Book Review: Something is Killing the Children by James Tynion IV, Werther Dell'Edera, and Miquel Muerto

By Dahl Botterill

Content warning: violence, gore

Something is Killing the Children opens with a sleepover. Boys goofing around, playing truth or dare, telling scary stories. Things ramp up quickly though, and by the next morning only one of those boys remains alive, trying to explain the unexplainable to local law enforcement. He’s scared and possibly in shock, so he tells them he didn’t see anything. After a day of abuse at school from kids who think he had a role to play in the tragedy, he’s approached by an odd, wide-eyed young woman who asks him to tell her everything he remembers and promises that she’ll believe every word. “No matter how weird it is. No matter how scary.” Her name is Erica Slaughter, and she hunts monsters.

Book one of Something is Killing the Children collects the first 15 issues of the ongoing comic series into one oversized hardcover volume. It covers Erica’s experiences in a town called Archer’s Peak, and over these 15 issues Tynion introduces enough characters to really breathe life in to the town. Archer’s Peak is made up of people, and those people lend a real gravity to the events taking place. The missing and murdered children have families, and those families don’t always make Erica’s job easier.

James Tynion IV does a great job of worldbuilding here; not only does he create the very alive and mourning town of Archer’s Peak, but he also provides hints as to Erica’s origins with the Order of St. George’s House of Slaughter. Something is Killing the Children is the best kind of slow burn, where the pacing is solid, generating a better story through detail, exploration, and character development rather than rushing from one action sequence to the next. The immediate tale of Archer’s Peak clearly benefits, but so does the series potential in general. Smart writing ensures that much of the fine and fun detail serves both purposes simultaneously, benefiting both the immediate arc and the ongoing series without overwhelming the reader with information unnecessary to either.

Werther Dell’Edera handles the art side of Something is Killing the Children, and he is a very suitable choice. His rougher drawing style doesn’t always feel as polished as some other titles, but it does a phenomenal job of conveying emotion, and in doing so is one of the ways the book really hooks the reader into the pain and loss of Archer’s Peak. It feels very primal, which is a fantastic fit for a book about monsters and people and the fine lines that separate some of them. The art carries emotional weight, and that lends power to the book’s impact.

This isn’t a book that will necessarily grab the reader by the throat from the first pages, but it will quietly tap their interest, and begin to put down roots. As it grows and swells over its duration into something bigger than it initially seems, Something is Killing the Children becomes not only a really great horror comic, but a great book as well.

Book Review: Modern Whore by Andrea Werhun Photography by Nicole Bazuin

By Lauren Bell

The publisher’s blurb of Werhun and Bazuin’s book Modern Whore says that “it’s Playboy if the Playmates were in charge,” and that is honestly the most accurate summary one could give. I’d even add that reading it is also like listening to a Lizzo song: you finish a chapter and come out high on girl power. The sense of love and respect the two creators have for each other is genuine, and this adds to the sense of female empowerment the audience gains from reading Werhun’s story. The book is a blend of memoir and image, the result of a collaboration between Andrean Werhun and filmmaker Nicole Bazuin.

Ultimately, everything we know about the “Modern Whore” is wrong. Encounters with them are more than just sex; they’re whatever their client needs them to be (e.g., smart, funny, a conversationalist, sincere, accepting), and they deserve the same fundamental respect deserved by all women. Werhun’s development into a Modern Whore begins in her adolescence: she’s self-assured, confident, and unapologetic (everything my teenage self wished she could be), and she keeps the values she establishes as a youth with her as she begins her sex work career in university. There’s a lot one can learn from her stories on the job—and not just different positions, but also how one can best support a sex worker (e.g., what’s stigmatizing to say vs. what’s meaningful). Her work is funny in a cynical and satirical way, conveyed by anecdotes she includes aside of the main text, such as her takes on erotic board reviews and tips like “Remind any boundary-pushers that it is your body, your rules, and your safety!” But Werhun also does not shy away from serious topics. For instance, I found her experiences in giving up alcohol and in outreach to be particularly thoughtful.

In the second half of the book, Werhun chronicles her experiences as a dancer and outreach worker, which emphasize the sense of community amongst sex workers and dancers. There’s an unspoken “whore code,” where the workers support each other outwardly in giving advice and cheering their peers on, but also in more subtle ways like leaving supplies in their locker room donation bin. This extends to other, non-sex work-related things as well, which Werhun saw firsthand as she released Modern Whore during the difficult time when the COVID-19 pandemic was shaking the industry. Werhun highlights how resilient and supportive the community is.

What I liked most about her writing is that it is honest, bordering the line of bluntness, regardless whether she’s sharing a personal story or calling out rape culture. Her lack of sugar-coating is refreshing; she writes as if she wants her words to be a mirror in which you can see yourself, and her unique perspective on sex work is insightful. What’s more is that along with her brutal honesty, she’s also forgiving towards her younger self, which I’d argue is one of the most important themes in the book. I hope other readers can take away the theme of self-love the way that I did, among the many others embedded in Modern Whore.

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

Book Review: Last One Alive by Amber Cowie

By Kaylie Seed

Penelope Berkowitz is a bestselling author unable to find inspiration for her second novel. But when she stumbles upon the myth of the Stone Witch in an old journal, she puts together a research team of seemingly unfamiliar strangers who all end up being connected to someone who has recently passed away. Last One Alive is a locked door mystery and thriller that takes readers to Stone Point, a remote island off the coast of the Pacific Northwest in British Columbia. Penelope and her boyfriend lead a ragtag team on a research expedition to the boat-in-only resort with a haunting past. When bodies begin showing up, Penelope and the remaining group members are forced to solve the mystery of the Stone Witch and hope that they can catch the killer before the weekend is over.

Locked door mysteries are a type of plot that I am always a little leery about reading. I find that I am usually able to guess what is going to happen when I am wanting to be completely thrown off guard. Sadly, Last One Alive was too predictable for me; however, Cowie’s prose kept me engaged right until the end. As with most locked door mysteries, there are a lot of characters, and I found a couple of them to blend into one another. At the same time I found others to be unique enough that they were memorable throughout the story.

The subplot about the history of Stone Point and the myth of the Stone Witch had me intrigued and wanting to know even more about this part of the story. This is only a short part of Last One Alive and I would have liked to see it fleshed out more. I found this subplot to be more entertaining than the main plot, as it felt like the main plot lacked originality and zest. Last One Alive is an atmospheric novel and readers who enjoy books written by Ruth Ware and Lucy Foley will appreciate this one.

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

Book Review: The Flooded Earth by Mardi McConnochie

By Christine McFaul

The Flooded Earth is an award-winning cli-fi (climate fiction) novel by Mardi McConnochie. It is the first book in her trilogy that also includes The Castle in the Sea and The Skeleton Coast.

Set in a dystopian future still reeling from the effects of a catastrophic flood, a sharp and arbitrary line has been drawn between places in the world where extensive money and effort have been made to restore people back to a prosperous life and those places where it has not. The story follows twin protagonists, Will and Annalie, who live in slums on the side of the line where people have been left to dredge whatever life they can out of the soggy ruins left behind by cataclysmic climate change.

Will, an avid sailor and tinkerer, remains in their home while the bright and bookish Annalie has just moved away to attend a prestigious private school in one of the most beautiful cities in their country. For the first time, there is friction between the siblings. Will is rankled by how easily his sister abandoned their life and family for a snobby school. While, unbeknownst to Will, Annalie is struggling to fit in amongst her privileged peers who have no idea what life is like outside their perfectly insulated world.

However, when their father goes missing under mysterious circumstances, the twins are set on a course back to one other. With only the family boat and a code hidden in one of Annalie’s old novels to guide them, the two embark on a perilous adventure to discover their father’s secrets and, ultimately, try to save him. Soon they find themselves battling extreme weather, modern-day pirates, and all manner of technical difficulties while trying to stay one step ahead of the corrupt Admiralty (the naval branch of the military that seized power during the floods and refuses to give it up).

Like all great adventure stories, The Flooded Earth is plot-y and fast-paced. It starts off at a sprint and never slows down, creating a literary race-to-the finish. The world-building is well-executed, suggesting an eerily possible version of a dystopian future, with just the right amount of tech advances to enhance, rather than impede, the plotting. Despite its fast pace, the story is anchored (pun very much intended!) within themes that are sure to strike a chord with its contemporary readership, exploring issues that range from environmental impact to inequality, refugees, and corruption. The narrative is written in 3rd person point of view that toggles between Will and Annalise but also chooses strategic moments to enter the thoughts and feelings of key characters along the way. The overall effect is a story that feels strong and determined but not yet cynical. 

The Flooded Earth is a tale that is both whimsical and strange, contemporary, and new. A unique read for the upper middle-grade reader (9-12). Sure to suck them in and keep them absorbed until the very last word.

Thank you, Pajama Press, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Enough Light for the Next Step by Annie Wenger-Nabigon

By Caprice Hogg

This beautifully written memoir describes a love story and demonstrates how two people from dramatically different upbringings, cultures, and spiritual beliefs can come together and share a profoundly happy life. For ten years, Annie was married to her husband Herb when he suddenly passed away. She describes her journey through grief and gives us a personal account of their deep relationship. She left her Mennonite roots in the United States and moved to Northern Ontario to be with her husband. The author gives us a glance into her life with an Oji-Cree man, absorbing his way of life, his spirituality, and his profound teachings. We get a glimpse from the outside, looking in on a world not available to most of us. This gives us a sense of how we can incorporate these ancient Indigenous teachings into our own lives.

I was originally drawn to this book as I have been through my own deep grief. Annie gives her perspective on how to navigate these troubled times when it seems impossible for life to go on without your loved one by your side. She talks openly about grief but also balances the pain of the absence of her husband by sharing the joy that she carries within her from the years they had together. She writes of the Spirit of Indigenous teachings that give strength, encouragement, and hope. She shares the ancient wisdom that she learned from her husband.

The author also gives a personal account of growing up as a young, white Mennonite girl in a strict family. She continues to work on dissolving what she calls “The Suppression of Happiness Disorder”. Her upbringing dramatically differed from her husband’s as he went to residential schools in Canada. While she does not go into great details about the atrocities he experienced, she does tell stories from his childhood and how he grew up with problems of addiction and anger. Herb referred to the negative aspects of his personality as “rascals”, and Annie writes about how he was able to acknowledge and deal with these “rascals”. By using the traditional wisdom of the Anishinaabe, Herb was able to overcome his addictions and spent his life teaching, writing and travelling around the world, sharing his wisdom, and helping others.

This book not only tells the life story of Annie’s incredible journey but also honours and cherishes the life of her husband. It is a wealth of information and knowledge that is respectfully passed on to those who read it and hopefully benefit from the teachings. For me, this one line describes the book perfectly:

“Following Herb’s death, my personal goal of writing about the things Herb had wanted to put in his second book, which we’d been unable to complete, has been a guiding light for me. It has been a way for me to continue the conversation with him and hold closely the treasure of his wisdom.”

Thanks to Latitude 46 Publishing for the complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

By Carly Smith

Lighthearted yet contemplative, Ghosts should most certainly be bumped higher in your To Be Read stack. Dolly Alderton has created the perfect book to add to your overnight bag for a weekend at the cottage, or pack in your carry-on tote for some downtime during a work trip. In Ghosts, Nina George Dean chronicles a year in her life—from age 32 to 33—touching on family, friends, and romance. There is a lot happening in Nina’s life, but no single event stands out or exhausts her energy more than another. She is settling into her career writing books about food, living in a house-turned-apartment building where she is constantly bothered by her downstairs neighbour, and navigating a stressful and ongoing family situation. Among the ins and outs of these daily circumstances, she also is trying to find romantic love and maintain old and new friendships.

Ghosts takes place in present day London, England. Alderton frequently drops names of neighbourhoods and landmarks to keep local readers feeling a sense of familiarity and not-so-local readers fantasizing about the foreign metropolis. Nina enjoys her London life and cannot see herself elsewhere. She is a loyal friend, introspective and at times petty, and values relationships and quality time with her loved ones. Alderton carefully creates a main character who is not perfect, and it’s a breath of fresh air. Aside from Nina, several other noteworthy characters weave in and out of the smoothly paced chapters including her friend Lola, love interest Max, and Nina’s mom. Lola is a loveable, bright, spirited woman. A good friend and charming acquaintance, Lola complements Nina’s social awkwardness and nonchalance. Max is Nina’s first go at online dating. He is intense and mysterious. Sometimes he seems like exactly what Nina needs in a partner, and other times he comes across as someone she should have immediately swiped left on. Nina’s mom, Mandy—or Nancy—is too preoccupied with her own hobbies to dedicate sufficient attention to her ailing husband. She brings out the pragmatism in Nina, adding a depth to the protagonist that makes her even more relatable.

The themes in Ghosts, including love, friendship, and family, intertwine gracefully to create a narrative which at times ignites nostalgia in readers, and at other times provokes a desire to consider the future. Alderton makes her readers feel a breadth of emotions without delving too deeply into a particular one. This book is suitable for anyone seeking a casual read. It is a fantastic option if you’re between heavier books, or if you are looking for something not too serious or time consuming. Although quite carefree, Ghosts will manage to haunt you in ways you may have forgotten you could be moved.

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

Book Review: Umboi Island by J.J. Dupuis

By Kaylie Seed

Umboi Island is the third installment of the Creature X Mysteries series. Readers are reacquainted with Laura Reagan, host of the show Creature X, as she decides to head to Papua New Guinea with her team. Laura and her team are attempting to track down a pterosaur called a Ropen, that supposedly survived extinction. As with the two previous novels in this series, a body shows up—but this time it is someone from the team's past. Similar to the other novels in this series, it is a whodunit plot but this time with a “locked door” element, as Laura and her team are stuck on an island with a murderer. 

Laura's character development takes a different turn in this third novel. While in the past two books she came across as a team player, in Umboi Island she is beginning to take risks that could hurt her team because she is hungry to solve mysteries. Despite the shift in Laura’s  character arc, readers will still enjoy her story. There are numerous secondary characters, and much like the other two novels the characters feel underdeveloped and cramped. If there were a smaller cast of secondary characters it would be easier for the reader to remember who is who, and also give the opportunity for the characters to shine in their own right.

Readers may be expecting more cryptozoology throughout this series but it’s a tad underwhelming in that aspect. Meant to be read as more of a mystery, the Creature X Mysteries series consists of human interactions through mysteries rather than people searching for cryptids. Dupuis does a fantastic job at describing the surroundings in Umboi Island and throughout the entire series. Readers may go into this series thinking there is more cryptozoology than there actually is; instead, they will be met with a series of mysteries of the human kind.

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

Book Review: Son of Elsewhere by Elamin Abdelmahmoud

By Larissa Page

Despite Elamin Abdelmahmoud being a culture journalist for Buzzfeed and part of CBC programming such as the Pop Chat and Party Lines podcasts, I was not familiar with him before receiving this memoir to read. The description pulled me in though, specifically because I love a memoir that gives me an education into a different type of life than I’ve lived, as well as giving me insight into a person’s growth and experiences. Son of Elsewhere gave me all those things and more. I was a little unsure at first whether I’d be as drawn in to the memoir-in-essays style of writing but I absolutely was.

Abdelmahmoud was born and raised in Sudan before immigrating to Canada with his family when he was a preteen. They decided to settle in Kingston, Ontario, which he claims in the opening of this book to be the whitest city in Canada, which means he had to come to terms with his Blackness (skin colour wasn’t something he’d considered about himself before then). This memoir explores how he adapted to Canadian life as a Black person, as an immigrant who initially spoke no English, and as a Muslim, and how he grew into an adult who was both Sudanese and Canadian.

He uses his essays to tell us about different parts of his life, not in chronological order, along with some history and background on different parts of Sudanese culture and the immigrant experience. The stories from his life are funny and also heartbreaking; some involve longing and some love. I felt the full range of emotions while reading this memoir and I didn’t have any trouble picking the book back up and continuing my journey through it.

I personally found I related to the stories much more than I expected to. I am not Black, I am not an immigrant, and English is my only language—but I was a preteen in Canada at the same time as Elamin, which means we shared experiences with the things that were popular at the time. I found this so interesting, seeing the parts of my experiences and his that are similar even though our life stories are so vastly different.

Abdelmahmoud’s writing is funny; I chuckled at his stories multiple times. His writing is also full of emotion. When reading about his mother, his love for his wife, and his longing for his family he left behind in Sudan, I often had tears in my eyes. The stories he writes are real and meaningful and important to share. They are accessible for people who share the same types of experiences, and more importantly, those who don’t.

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

Book Review: Like Animals by Eve Lemieux

By Carolina Moriello

Content warning: sex, drugs, addiction, suicide, death, depression 

 “Dark and violent but with a touch of vulnerability that shines with hope.”  

Set in Montréal, Like Animals by Eve Lemieux tells the sad and complicated story of Philomena “Philly” Flynn. Philly self-destructs after having her heart broken and tries to fill the void and escape the pain with drugs, alcohol, and lots of sex. However, the more Philly tries to escape the pain, the worse it gets. In addition to this, her father becomes very ill and her relationship with her mother is as distant and rocky as ever. It feels as though Philly’s life is spiralling out of control, and the only way to stop it is to escape it all together.

It is difficult not to get frustrated with Philly and her destructive tendencies. The story almost reads like a vicious cycle of happiness, pain, numbness, and rock bottom, over and over again. As frustrating as it is, this story is a good reminder that sometimes people cannot be saved until they are ready to save themselves. Such is the case with Philly. She is a masochist at heart, who finds comfort living in the past. Any time things appear to go well in her life, she believes she is undeserving, and finds a way to ruin it and enter her cycle of pain once again. The ending of the story does send a clear message to the reader though, that no matter how hard things get, there is always hope for a better future if you believe in yourself and your self-worth.

If you are looking for an easy read, this is not the book for you. Eve Lemieux wrote a story that is heartbreaking it reads like poetry at times. There were moments when the book became so dark and heavy that breaks had to be taken. When Philly hits absolute rock bottom, the pain is felt so deeply within the pages that it is hard not to become emotional or empathetic to her pain. If you read this book, proceed with caution and be aware of the trigger warnings.

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

Book Review: Crescent Lake by J.J. Dupuis

By Kaylie Seed

The second installment of J.J. Dupuis’s Creature X Mysteries takes readers on another adventure with Laura Reagan, who is now hosting a cryptozoology documentary called Creature X. Readers will follow Laura as she travels to Newfoundland, Canada, in search of a giant eel named Cressie that supposedly stalks Lake Crescent. While shooting the documentary, Laura and her team end up dredging a body up from the depths of Lake Crescent, and while the cold case unfolds in front of them, secrets once buried begin coming to the surface.

Laura’s characterization flows nicely from Roanoke Ridge into this second installment. The reader is able to see that she has grown as a character and continues to be interesting, with room to grow. On the flip side, the number of secondary characters can feel overwhelming, and the reader may find them hard to keep track of because they lack uniqueness. The setting moves around a lot as the characters boat, walk, or drive, which is a distraction from the overall plot rather than an added dimension. Dupuis’s love of nature is present yet again throughout Lake Crescent, and his descriptions of the landscape are vivid, making them easy to imagine in the reader’s mind.

While the book is labeled as science fiction, the story is more of an adventure mystery filled with a number of subplots that weave in and out of the main plot. It can be a little difficult at times to follow all of the subplots, and there is also the history of Cressie throughout the story, so it can feel like there is a lot going on at. The prose at times was dry, especially when action scenes came around, and there was a lack of urgency when the plot demanded a more commanding presence. While this is the second book in the Creature X Mysteries series, readers can pick this one up without having to read the first. Readers who enjoy the outdoors, cryptozoology, and mysteries will likely enjoy this novel.

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

Book Review: Every Summer After by Carley Fortune

By Hayley Platt

Every Summer After is Canadian author Carley Fortune’s debut novel, which was published May 10, 2022. This love story, told through six summers in the past and one eventful weekend in the present, takes readers to the heart of summers in a small Ontario cottage town, an experience many will easily connect with.

Persephone “Percy” Fraser is 13 when her parents surprise her by purchasing a summer property in Barry’s Bay and let her know that is where they will be spending their summers moving forward. Her first day there she heads down to the dock and meets the teen brothers next door, Charlie and Sam Florek, who are year-round residents in the sleepy town 

Everyone should pick up a debut Canadian novel this season, and Every Summer After is the perfect choice.

The setting of this book is extremely relatable for central Ontario cottagers. Percy’s family lives in Toronto, so Fortune was able to write from the familiar perspective of a teen who is headed to the cottage for the summer. There are many small towns in Ontario whose populations multiply in the summer months, and the experiences of both the summer-only and the year-round residents is spot on. Jumping off the dock, driving into town, and saying goodbye for ten months at a time perfectly wrap up the feeling of summer at a cottage.

In her later teen years, it is fascinating to see Percy realize that she knows Sam’s summer self really well but knows less about who he is the other ten months of the year. There is something really special about youthful summer friendships, and Sam and Percy’s builds in an attention-grabbing fashion that keeps readers glued to their books as the story progresses.

This romance is unique in that the reader gets to see the development of Percy and Sam’s relationship in both their teen years (ages 13–18) as well as the intricacies of an adult relationship in the present day sections. The long term effects of decisions they make when they are teenagers are investigated and grappled with in their adult lives.  Watching the relationship build in this way draws the reader into the heart of the story and keeps them rooting for the happily ever after that we all know and love.

Fortune has beautifully captured the summer magic that ties people together and can continue to exist many years down the road.

This book is recommended for people looking for a delightful summer read, especially those wanting to experience hitting the highway on Friday after work for a weekend on the dock. It is the perfect summer read.

Thank you so much to Penguin Random House Canada for the complimentary copy of Every Summer After in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Wonderful Babies by Emily Winfield Martin

By Carly Smith

Wonderful Babies describes the delightful and marvellous attributes of the little bundles of joy we call babies. Through simple illustration and text, Martin showcases different characteristics of babies, creating a relatable and empowering book for young readers. This sweet and charming book is the perfect way to start or end baby’s day and is a great excuse to stretch out cuddle time with your loved one.

In Wonderful Babies, little ones will undoubtedly resonate with the babies they see and read about; Martin exposes her audience to babies with a variety of emotions and interests. She writes with commonly used vocabulary to capture the ears of little ones and includes illustrations that have just the right amount of detail to complement the text while also offering opportunities for further discussion.

The text is formatted strategically—each page has two words; the second word is always “baby” and the first word is always the descriptor. The descriptor, perhaps surprisingly, is not always an adjective. Martin uses high-frequency words like “grumpy,” “sleepy,” and “wild” to precede “baby,” but sometimes she chooses nouns to describe the baby, like “bunny” and “balloon.” Typically, I am turned off by oversimplified wording and grammar; I am a firm believer that babies can and should be exposed to complete sentences and proper syntax. However, in this case, terms like “bunny baby” and “two baby” add to the charm and playfulness of the book, and also set the ground for questions that will elicit critical thinking.

Another aspect of the book I am particularly drawn to is its honesty. The word “wonderful” often provokes a feeling of positivity, and Martin describes babies in ways that may not always be interpreted as positive (e.g., shy, messy, grumpy). I appreciate Martin’s decision to include these terms because it creates authenticity by reminding readers that babies are wonderful all the time, and not just when they are joyful. Furthermore, it reinforces to little ones that emotions and characteristics that so often have a negative connotation are acceptable and embraceable. Ultimately, Martin does a great job at avoiding toxic positivity.

Finally, I enjoyed the illustrations. Plain, yet adequately detailed, they highlight diversity—the babies we see are different races and have varying physical attributes. The illustrations are softly coloured, unlike many other baby books which overuse bright colours and perhaps, as a result, are somewhat overstimulating.

Wonderful Babies is a lovely book to keep in your household library. From eye-catching illustrations to captivating text, this perfectly sized board book is sure to grab your little one’s attention.

Thank you to Random House Children’s Books for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Roanoke Ridge by J.J. Dupuis

By Kayie Seed

The first in the Creature X Mystery series, Roanoke Ridge, follows scientist and Bigfoot skeptic Laura Reagan as she attempts to help find Berton Sorel, one of her former professors, after he goes missing while hiking in Roanoke Ridge, Oregon. When the discovery of a body that does not belong to Berton is found, Laura begins to question her skepticism on cryptids and feels compelled to uncover the secrets surrounding Roanoke Ridge.

Roanoke Ridge is a mystery mixed with crime and cryptozoology, and while it may seem like this would be an action-packed story, it is not. The plot is quite slow which can leave the reader wondering where all the action is, especially since the beginning of the novel starts out with an action-packed scene. The main characters lack depth, and I was hoping for more descriptions about them to really paint a picture in my head of who they are. While the characterization is somewhat lacking, Dupuis is heavy on the setting, with vivid descriptions that show his appreciation for the natural world. I found myself having to look up a lot of the science jargon;  readers who are not familiar with scientific words, terms, and phrases may find themselves doing the same thing.

There aren’t a lot of themes present, but the ability to challenge your personal beliefs is the one theme that runs throughout the entire story. Being able to challenge your own beliefs is what makes you a critical thinker, and it was nice to see this in a novel; it shows the reader that there is room to grow as a person. While the story and its twists are a bit predictable overall, those readers looking for a novel that is heavy on nature will appreciate Roanoke Ridge. I am looking forward to reading and reviewing the next two books in the Creature X Mystery series as they follow Laura’s search for more cryptids from around the world.

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

Book Review: Some of My Best Friends by Tajja Isen

By Lauren Bell

Some of My Best Friends by Tajja Isen is collection of nine essays on her views and experiences about the prevalence and uselessness of lip service in current society. Her work is a critique of the language we use and how we use it, raising such points as the watering down of words like anti-racism and diversity. Her background in law allows her to examine the ways language is used in legal reasoning and policies, which show exactly how insidiously language can be used against us.

Some of My Best Friends is best summarized by Isen herself:

Certain establishments have always said what they think the public wants to hear, whether for profit or cachet. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this dynamic is predominantly how I—and, I’d venture, most people—have long interacted with the institutions that shape my life: they let us down and promise and we adapt, then they apologize for letting us down and promise to fix things; then they break their promises shortly afterward or never act on them at all. This book is about how we live, and what we demand, amid such token apologies and promises.

 Isen emphasizes that actions speak louder than words and calls out the many Band-Aid fix apologies that have been inherent in society for far too long. She’s exceptionally well-versed in pop culture and the many examples of injustices (mostly from 2016 to present) that she presents demonstrate her cultural awareness and show how much more work Canada and the United States need to be doing in terms of creating equity. Most writers could follow her example in dedication to representation; she predominantly bases her work on her own experiences and the experiences of other BIPOC individuals.

 A few of my favourite essays from Some of My Friends are “Hearing Voices” in which she introduces the complicated world of voice acting. In “Tiny White People,” I completely agree with her views on the bland options of high school novel studies. In “This Time It’s Personal,” Isen discusses the nuances of identity, and the pressure that creatives face to focus their work on their pain.

 Aside from her intellect, the other defining quality to Isen’s writing is her wit, which complements her “No BS” attitude. At one point, she reflects on a piece of work she wrote in 2016, asking “Who is she? What’s her problem, where the hell is her sense of humor?” Tajja, I promise you, you’ve found it.

Writing this review is where I realized how impactful her work was. Words, as Isen has shown, are powerful, and I wanted to pick the right ones in this review to adequately encapsulate the depth of this book. Language is powerful, and how we use it is powerful. In that sense, Some of My Best Friends is powerful too, and if that doesn’t justify adding it to your reading list, I don’t know what will.

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

Book Review: The Darkness in the Light by Daniel Kalla

By Erica Wiggins

Content warning: suicide, drug use, mental health concerns, sexual assault

The Darkness in the Light is the latest novel from international bestselling author Daniel Kalla. Kalla is a practicing emergency medicine physician from Vancouver, British Columbia. He uses his medical background and experiences to write authentic fiction about current world issues. I have been reading Kalla’s novels for years. They are thoughtful, insightful, and I always walk away feeling like I am more educated on the book’s topic than when I began. 

The Darkness in the Light begins in part one with Dr. David Spears, a psychiatrist. Spears lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and is living and working through the COVID-19 pandemic. He has been conducting his counselling online with local patients, but also with several in remote locations. Spears’s patients start dying by suicide, and with the most recent loss of his patient Brianna O’Brien, he begins to question what is happening and how he could be missing the signs. Twice a year, he heads to the remote community of Utgiagvik to check on his patients in person. The timing could not be better; one of Brianna’s friends is showing signs of crisis. When Spears arrives, Amka is missing, and he is determined to find out what has happened to her. These patients have all been prescribed a new antidepressant—could this be the problem, or is it something more sinister? Spears begins working with Taylor, the local social worker, along with police and the local doctor to find Amka. In part two, we switch to Taylor’s perspective. As the investigation continues, we are left to wonder who to trust and what is happening in this small remote community.

This book was incredible. I am in awe of the way this author writes about real-life issues in such a caring and compassionate way. Kalla paints a picture of the new remote world we are living in and shines a light on depression, anxiety, and the constraints of treating patients through the pandemic. I was immediately drawn into this story and read it one sitting. It reads like nonfiction. I love David’s character. I love that he is struggling with his own mental health concerns and is working through them to continue helping others.

This author is special and writes from a place of experience. I have never read anything quite like his stories. They are relevant, compelling, and utterly heartbreaking. The Darkness in the Light was hard to read at times. I felt such grief and sadness for the characters in this story. It can feel like the topics in this story can sometimes be ignored and are only amplified in these small remote communities. It has twists and turns that had me saying “WHAT?” out loud. It had everything that I was looking for and is a story that will linger with me.  

As you can tell, I loved this story and would give it an easy five stars. I would highly recommend it if you love medical mysteries/thrillers. Please be mindful of the content warnings and proceed with caution.

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

Book Review: Gigglepuss by Carlie Blume

By Fayth Simmons

Content warning: reference to sexual misconduct/assault

Gigglepuss, the debut poetry collection of Canadian author Carlie Blume, works to contrive of an adulthood shaped by the past traumas of a checkered youth. Nostalgia features prominently within Blume’s collection, but personal events are recounted as if through an objective lens rather than an inherently subjective and individualized one, being pulled as they are from the author’s childhood. Patriarchal norms are challenged from a vantage point of dynamic youth, and Blume highlights her experiences in a way that projects the truth of them upon the reader without vitiating such truth with the addition of emotional influence. Heavy themes are ruminated upon, such as femininity, sexual abuse, capitalism, environmental destruction, and self-identity and worth in the face of past traumas. Blume explores these topics with simplistic and sharp narration; the description, though lucid and expressive, is arguably distant, despite the emotional potency of the overarching themes.

Blume has a clear and convincing voice, and is not remorseful or overly melancholic in her use of language. It is perhaps for this reason that her poetry is effective in its communication of loss and equally of love. Because poetry is such a subjective genre, it can be difficult to quantify the measure of a collection’s success, but in Gigglepuss, the messaging is not lost to abstraction—it is vivid in its imagery, and evocative in the author’s re-working of a present identity from past images. As Blume comes to terms with multifarious familial and social dynamics and reflects on innate values of youth, she perhaps begins to compose a working understanding of the events that have precipitated her rise to adulthood and parenthood, and her attitude towards them. As a result, her collection is vibrant and layered in its realistic depiction of the female experience, and functions as an ode to self-awareness and actualization atop historical and cultural inhibitions.

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

Book Review: The Grave Thief by Dee Hahn

By Meghan Mazzaferro

Content warning: violence, grief, death, death of a child

In Dee Hahn’s world of magic stones and cursed monsters, where jewels are a currency you can bring with you when you die, Spade’s family steals from the dead. This arrangement works for Spade; born with a limp, and part of a community looked down on by the people of Wyndhail, being alone in a graveyard is the only time Spade doesn’t feel less than. But when his father comes up with a ridiculous plan to rob a royal grave, things go a little sideways. To save his brother, Spade must use his thieving skills to steal a legendary Deepstone for the queen herself. This gem is supposed to control the Woegan, a deadly creature that hunts each night. With the help of the princess Ember, Spade must unlock the secrets of the Deepstones and solve a puzzle that has been generations in the making.

The Grave Thief’s cover sets the tone for this book perfectly: a spooky middle grade novel filled with mystery, whimsy, and monsters. There’s something magical about middle grade fantasies, and The Grave Thief is an excellent example of a story with a premise that is both simple and creative, the plot moving in ways I couldn’t have predicted, and which filled me with equal parts delight and unease. I feel like the premise is fresh and fun—a grave thief forced to use his talents to fight a monster in the name of the queen. The characters and villain of this story are unique and help keep things fresh and exciting at every turn.

Spade is an excellent main character to go on this journey with; his perspective highlights the flaws of both the Joolies and the royalty, and the magic and mysteries of this story call to him—and through him, to the reader. Every character is well fleshed out, from Spade’s friend Ember, the spoiled princess eager to prove herself, to his little brother and driving motivation, to the queen, a cruel, enigmatic figure. Even the side characters leap off the page and give the story a vividness and voice that helps elevate the somewhat simple plot.

I say simple, but the story is perfect for a middle grade reader. Spade’s tasks are quick and easy to follow, and the quest for the Deepstones and fight against the Woegan are well-paced and exciting. Things are never slow, and there is always something that Spade is uncovering or stealing in this book. But the plot is deceptive, because while the narrative is relatively uncomplicated, this book deals with some darker subject matter in a very eloquent way. Spade’s journey to accept his physical disability, Ember’s fight to be seen as an equal, and even the queen’s struggles with grief and loss are crucial to the development and resolution of this story.

I found The Grave Thief original, quick, fun, and deeper than I was expecting. I think there is something in this book for middle grade readers, and fans of middle grade fantasy no matter their age. The story has a lot of heart, plenty of magic, a great message, and just enough fright to keep you on the edge of your seat.

 Thank you to Penguin Random House for providing a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Good for Your Gut by Desiree Nielsen

By Carly Smith

Good for Your Gut is a book that tackles gut health from every angle. In the first part of this comprehensive read, Desiree Nielsen shares her knowledge and expertise on the digestive system and discusses the ways in which the entire body reaps the benefits of a healthy gut. Nielsen narrows in on the different components of the digestive system, explaining how each part—from chewing food to having a bowel movement—is connected to our overall health and well-being. She covers topics that commonly arise with gut health, like the use of probiotics and the low FODMAP diet, and offers her well-researched opinions on them. She touches on individual ingredients, supplements, and body movements to create a well-rounded, holistic approach to understanding our digestive systems.

The second part of Good for Your Gut is a cookbook. Nielsen’s recipes are divided into six categories including, but not limited to, heartier meals, snacks and sides, and baking and sweets. Each recipe is labeled as heal, protect, or soothe to further assist readers in identifying how the recipe will help their gut. There is also a small section with meal plans, and the book includes a thorough index for quick referencing.

The formatting of Good for Your Gut makes it very readable. Even with an abundance of information, the book is neither intimidating nor hard to digest. Topics are categorized appropriately, and chapters transition smoothly from one to the next. In the cookbook portion of this read, each recipe comes with a list of ingredients, a set of instructions, a description of the food, and a rundown of how the food fits into certain diets (e.g., gluten-free, nut-free, low FODMAP). All of the recipes are plant-based. Some recipes also include tips and notes to help readers maximize their enjoyment and understanding of their creation. It should be noted that the recipes do not include a traditional nutritional breakdown listing calories, fat content, sugar content, protein content, etc. I appreciated that these were omitted from the recipes because nutritional information is so much more than a label with grams and percentages; the choice not to include them reinforces Nielsen’s idea that gut health requires a lifestyle change rather than a specific diet that can be forgotten about after a short period of time.

Not only does Good for Your Gut provide an extensive look at our guts and their role in the body, but it also offers easy-to-follow recipes. With information backed up by reputable sources, this book broadened my understanding of my food/body/mind relationship and what I need to stop and continue doing in order to build better gut health. This book isn’t just suitable for folks with digestive problems or conditions like SIBO and IBD. It’s suitable for anyone looking to learn more about health and more specifically, food’s role in our health.

Thanks to Penguin Canada for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: When We Lost Our Heads by Heather O'Neill

By Melissa Khan

Content Warnings: Sexual assault, Murder, Abortion

When Marie Antoine and Sadie Arnett first meet as young girls, they are instantly drawn into and repelled by each other. Marie is a privileged heiress, beautiful and fair-haired, comforted by the knowledge that she will one day inherit her family’s sugar factory. Sadie, by contrast, is dark-haired and striking, neglected by her family who are masquerading as one of the wealthy families in the Golden Mile neighbourhood. Both are wicked and aloof and find the other impossible to resist.

When an accidental murder takes place, Sadie is sent away and the friendship between the two girls is irrevocably changed. For years the two girls are separated until they are reunited as young women. Now, Marie must rise to the challenge of running her family’s sugar empire, and Sadie must learn to survive as an artist amongst the working class of Montreal. 

From the start, Marie and Sadie’s relationship is intoxicating and draws the reader in completely. They are so similar in their cold demeanours, both judging those around them and relishing their influence. It was so refreshing to see young women allowed to be ugly. Sadie’s violent tendency towards animals, for example, was alarming and brilliantly depicted her abusive family life. I wish we’d gotten to explore how this behaviour manifested in her as an adult. We see a little of how Sadie interacts with her parents after her return home, but nothing after she finds success.

I never knew what to expect next, which had me turning pages frantically to find out. The time while Sadie and Marie were apart felt drawn out, but it was important for developing their characters separately. Marie’s callousness towards the women in her factory is a complete reversal of the idealistic child who wanted to treat her workers with sweetness. Sadie’s liberation from her family allowed her to finally explore her sexuality and lean into her chosen form of artistic expression.

Towards the end of the novel, the story begins to take twists and turns that, looking back, were set up in the most subtle of ways. There is also an interesting writing style that I would consider more tell than show. We are told information about the characters plainly, which emphasizes the bluntness found within Marie and Sadie, who are not very likeable. I found it hard to connect with either character or feel much sympathy for their hardships as their stories progressed. 

This novel sends a strong message about femininity and the power of women, regardless of how they choose to use it. One of the best parts of this novel is how unapologetically female-driven it is. There is so much to unpack and sparks an excellent discussion about gender, sexuality, classism, and friendship. It encourages readers to think outside the box of the traditional “strong female character” and provides space for women to exist as people first. 

Thank you, Harper Collins Canada, for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: The Foundling by Ann Leary

By Kaylie Seed

Content Warning: child sexual abuse, language

Author Ann Leary’s newest novel, The Foundling, follows eighteen-year-old Mary Engle as she works under Dr. Anges Vogel, an accomplished woman psychiatrist who runs Nettleton State Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age. Mary is keen to make a good impression and quickly wins over Dr. Vogel’s trust, but at the same time, Mary discovers that one of the young women at Nettleton may not actually belong there. This leads Mary to discover that the Village isn’t as wonderful as it seems. Inspired by her grandmother and real-life events, The Foundling is meant to show readers a glimpse into the past and how dark this period in history was towards women in asylums.

I found the characters to be interesting, and it is clear to the reader that Leary had done her research when it came to language, clothing, events, beliefs, and mannerisms found in the early 20th century. As this is historical fiction, Leary stayed true to this era which gave The Foundling even more of an authentic feel. Mary was a delightful character to follow throughout, and I found her extremely likeable and believable. There were definitely elements of a coming-of-age story to The Foundling as the reader could see Mary blossom into a strong young woman as the story came to an end.

Leary’s prose was a big reason why I enjoyed this novel. While at times, I felt that the story was lacking, Leary still managed to capture the reader’s attention through beautiful storytelling. I was expecting a darker story, and even though there were dark elements, Leary could’ve gone further in some parts.

The premise had me wanting to know more, and while the beginning of the novel moved quickly, when I read to the third-waypoint, there was a disconnect in the plot. It took a while for the plot to get moving again, but once it did, I became invested in the remainder of the novel. There were some redundant plot points that did not add to the overall story and felt like forced add-ons simply because of the prohibition era that was happening at the same time. I was expecting more regarding the history of the fictional Nettleton State Village for Feebleminded Women of Childbearing Age. Leary could have gone into more depth with the historical contexts of asylums, especially eugenics which was brought up throughout the novel. That being said, it was a lovely piece of historical fiction with a dash of romance and coming-of-age elements.

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