggles and mistreatment. It didn’t shy away from realities, but it did show us the other side of the realities we often don’t see, the human side.

Thank you, McClelland & Stewart, an imprint of Penguin Random House Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Legend of the Christmas Witch by Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza Illustrated by Julia Iredale

By Kaylie Seed

When I was researching books to read and review, I came across The Legend of the Christmas Witch and just knew I needed to read it. I have long been fascinated by witches, and with winter being my favourite season, I felt that this would be a children’s book that I would enjoy—I was right.

The Legend of the Christmas Witch tells the tale of Kristtörn and her twin brother Kristoffer who were abandoned in a forest. They each end up leaving with very different adults who ventured into the forest on that fateful day. Kristoffer ends up with a family whose last name is Kringle and thus begins the legend of Santa Claus in the same breath that we see the lesser-known legend of the Christmas Witch. Kristtörn decides to search for her brother after the village figures out that she is a witch, and while on her way to the North Pole, Kristtörn ends up in the South Pole. Kristtörn makes it her mission to find her mysterious brother and reunite after all this time apart.

Dan Murphy and Aubrey Plaza have created a children’s book that is both eclectic and entertaining. The Legend of the Christmas Witch is very different from other children’s books I’ve read, and I mean this in the best way. Intended for children ages 5-8, The Legend of the Christmas Witch is a story that can be enjoyed by all ages. I found this tale to be easy to follow and felt like it flowed nicely. Being that this is a 50-page children’s book, this would be best read as a bedtime story over a couple of nights as there are natural breaks in the story that would offer a cliffhanger for the next evening.

As The Legend of the Christmas Witch takes place in a Scandinavian country, Murphy and Plaza have done an excellent job incorporating both real life and legend from this part of the world. While the name implies that this should be read at Christmas time, The Legend of the Christmas Witch is a story that can be read and enjoyed at any point in the year.

Julia Iredale’s illustrations are gorgeous and really help tell this story of long lost twins. The pages are thick and glossy, making them easy to turn and beautiful to look at. Iredale has taken great care to include details that older readers will appreciate while maintaining a look that younger readers will find fun to look at while being read to.

All in all, I recommend The Legend of the Christmas Witch to anyone who appreciates Christmas, witches, or just a good old fashioned legend. Easily a book that you can read more than once, The Legend of the Christmas Witch is bound to invoke a love for this lesser-known tale.

Thank you, Viking Publishing, an imprint of Penguin Random House, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Holiday Swap by Maggie Knox

By Erica Wiggins

The Holiday Swap is the international bestseller from the incredible writing pair Karma Brown and Marissa Stapley. Both are Canadian and independently successful authors. This is their first novel writing as a team.

The Holiday Swap is a feel-good romance set in the few weeks before Christmas. The story follows twins Charlie and Cass Goodwin. Charlie is a successful chef who works as a judge on a reality television baking show in Los Angeles, while Cass has stayed in the small town they grew up in and runs the family bakery. One day on set, Charlie hits her head and ends up with a concussion. This leads her to lose her ability to smell and taste. Wondering how she will be able to judge food and save her job, she reaches out to Cass. Can they switch places like they did when they were kids? Cass agrees and they make their plan: they will switch for ten days. Cass will take Charlie’s role as judge to help secure her job and Charlie will go home and run the family bakery. What could go wrong?

This book is sweet and adorable and although it is set at Christmastime, it really can be read any time that you need a dose of holiday joy and romance. There are also some incredible-sounding desserts that will leave you drooling!

I loved both Charlie and Cass and all their quirks. These twins have grown apart a bit and living in the other’s life is challenging. This challenge only increases as the two sisters meet potential love interests.  Enter Jake, the super hot firefighter and Miguel, the brilliant physician’s assistant. How do these women manage their love lives while staying in character?  As they settle into their new roles, each one starts to learn more about their twin and in turn more about themselves. This switch and change of scenery allows both women to determine what they truly want in life. Can these sisters get on track and reveal the truth of the swap?

Did I pick it up and read it one sitting? You bet I did!

Did this remind me of Hallmark movie? Yes!

Did I love it? Absolutely!

Sometimes you just need a great rom-com that you know is going to have a happy ending. This really hit the mark for me. It had me smiling and laughing and rooting for Charlie and Cass. If you love rom-coms with some great food and a little holiday joy sprinkled in, check out this book. I cannot wait to read anything else from this incredible writing duo.

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

Book Review: Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas

By Christine McFaul

Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes is a new middle grade graphic novel by Vancouver-based author and artist Johnnie Christmas (publication date May 17th, 2022; currently available for pre-order).

The story opens with young protagonist Bree leaving Brooklyn for Florida, where her dad has accepted a job. Bree is nervous about the move, making friends, and starting over at a new middle school. She tries to approach the coming changes with a positive attitude but it’s hard not to let doubts creep in,  especially when she finds out her top choice of elective—Math Puzzles—is full. In fact, the only elective left for Bree to take is Swim 101. Which is a big problem, since academically oriented Bree doesn’t know how to swim.

Soon Bree is skipping class to avoid anyone finding out her secret. But after a worrisome tumble into the pool at her apartment complex introduces Bree to a new swim coach, she finally begins to find her way to the water. She quickly learns to out-swim her doubts and many of her peers, a feat that sees her qualifying for her school’s floundering swim team. As the newest member of the Manatees, Bree makes friends with her teammates and even places at her first meet; life is good! Until the Manatees learn that simply placing is not good enough. They will need to start winning meets or risk losing their pool, which is slated to be sold to a frozen smoothie chain. Bree’s newfound swim skills and friendships will be tested as she works with the Manatees to beat their hyper-competitive private school rivals, win the state championship, and ultimately save their pool—the last one in their community that is still free and available for public use.

Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes introduces readers to a vibrant and engaging set of middle grade characters. The sport story is both relatable and layered as Christmas seamlessly weaves the history of racism in America’s public pool system into the plot. Christmas strikes a perfect balance between the information that is delivered through writing and that which is conveyed visually. His previous experience in comics shines as he expertly wields his pencil to further develop his characters. The colour choices (featuring a lot of turquoise and yellow) create a sunny Florida swim vibe that shifts subtly with the moods and action of the story. Every detail, down to the lettering, draws out the middle grade experience (some of my favourite moments include “Bree’s Favourite Things” which have the look of notebook doodles, and the visual representation of Bree’s doubts throughout).

Graphic novels are becoming increasingly popular across all age categories of kid lit, and after finishing this book, I can absolutely see why. Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Changes is a warm and layered read enhanced by its beautiful and nuanced illustrations. An excellent middle grade choice for either academic or personal reading.

Note: I encourage anyone whose interest in Swim Team: Small Waves, Big Change was piqued after reading my thoughts to check out opinions provided by graphic novel aficionados (as this is my first review in this genre!) as well as by reviewers who can add a personal perspective to Bree’s experiences within the American public pool system as a Black middle school student.

Thank you to Harper Collins Canada for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Plumstuff by Rolli

By Caprice Hogg

Plumstuff is a book of poetry and sketches that kept me coming back for more. From the very first few lines where Rolli writes “If I ever write a book so bland it’s championed by every living critic seize my pen,” his wit and humour made me pause and contemplate my book review before I even started it! The poems in this book cover a wide range of topics, and the book was well laid out. Rolli writes about the critics, about philosophy, opinions, politics and so much more. I would put the book away and then pick it up again another day, open it to a random page and simply read and re-read. It allowed me time and space to ponder.

My favourite poems were the ones with fewer words. In my opinion, the fewer the words, the better the poem was. It gave me the opportunity for my mind to wander, absorb, and feel the emotion in the moment. The less words there were on the page the more I was able to take it in.

This is a book for those who truly love words. The words chosen are descriptive and lyrical and to the point. This shows the talent of the author, because it is no easy feat to bring about emotion with only a few syllables. In good writing and in good art, it is far easier to express oneself in lengthy diatribes; to use words and lines sparingly is an achievement.

The power in the simplicity of in his sketches was similar to his poetry. The fewer lines there were, the stronger the sketch was. The lines allowed the viewer’s mind to fill in the blanks and become a part of what was happening on the page. His compositions were strong, and I enjoyed the change in values from the black lines to the gray lines.

The sketches and poetry complemented each other. After reading and re-reading this book, I cannot imagine one without the other; the sketches are just as important as the poetry and vice versa.

To quote one of Rolli’s poems, “Though no one’s swung by anyone’s opinion the redundant tongue worms on.” As such, in my opinion, this book is for anyone who enjoys poetry or who would like to spend time getting to know poetry. While not every poem spoke to me, these poems will take the reader by the hand and lead them on a journey.

I would like to thank the author Rolli for the complimentary copy of his book “Plumstuff” in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Sari, Not Sari by Sonya Singh

By Christa Sampson

In this debut rom-com novel by Sonya Singh, readers are taken on a journey of self-discovery, letting go, and leaning into personal truth.

Main character Manny Dogra is a successful businesswoman who runs an internet-based break-up company. If people can meet their significant others online, why not break up with them in a similar way? Of course, the premise is to facilitate the process amicably. Manny herself is in a committed relationship, but despite her life seeming perfect on all levels, she feels that a big part of her true self is missing: her South Asian heritage. Her Indian immigrant parents raised Manny with the staples of an all-American lifestyle and without any of the culture or family traditions they grew up with. Enter a new client with an off-the-menu request that provides Manny with the opportunity to fill in the gaps in her personal heritage. While attending her first Indian family wedding, Manny is introduced to an eclectic cast of characters that will provide many humorous anecdotes for the reader.  

All readers will be able to relate to Manny’s journey and inherent need to find her true self. The intricacies of both family and romantic relationships are examined, including the problems that arise when you try to fit yourself into a mold that isn’t for the right reasons or isn’t right for you. Many of the supporting characters in this novel steal the show and help break Manny out of her protective shell. There were a few instances where the main character could have shown more agency and acted “in the moment,” rather than ruminating on what happened in the past. The ending of the story felt a little rushed and would have been better served with an active scene as opposed to a summary of the final events, but it will definitely leave the reader smiling. Overall, Sari Not Sari is a feel-good read, exploring very relatable themes within a unique premise.  

Thank you to Simon & Schuster for the complimentary advance digital copy of Sari Not Sari in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: In the Writers' Words (Volume II) by Laurence Hutchman

By Sara Hailstone

Freshly published in 2022 by Guernica Editions, In the Writer’s Words: Conversations with Ten Canadian Poets, Volume II editor and creator Laurence Hutchman has presented a quietly relevant text that could potentially contribute to and shift the tone of the current conversations revolving around CanLit at this time. Writers in this second volume include Brian Bartlett, Roo Borson, George Elliott Clarke, M. Travis Lane, John B. Lee, Daniel Lockhart, Bruce Meyer, Al Moritz, Sue Sinclair, and Colleen Thibaudeau. Hutchman asks each writer to speak to their lives, issues within Canadian society that potentially inform their writing, historical events, influences, style, and lastly, the inspiration that fuels their poetry writing. As a writer, I was inspired by this volume, in delving into other writers’ styles, and I found that I took away many discussions on writing, convention, and issues within CanLit that I would teach and borrow from as a resource in an English classroom. 

First, I loved the use of transforming haiku into a verb, “haikuing,” with Brian Bartlett in his interview on his essay about the style of poetry. I hadn’t encountered this verbiage before and would refer to these segments of the interview when teaching poetry. Bartlett states that “Haiku need a delicate balance between solidity and ellipsis, substance and suggestion, speech and silence. A haiku needs to give enough, but not too much; overwritten haiku stumble, but underwritten haiku are static.” I found, too, I was inspired throughout the interviews by how the writing process was shown differently according to each author’s personality. John B. Lee remarked that, “Writing is a discovery and a rediscovery of things that I already knew, but forgot, or that I never knew or that I didn’t really know that I knew. Poetry is more profound than conversation.” The compilation further contributes to current and necessary conversations in the field of CanLit. 

D.A. Lockhart writes about the history of his nation and the deaths of Indigenous children in residential schools, adding a sense of urgency and humanity to the text. The recent discovery of the graves of Indigenous children at former Canadian residential schools and the need for reconciliation are two significant topics mentioned by the writer. With the need for our Canadian society to work to connect more fully with nature, Lockhart writes that “the hope with these lyric essays was to capture something truthful about the world we’ve come to inhabit and are gifted by creation. The poet is naturally the speaker across so many cultures. So, it was natural to assume the role, one must find their way into situations that one wants to discuss.”

Indeed, this tone works through the manifesting powers of prayer and language, but also functions to kick “at the edges of decolonization. There is a great deal to learn from the space between languages.” Lockhart ends on a powerful note that should push the industry of CanLit into a space of more fully including Indigenous literature—if that space is where Indigenous Lit wants to be— that, “if anything could be said of actual Indigenous folks it is that we are survivors. Surviving is something to be both happy and hopeful about.” Survival is a powerful term. The reality was that Indigenous authors were excluded from this national work which further reinforced caricature and stereotype in literature. This compilation gives space to a reclamation and reconciliation in CanLit for Indigenous readers and writers. 

Book Review: Brave, Beautiful and Baring it All by Rhyanna Watson

By Jamie Maletta

Content warning: suicide 

I’m a sucker for self-help, better living, and motivation-style books. I’m also heavily influenced by “bookstagram” in all its glory. While browsing through Instagram stories I happened to come across someone reading Brave, Beautiful, and Baring it All by author, yogi, and health and well-being consultant (to name only a few areas of her expertise), Rhyanna Watson. I wasn’t familiar with Watson’s work, but her book had me intrigued, and I quickly added it to my TBR list. 

The premise of this book is to learn how to live your most authentic life, whatever that means to you. Learning to see perfection through the imperfections, freeing your inner child, opening your heart, and loving life. It’s self-help meets how-to! Watson is heavily involved in yoga, and a lot of her book referenced yoga as a method, which I didn’t quite relate to. I also felt some chapters were a little repetitive in that they shared the same advice worded a little differently on a few occasions. 

At the same time, I did enjoy the book and the positivity it exudes. I felt that the book provided the space to really take a look at my inner struggles and what to do with them. I also found myself realizing some unconscious and less positive habits I have and how I could do better by facing them. I really enjoyed working through these topics in a positive way, and I felt good having read this book. I’ve since started following Rhyanna Watson on Instagram (@openheartscanunite) and I’m interested in learning more about who she is and what she does. I believe surrounding yourself with positive people, even when their interests may differ from your own, can benefit your well-being tremendously. 

If you’re looking for a quick read that will have you thinking about your thoughts, habits, needs, and aspirations to live a better life, then this is a great book and place to start! Stay happy, friends! 

Book Review: Four Aunties and a Wedding by Jesse Q. Sutanto

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: attempted murder, assault, kidnapping, taxidermized animals, attempted sexual assault (referenced), murder (referenced)

If you thought the hijinks were crazy in Dial A for Aunties, just wait and see what Meddie and her family have in store in book two! It looks like the consequences of Meddie’s blind date and all the disasters that followed are finally behind her. She has a healthier relationship with her family, she’s engaged to the man of her dreams, and it seems like they got away with murder. Now all Meddie has to do is get through her wedding. Unfortunately, when her family hires a wedding company with ulterior motives, Meddie ends up in yet another sticky situation. Now she has to juggle her family’s shenanigans as they try to impress Nathan’s conservative English parents, a wedding photographer who knows nothing about taking pictures, and, oh yeah, trying to prevent a murder! Things get even crazier in the second installment of Jesse Q. Sutanto’s genre-bending hit; the hijinks go higher, the aunties get wilder, and poor Meddie has to deal with all of it in the biggest wedding gown you’ve ever seen. 

This book is still nonstop jokes and humour, and while I didn’t laugh out loud quite as much as book one, I couldn’t tear my eyes off the page because I was so entranced by the train wreck that is Meddie’s wedding. This book sets up so many scenes in a way that you can picture them in your mind, and the picture is just absolutely absurd. It’s wonderful. The physical comedy, while difficult to execute in writing, is done very well, and there were times I could picture dramatic cuts and cinematic zooms in my mind as I read about the latest crazy thing these ladies had gotten themselves into. Both Meddie’s family and the new cast of characters that get introduced in this book are hilarious, and their actions and reactions within this crazy plot are a delight to read. 

While I do feel like some of the shenanigans in this one got a little too over the top (don’t get me wrong, the entire premise is over the top in the best way, however in this book, sometimes the antics went just a bit past what my suspension of disbelief could handle), I feel like the heart of the story, the relationship between Meddie and her family helps ground the book. There are lots of heartfelt moments as Meddie learns to embrace her family for who they are, and those were lovely to read. 

Meddie herself is also incredibly relatable in this book. Her struggles with balancing her love for her family and her desire to be considered “normal,” paired with her very realistic responses to her relatives’ often murderous suggestions for solving her wedding problems, and the ways she deals with her wedding vendors as she desperately tries to foil their evil schemes, are all really realistic. It feels ridiculous to say a character’s reaction to such crazy scenarios could be realistic, but that’s what I love about both the first book and this one. While the circumstances are bizarre, being in Meddie’s head gives the reader the chance to acknowledge the crazy, often with really fun or really realistic internal monologues to go along with it. 

One thing I wish we had seen a little more of was Nathan’s relationship with the whole situation. The book prioritizes Meddie’s experiences with her family and the plot explains a way to keep Nathan on the sidelines, but I would have loved for him to be a bit more of a character on his own wedding day. That being said, I loved the bits of him we do see, the romantic element was definitely elevated a bit in this book which I liked. 

Overall, I think it’s really tough for a sequel to compete with something as unique as Dial A for Aunties, but this book keeps the same spirit and is a really fun ride. If you like book one, you’ll definitely enjoy this one too! 

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

Book Review: The Devil's Whispers by Lucas Hault

By Lauren Bell

The Devil’s Whispers is a 2022 horror novel written by Lucas Hault. Hault opened the novel with a poignant quote by Mary Shelley: “I do not wish women to have power over men; but over themselves,” which immediately captured me and set the scene for the Shelley-like novel. The reader will also notice that Hault does well to emulate the Old English and mannerisms in which his novel is set.

 Set in England in 1903, the novel is written in journals and correspondence of Gerard Woodward, a revered lawyer, his fiancée, Raelynn, and their other close acquaintances. The plot is set in motion as Woodward travels to visit the dying Lord Mathers in his castle to settle his affairs. His stay becomes anything but what he anticipated as he is locked into his room and unable to contact the outside world. Sneaking out of his window at night is what allows him to explore the gothic castle and observe its inhabitants. In the novel, the castle is described dramatically, obviously, to encapsulate the mysterious and spooky atmosphere Hault is trying to portray. However, I was not personally intrigued by it. I found the castle to be filled with too many classic horror tropes: an isolated castle, creepy butler, black cats, and Mathers’ beautiful daughter to consider it remarkable. 

Woodward’s silence to Raelynn and his other peers is what creates a ripple effect of worry for the other characters in the novel, who are also experiencing their own unsettling events. For instance, Raelynn is visited by her cousin, Nathan, who suddenly falls ill, and during his sickness, he is visited by a mysterious woman that turns him against Raelynn. Within these subplots, the trend of horror tropes continues with the new moon influencing character behaviour and the “possessed” (for lack of a better word) character’s aversion to garlic. 

I will, however, give Hault credit for his integration of Asturian mythology and the introduction of the Xana as his antagonist. This was my first time learning of this creature, and it made the story less generic. With the Xana now involved, I noticed a transition within the atmosphere of the novel. It became less Frankenstein and Dracula-esque and shifted to being more like The Exorcist with the involvement of the church and the possessed characters crawling up walls. 

As I finished the novel, I was disappointed with the lack of characterization; most were one-dimensional, and I found them hard to sympathize with. As well, I felt the novel didn’t really have an ending when compared with its slow build-up. Ultimately, The Devil’s Whispers was not my favourite novel, but  it’s a quick read (~200 pages) for those interested in horror and willing to try it. 

Thank you, TCK Publishing, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: West Coast Wild ABC by Deborah Hodge Illustrated by Karen Reczuch

By Carly Smith

West Coast Wild ABC is a children’s book authored by Deborah Hodge and illustrated by Karen Reczuch. Like typical alphabet books, West Coast Wild ABC takes readers on an alphabetical journey, introducing each letter in its upper and lower case forms and using words beginning with each page’s designated letter. Unlike most other alphabet books, Hodge focuses on parts of nature found on Canada’s west coast. This nature-themed read—available as either a board book or digital copy—is suitable for children with a variety interests, as it encompasses the vast elements of land and sea that British Columbia has to offer. 

There are quite a few aspects of this book that appeal to me. Firstly, it is formatted clearly, with the specific letter of focus always written on the bottom, outer side of the page in white. The corresponding sentence or phrase for each letter is written in a black font that looks like the way children first learn to print their letters which is a great feature if children strive to read this book themselves, rather than an experienced reader reading to them. 

Another aspect of this book that captivated my interest was the vocabulary. Hodge does not shy away from large or uncommon words but does not overwhelm readers with too many. Furthermore, Hodge does not rely solely on nouns in this alphabet book. Instead, she includes other parts of speech, like verbs and adjectives, often lacking in other books of the same genre. This is a particularly important feature for language acquisition and vocabulary development that is often overlooked in books for early readers. 

The final but equally important feature was the illustrations. Reczuch’s artwork is vibrant but doesn’t take away from the text and is detailed without being overwhelming. Reczuch beautifully captures the wide array of textures found in nature. The illustrations match the words and encourage further discussion. They prompt reflection and are a catalyst for open-ended questions, which sparks critical thinking and comprehension skills. 

West Coast Wild ABC is a lovely children’s book that caught the attention of not only my 19-month-old but also myself and my spouse. Our son was exposed to the alphabet, new words, and captivating illustrations while the adults reading to him learned more about the country they live in. Its board book form is an excellent size, not small enough that it will be easily lost, but not too large that it feels cumbersome or too large for the diaper bag. West Coast Wild ABC has encouraged me to investigate other works by Hodge and Reczuch, knowing they will most certainly be a hit in our family.

Thank you to Groundwood Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Candy House by Jennifer Egan

By Erica Wiggins

The Candy House is the sixth fiction novel by American author Jennifer Egan. Her book A Visit from the Goon Squad won the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Critics Award. This is my first book from Egan, and I like to start a new author without gathering too much information about them. In this case, I wish I had done a little more research. After finishing the story, I checked out more about this book and learned that The Candy House is the continuation of A Visit from the Good Squad. I learned that many characters cross over, and I wonder if reading this first book would have given more context to this story. 

The Candy House picks up with Bix Bouton, who owns a successful tech company called Mandala and is well known to everyone. Bix is on the hunt for the latest technology when he finds a group experimenting with “externalizing” memories. Soon Bix creates “Own Your Unconscious.” This technology allows you to access and share your memories. The idea of this book had me intrigued and got me thinking about the implications of technology like this and having my memories just out there for anyone to access. 

“By uploading all or part of your externalized memory to an online “collective,” you gained proportionate access to anonymous thought and memories of everyone in the word, living or dead, who had done the same.”

This genre is outside the wheelhouse of what I would normally read. The story is told in a variety of formats—writing, emails, tweets, and even formulas. It is a challenging story to review. Each chapter deals with different characters, different ideas, and jumps between generations and through time. The quick shifts between characters/timelines felt confusing at times. It was as if each chapter encompassed its own story. I took notes and began to make connections between the characters, but with so many, it was hard to know who to pay attention or who was critical to the story.

About halfway through, and with the help of my notes, the story did become a little clearer. I am typically a quick reader, but this story required a slower, more methodical approach to understand everything  going on. I do think that reading the first book would have given more context to the characters and made this story easier to follow. 

I really loved the idea of exploring what would happen if this technology was released into the world. I could see the pros and cons and watched as the characters struggled with whether to upload and access their memories. I enjoyed the contrast of the characters working against this program as well. 

This story is well written but is very complex. While this story wasn’t for me, I think it is perfect for those that love intricate, complex, and through-provoking novels. I am a firm believer that there is a book for every reader, but not every book is for every reader. I would encourage readers to check out other reviews as there is a lot of love for this series.

Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy

By Christina McLaurine

The Island of Forgetting is a debut novel by Jasmine Sealy about family, memory, and truth. Iapetus is haunted by images of his mother and brother murdering their father. Feeling indebted to his uncle Cronus for taking him, Atlas struggles to choose between leaving the island and staying to help run the family business. Calypso, determined to live a colourful robust life far removed from that of her parents and her Uncle Z’s hotel, falls heedlessly in love with a visiting businessman. Struggling with his identity and lack of parental relationships, Nautilus is on a dangerous path of self-destruction. Four generations. One family trying to grapple with their past in the hope of a better future. 

The Island of Forgetting is broken into three parts, and each reads almost like a novella. The stories of Atlas, Calypso, and Nautilus are told in chronological order but lead one into another, generation by generation, to tell a beautiful family saga.

Sealy weaves themes of mental unwellness throughout The Island of Forgetting in a way that centers the person and not the illness. Multiple characters struggle with varying degrees of mental unwellness, which is both depicted through internal dialogue and interactions with other characters. Some readers may recognize behaviour patterns but they are never named or referred to by western pathologies. In this way, there is no separating the character from an illness or diagnosis. Be it incoherent ramblings, drastic changes in mood, or self-destructive tendencies, they are part of the character, and the focus is not on treating an illness or managing symptoms but on helping the person heal and grow.

The Island of Forgetting is a medium-paced novel perfect for readers who enjoy character-driven stories. 

Thank you, Harper Collins, for a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!