Picture Books
Muhammad's Recipe for Remembering (September), by Maidah Ahmad, illustrated by Shruti Prabhu, is a moving picture book highlighting a young Muslim boy’s efforts to rediscover his family’s history in the World Wars. Reminiscent of moonlight tales told by African aunties, mothers and grandmothers to children on special nights, The Twins That Saved Izonbele (November), by Michael Afenfia, illustrated by Ijeoma Ossi, is a thrilling picture book about courage, language and the power of togetherness. And from award-winning creator Monica Arnaldo comes The Museum of Very Bad Smells (July), a hilarious and interactive mystery about a robbery at said museum, with five stinky scratch elements in this hilarious picture book that encourages kids to scratch, smell, and—of course—pass it along to a friend.
Mac Barnett and Sydney Smith (dream) team up for an unforgettable celebration of Christmas in Santa's First Christmas (October). Playfully following a day in the life of three indoor cats, author-illustrator Ashley Barron’s vibrant paper collage illustrations in Three City Kitties (September) offer lots to explore on every page. And an entertaining and educational story that celebrates wildlife rehabilitation, female entrepreneurship, and community-building, She is Hope for Wildlife (October), by Wanda Baxter, illustrated by Leah Boudreau, is the perfect read for the young animal lovers in your life.
From M. Wylie Blanchet, the author of the bestselling Canadian classic, The Curve of Time, comes A Whale Named Henry (October), illustrated by Jacqueline M. Mathews, a story for children about a young headstrong orca whose recklessness lands him in a series of misadventures along the coast of British Columbia. Mandeep's Cloudy Days (September), by Kuljinder Kaur Brar, illustrated by Samrath Kaur, is a beautiful picture book exploring how to cope with difficult and complex emotions when we’re away from the people we love. And Lana Button’s First Ones on the Ice (November), with illustrations by Alex MacAskill, is a gentle winter story about a brother and sister and the simple beauty of their neighbourhood outdoor rink, inspired by the author's hometown of St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
Leonarda Carranza, the award-winning author of Abuelita and Me explores the power of language in Fighting Words (September), illustrated by Erika Medina, an energetic, imaginative picture book that takes readers on a wild word chase. Shoshana Chaim follows up I Am a Peaceful Goldfish with another picture book about mindfulness, I am a Courageous Cub (September), illustrated by Lori Joy Smith. And a multigenerational story of immigration, racism, and what it truly means to belong, I, Too, Am Here (September), by Morgan Christie, illustrated by Marley Berot, is inspired by Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too.”
What’s in Alanna’s Secret Sauce? (October), by Sarah Jane Conklin, illustrated by Venus Angelica, is a delightful tale of community and sharing, with just a dash of magic for all to enjoy, but here's a warning: Do not read while hungry. In Kokum’s Miigisag (November), by Jackie Corbet, illustrated by Charles Hebert, a young girl watches her kokum, an expert beader, do beadwork, and decides to give it a try but she soon discovers beading is hard work—will she give up or keep persisting? And from Brianna Corr Scott, celebrated creator of Mermaid Lullaby, comes Seaside Lullaby: A Counting Book (September) another gentle, soothing baby board book for bedtime reading.
Yours, Befana: A Letter from the Winter Witch (September), by Barbara Cuoghi, illustrated by Elenia Beretta, translated by Genni Gunn, is the perfect holiday read about a remarkable character from Italian folklore. With Loop de Loop: Circular Solutions for a Waste-Free World (September), by Andrea Curtis, illustrated by Roozeboos, explore the ways that people everywhere are creating a loopier world: from growing building materials out of fungi to designing headphones (and cellphones!) that last, to producing vehicles that run on renewable energy. Award-winning storyteller and poet Joseph Dandurand captures the delightful relationship between bears and the Kwantlen people in his fourth book for children, The Bears and the Magic Masks (October), illustrated by Elinor Atkins. And The Weedflower (August), by Elizabeth Davaze, illustrated by Marianne Ferrer, is a modern schoolyard fable about nature’s magical ability to encourage imagination, play, and joy—and a dandelion’s ability to always grow back.
An enterprising rat discovers the joy of being true to himself in Squirrel-ish (September), by Bambi Edlund. Discover the joy and vibrancy of the Métis culture from a child’s perspective in I Am Métis (September), by Karen Hourie Ellefson, illustrated by Leah Dorion. J. F. Fox tells the strange and intriguing story of how the Persians used cats to help them win the Battle of Pelusium in The Pharaoh vs. the Felines (October), illustrated by Anna Quan. And when Moonbeam starts to have nightmares, her friends introduce her to the Medicine Man who gives her a helpful gift in Moonbeam Meets the Medicine Man (November), by Gail Francis, illustrated by Emma Hassencahl-Perley.
Brave and brilliant, a Holocaust survivor, a physicist, and an engineer at a time when women were not welcome in academics, Ursula Franklin was also a caring mother, as her daughter Monica Franklin shows in the stories in Undaunted Ursula Franklin (September). Indigenous artist and storyteller Andrea Fritz tells a tale of a greedy raven and the little deer who makes sure they both have enough food for the winter in Raven Gets Tricked (September). And the third book in the “Sounds of Nature” series, I Hear You, Mountains (September), by Kallie George, illustrated by Carmen Mok, is an excellent resource for outdoor education and social-emotional learning,
A child’s stargazing excursion turns into an interstellar journey to explore faraway planets in I Wonder About Worlds: Discovering Planets and Exoplanets (October), by James Gladstone, illustrated by Yaara Eshet. A joyful, rhyming story in the vein of Ezra Jack Keats's The Snowy Day, Snow Day (October), by Lindsay Gloade-Raining Bird, illustrated by Ashley Thimot, follows an Indigenous family as they enjoy the magic of a winter storm. From bestselling author Elise Gravel comes It's My Brain (October), celebrating our beautiful brains. And Mad at Dad (October), by Janie Hao, is a one-of-a-kind, lift-the-flap picture book about some very big feelings.
The light from a menorah takes a young boy on a fantastical journey around the world to experience different festivals of light and the people who celebrate them in The Light from My Menorah: Celebrating Holidays around the World (September), by Robin Heald, illustrated by Andrea Blinick. Inspired by the childhoods of author Nadia L. Hohn and illustrator TeMika Grooms, Getting Us to Grandma’s (October) is full of fun historic details—a world before Google Maps!—and authentic cultural moments shared by diasporic families, whose stories can be traced across continents, as well as a fantastic representation of Black girls in STEM. Introverted party animal Snail is back in How to Staycation Like a Snail (September), by Naseem Hrab, illustrated by Kelly Collier, a delightfully hilarious SHHHelebration of homebodies. And three friends go to the park where it seems like nothing is happening, but something definitely is, in What Inspires (September), by Alison Hughes, illustrated by Ellen Rooney.
Animals eat and drink in surprising, amazing and downright weird ways, and readers should definitely NOT copy their behaviour at the dinner table when they learn all about it in Do NOT Eat Like a Tiger Shark!: Wacky Ways Animals Slurp, Chomp and Gulp (August), by Etta Kaner, illustrated by Heather Wilson. Debra Kempf Shumaker uses figurative language and metaphors to capture the imagination of readers as they learn about wind in Wind is a Dance (October), illustrated by Josée Bisaillon. From eating, to napping, to playing, octopuses are just like us … aren’t they? Well, maybe not quite, as Deborah Kerbel shows us in What About an Octopus (August), illustrated by Dawn Lo.
Gifts from the Garbage Truck: A True Story About the Things We (Don't) Throw Away (September), by Andrew Larsen, illustrated by Oriol Vidal, is a picture book about what we throw away, and why it might be worth keeping. Larsen's latest book about Sally the Dog is Sally's Snow (October), illustrated by Dawn Lo, a celebration of winter days. Adventures in Desolation Sound (September), by Grant Lawrence, illustrated by Ginger Ngo, is a funny, adventure-packed picture book for children ages 4-7, inspired by radio personality Lawrence’s bestselling memoir Adventures in Solitude. And Mother Aspen: A Story of How Forests Cooperate and Communicate (September), by Annette LeBox, illustrated by Crystal Smith, is a lyrical story of an aspen grove through the seasons, inspired by the ground-breaking work of Dr. Suzanne Simard on how trees and fungi talk to each other.
It’s Okay, Just Ask (October), by Monique Leonardo Carlos, illustrated by Salini Perera, is an uplifting immigration story about tackling new experiences with curiosity. Just What to Do (July), by Newbery Honor-winner Kyle Lukoff, illustrated by Hala Tahboub, is a tender picture book about grief and the many ways to offer comfort in sad times. And a young girl weathers the highs and lows of daily life with her mother, who has Bipolar Disorder in UPS and DOWNS (September), by Nancy MacNairn, illustrated by Doruntina Beqiraj.
The Mango Monster (September), by Derek Mascarenhas, illustrated by Meneka Repka, is a fun, imaginative, and tasty read that encourages sharing with others. Mixed-Up Mooncakes (September), by Christina Matual and Erica Lyons, illustrated by Tracy Subisak, is beautiful tribute to fall festivals, Mid-Autumn Festival and Sukkot, celebrating family, multicultural heritage, and the bounty of the season. Ella thinks that a talking frog is much more interesting than living like a princess in a castle in Kiss Me! I'm a Prince (September), by Heather McLeod, illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan. And Mummy & Me: A Monster’s Tale (August), by Danesh Mohiuddi, is an ode to little monsters and the caregivers who love them
Learning to count is easy and fun with Counting at Kits Beach (October), by Oliver McDonald, which counts various beings at Kits (Kitsilano) Beach, Vancouver. Set during the Partition of India, Veena and the Red Roti (September), by Namita Moolani Mehra, illustrated by Beena Mistry, is a moving story about a girl who helps others the only way she knows how: by cooking up a small taste of home. Adapted from the bestseller One Hen and inspired by a true story, One Hen and Then (September), by Katie Smith Milway and Mary Beth Leatherdale, illustrated by Tequitia Andrews, is a picture book about a determined boy with a plan brings the concept of microfinance to life.
In Chang'e the Moon (September), the first of the Everlasting Tales collection, multicultural folktales traditionally passed down through oral tradition are refreshed for a modern audience, and Katrina Moore and Cornelia Li tell the Chinese legend of Chang’e, the moon goddess. Accompanied by award-winning illustrator Bridget George’s luminous artwork, The Animal People Chose a Leader (October), a tradition-steeped story from renowned author Richard Wagamese, meditates on the unifying powers of wisdom, kindness and respect with all the visionary clarity of our most essential legends. And Timmy the dog leaps into life with Eugenie Fernandes’ playful and expressive illustrations and Eric Walters’ rhythmic and quirky storytelling Good Boy Timmy (November).
Folk Art Animal Sounds (September), the newest book by early childhood literacy advocates Shanda LaRamee-Jones and Carol McDougall continues the tradition of Maud Lewis 1, 2, 3 and Maud Lewis Colours, this time introducing young readers to the colourful carvings of Nova Scotian folk artist Barry Colpitts. The Light Keeper (October), by Karen Levine and Sheila Baslaw, illustrated by Alice Priestley, is a gentle tale of bravery, empowerment and community, and the thrill of transformation. And, based on a true story, Salvatore and the Goats of Mount Etna (November), by Uschi Müller, illustrated by Brittany Lane, captures the incredible science of animal senses, and the surprising ways they can help us.
Meet a variety of woodland and water animals in Boozhoo! / Hello! (September), by Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, translated by Mary Ann Corbiere, a story written in Anishinaabemowin and English. In Salt, Pepper, Season, Spice: All the Flavours of the World (October), by Jacques Pasquet, illustrated by Claire Anghinolfi, translated by Ann Marie Boulanger, discover where our favourite spices, condiments and confections come from and how they're grown, harvested and prepared. Halifax ABC (October), by celebrated Halifax artist Yolanda Poplawska, includes 26 distinctly Haligonian scenes to accompany the letters of the alphabet, from A for anchor to Z for zonked. And critically-acclaimed artist Anoosha Syed brings Anitha Rao-Robinson's stunning text to life in Sari Sisters (October), a story about getting dressed up and the enduring bonds between sisters.
A heartwarming story by Marcie Rendon, with stunning illustrations by Joshua Mangeshig Pawis-Steckley, Stitches of Tradition (October) celebrates the power of Indigenous craft and community and weaves together the spirit of resilience, female empowerment, and gratitude for the generations that came before us. An insatiably curious girl decides the only way to answer all her questions is to read all the books in the funny and charming picture book I Want to Read All the Books (September), by Debbie Ridpath Ohi. Written by youth activist Charlene Rocha and award-winning author Mary Beth Leatherdale, You Can Be an Activist (September) demystifies activism for budding social justice campaigners and climate advocates, encouraging readers to bring their own passions and interests to their work. And get up close and personal with a clever corvid and discover the fascinating world of crows in How to Know a Crow: The Biography of a Brainy Bird (October), by Candace Savage, illustrated by Rachel Hudson.
The Book Witch, the Wee White Dog, and the Little Free Library (September), by Lana Shupe, illustrated by Tegan Thomas, is a sweet, magical story of a Book Witch (and her dog) who is desperate to find a solution to that most common bookish problem: too many books! As daylight fades to dusk and slips into darkness, This Land is a Lullaby (September), by Tonya Simpson, illustrated by Delreé Dumont, celebrates the sounds of the Prairies and the Plains on a stormy summer's night. And in Barefoot Skateboarders (September), by Rina Singh, illustrated by Sophie Casson, the remote village of Janwaar in Northern India has been the same for a long time, with the community strictly divided into castes, and it's a quiet village… until skateboarding arrives.
Celebrated author Kathy Stinson's The Rock and the Butterfly (October), illustrated by Brooke Kerrigan, is an inspiring new take on grief and loss. A Roof! (September), by Stephanie Ellen Sy, illustrated by Daniel Tingcungco, is a dazzling picture book debut about a young girl in the Philippines who returns a neighbour’s roof after a typhoon with the help of her community. And Grampy's Chair (September), by Rebecca Thomas, illustrated by Coco Lynge heartwarming story about lifelong love and loss told from the perspective of a grandfather’s favourite chair.
It’s Powwow Time! (September), by Martha Troian, illustrated by Hawlii Pichette, celebrates new experiences and community traditions when a young boy learns to dance at his first powwow. Wish Maker (August), by Uchechukwu Peter Umezurike, illustrated by Henry Ezeokeke, a blend of magic and realism set during Christmas week in a riverine village in southeast Nigeria, is by turns sad and funny, exploring themes such as peer pressure, fear, kindness, hope, courage, and friendship. And One Box (September), by Andi Vicente, illustrated by Allan Matudio, is a children’s counting story about a migrant worker sending a box of gifts and supplies to their loved ones in the Philippines.
The Runaway (August), the third book in Nancy Vo's Crow Stories trilogy, is a haunting tale of a young boy’s resilience and hope. The Hawk Shadow (September) is a pitch-perfect story about sibling bonds and Anishinaabe cultural traditions, from Jan Bourdeau Waboose, bestselling author of SkySisters, illustrated by Karlene Harvey. Getting Glam at Gram's (September), by Sara Weed, illustrated by Erin Hawryluk, is a warm and loving book that champions diversity, gender expression, and learning to love yourself. In Zoom In on Zombies (September), co-authors Kari-Lynn Winters and Catherine Rondina delve into the world of zombies, the popular creatures of film and television, along the way discovering many examples of natural zombies in the real world from amber snails and carpenter ants to foot fungus, wood ticks and tardigrades. Winters also releases Hungry for Engineering: Poems to Gnaw On (October), another delectable book in the Hungry for…series!
Middle Grade/ Early Chapter Books
Little by Little (August), by Sonya Ballantyne, illustrated by Rhael McGregor, is a beautifully illustrated graphic novel about how one Indigenous child sparked change and inspired others. For fans of Owly and Unicorn and Yeti, Puffin and Penguin (October) is a delightfully funny graphic novel from bestselling creators Helaine Becker and Kevin Sylvester. And can Allie and Henry help their mom who's working from home and get their apartment back at the same time in The Secret Office (August), by Sara Cassidy.
Izzy Wong is making an investigative podcast and she's determined to uncover the whole story in Izzy Wong's Nose for News (September), by Marty Chan. In Johnnie Christmas’s newest offering Gamerville (June), a video gamer’s championship aspirations are dashed when his parents send him to Camp Refresh, a summer camp where electronics are forbidden and you're forced to socialize, eat healthy, and spend time outside. Is There a Boy Like Me? (October) by Kern Carter, challenges the limitations and pressures placed on boys today. And What Do We Eat? (September), by Megan Clendanan, illustrated by Meegan Lim, is a delicious celebration of human creativity and cooperation, wrapped up in bite-sized slices of history, with a look at what scientists and inventors are cooking for the future.
It's election season and when billboards pop up around town advertising a new slate of candidates no one's ever heard of, the Math Kids do what they do best, setting out to investigate, using logic and strategy to ensure the school board (and the math club!) are in good hands after the votes are tallied in The Election Calculation (September), by David Cole, illustrated by Shannon O'Toole. Steve: A Pretty Exceptional Horse (September), by Kelly Collier, is the first instalment in a hilarious early graphic novel series, based on Collier's popular picture book introducing the one and only (just ask him!) Steve the Horse. And Danielle Daniel's Reasons to Look at the Night Sky (October) is a sensitive middle grade novel in verse about a space-obsessed girl who dreams of becoming an astronaut — and begins to see the world differently when a substitute teacher enters her orbit.
In the small village of Sueño Bay, famous for its mysterious crystals and legendary Moon Creatures, friends Ollie, Kay, Jenna and Sleeves go searching for a secret and powerful crystal in Crystal Cave (August), by Nancy Deas and Mike Deas. Buffalo Dreamer (August), by Violet Duncan, is an illuminating novel about the importance of reclaiming the past, based on the author’s family history. Deborah Ellis's latest is The Outsmarters (August), about a troubled 12-year-old who realizes that the adults in her life have troubles and secrets of their own. And from Sarah Everett, award-winning author of The Probability of Everything, comes The Shape of Lost Things (September), a heartfelt exploration of family and change as twelve-year-old Skye reunites with her older brother, Finn, after he spent four years on the run with their father.
Young people learn how they can play a part in helping highways and habitats coexist in Joan Marie Galat's Wildlife Crossing: Giving Animals the Right-of-Way (October). Leslie Gentile is back with Elvis, Me, and the Postcard Winter (November), and with guitar practice, Andy El’s birthday, and her mom’s unexpected return, this winter Truly has a lot to write to Elvis about. And Gabrielle Goldstone’s Waltraut (September) is the story of a first-generation-Canadian girl growing up in the shadows of the Second World War and navigating two cultures while struggling to find herself.
In Creepy Classroom (October), by François Gravel, translated by David Warriner, can Matt find his way out before the creepy librarian preserves his presence in the school basement forever? Be the Change: Robin Greenfield’s Call to Kids - Making a Difference in a Messed-Up World (December) is an inspiring, lively guide to sustainable living from YouTube star and zero-waste activist Robin Greenfield. And Teddy and his friends uncover a monstrous—and cheesy—terror in Teddy vs. the Slimy Evil (September), by Braden Hallett, the second instalment of this laugh-out-loud series.
After secretly living in the public library for the last eleven years, Essie must learn to adapt to a world that's not as perfect as the stories she's grown up with in Library Girl (September), a heartfelt middle-grade novel from Newbery Honor author Polly Horvath. Bee & Flea and the Fall Fiasco (September), by Anna Humphrey, illustrated by Mike Deas, is the third and final adventure featuring crime-solving pair Bee and Flea explores how the backyard critters adapt and prepare for winter. Katrina Hyena, Stand-up Comedian (October), by Sophie Kohn, illustrated by Aparna Varma, is an early chapter book about a laughing hyena who yearns to be a stand-up comedian that will have kids rolling with laughter.
Harriet the Spy meets Small Spaces in Danica dela Torre, Certified Sleuth (September), by Mikaela Lucido, a heartfelt new paranormal mystery series for middle grade readers. Swan: A Novel of Anna Swan (September) is a tender middle grade novel-in-verse from Sidura Ludwig, reimagining the childhood of Nova Scotia Giantess Anna Swan. And Sarah Ponakey, Storycatcher and Âhâsiw's Forest Powwow (August), by Sita MacMillan, illustrated by Azby Whitecalf, is a vibrant debut early chapter book series celebrating Cree culture and being true to yourself.
Megan Mahoney follows up her acclaimed debut novel, Meranda and the Legend of the Lake, with The Time Keeper (October), the story of a clockmaker’s apprentice racing against time to solve the puzzle of the broken watch—and to save his loved ones. For Flora, finding harmony with her friends, family, and music just became more difficult in Jean Mills' After the Wallpaper (September), an uplifting novel that showcases the joys of music, and the power it has to bring people together. And Shenaaz Nanji follows up the award-nominated Alina in a Pinch with Alina in the Deep (October).
The Biltmore in New York City is full of mysteries, and Elodie LaRue, a novice detective, plans to piece together the clues and solve the case of the missing jewels in Mystery at the Biltmore: The Vanderhoff Heist (October), by award-winner Colleen Nelson. The second book in Isabelle Picard’s bestselling coming-of-age series about Innu twins, Leon and Eloise, is Nish: Northern Lights (September). The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents (October), by Nicki Pau Preto, is a middle grade magic school fantasy perfect for fans of The School for Good and Evil and Witchlings, in which a girl with unparalleled power must work with her misfit classmates to save her new school. And trouble is brewing at Margaret's Academy of Tea and Brewing, and unlucky Misha has one chance to fix it with the recipe for the perfect enchanted cup of chai, in a magical, heartfelt, and funny adventure about the power of believing in yourself, Chai Jinx (October), by Emi Pinto.
In Rule School (September), the fourth book in the beloved Jo Jo Makoons chapter book series by Dawn Quigley, Jo Jo’s talents may not quite include following her substitute teacher’s rules. Lost at Windy River: A True Story of Survival (October), by Trina Rathgeber, illustrated by Alina Pete, is the harrowing story of how a young Indigenous girl in 1944 defies the odds and endures nine days alone in the unforgiving barrens. And in Jessica Renwick’s Ghosts of Gastown (October), a twelve-year-old can see the dead, but nobody believes her.
Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging (August), compiled and edited by Jael Richardson, acclaimed author and Artistic Director of the Festival of Literary Diversity, brings together perspectives on belonging from BIPOC authors from across the country. David A. Robertson releases The Sleeping Giant (August), Book 5 in The Misewa Saga, an award-winning, Narnia-inspired Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series, in which Eli and Morgan embark on a dangerous mission to rescue kidnapped animal beings in this new adventure. And Coltrane Seesequasis’s debut novel, A Wolf in the Sun (September), is the first book of a planned series that follows a young wolf called Silversong, in a fantasy world similar to our own.
Eleven-year-old Frazzy is mostly coping with being bullied and not always fitting in at school, until every aspect of her life goes haywire in The Genius Project (August), by Leanne Shirtliffe. All Consuming (September), by Erin Silver, illustrated by Suharu Ogawa, shows the pros and cons of making different choices when it comes to buying the things you love, also shining a spotlight on kids who are bringing about change and offers ways you can help out too. And for fans of Rebecca Stead, Wendy Mass and Lynda Mullaly Hunt, Tig (September) is a new, heartwarming middle-grade story from the critically acclaimed author Heather Smith featuring Tig, a young girl struggling to find peace within herself and in her new family.
A malevolent, sentient ink that feeds on nightmares is growing hungrier, and middle-grader Tanya must resist its urges to have her plunder the dreams of others in Pages of Doom (September), by Jeff P. Szpirglas. Jordan finds out that help can come from unlikely places and new friendships can blossom when you least expect them in Suzanne Sutherland's third book about Jordan and Max, Jordan and Max: Race Day (August). And How to Kidnap a Mermaid (August), by Andy Tolson, is the first in a brand new middle grade fantasy series for fans of Rick Riordan, following a young giant who joins forces with a mermaid and a gnome to bring magic back.
Acclaimed author Jessica Vitalis crafts an unforgettable historical novel-in-verse about belonging, family, and social class in Unsinkable Cayenne (October). In Taking Care of Where We Live (September), by Merrie-Ellen Wilcox, illustrated by Amanda Key, readers will explore restoration projects, big and small, around the world, from the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami program in Pakistan to the Green Corridors project in Colombia, and they’ll also find out how to take small actions for the ecosystems in their own communities. And Emma Wong is struggling to tell her parents about a lot of things—getting a D on her math test, for one, seeing ghosts, for another—in Misadventures in Ghosthunting (August), by Melissa Yue.
YA
Fledgling (October) is the first book in a gripping duology from acclaimed author S.K. Ali, introducing a fractured world on the brink of either enlightenment or war. A songwriter wrestles with instant stardom and his bisexuality in Under All the Lights (October), by Maya Ameyaw, a raw and propulsive novel for fans of If This Gets Out and Alice Oseman’s I Was Born for This. Told as mirroring narratives that reverberate with the effects of buried trauma, and informed by historical accounts of plague and dictatorship, The Great & the Small (September), by A.T. Balsara, examines what it takes to grasp for light in the darkness and survive the threats both beyond us and within us.
Dear Dad (November) is an intimate YA novel from Laura Best, the celebrated author of the Cammie Turple series, depicting one teen boy's reckoning with his father's terminal illness, and his right to choose MAID. James Bow's latest is The Sun Runners (November), an exciting space opera set on Mercury. It’s the first week of summer and former army brat Jake Ballard is spending it alone at his uncle’s cottage while his mom gets treatment for PTSD, but his boring day gets flipped upside down when a beautiful stranger asks him to help play a prank on her friends in Shock Wave (August), by Sigmund Brouwer. When Ryan meets a Blackfoot doctor during a school assembly, he starts to dream big, but becoming a doctor isn’t easy. University takes him away from his family and the Siksikaitsitapi community, and without their support, he begins to struggle: the inspiring graphic novel The Rez Doctor (September), by Gitz Crazyboy, illustrated by Veronika Barinova, Azby Whitecalf and Toben Racicot, showing how Ryan can regain his footing to walk the path he saw so clearly as a boy.
In If We Tell You (October), by Nicole Dahlin, Cameron and Lewis Larsen are twins living normal, suburban lives ... until their mom and dad kill two uninvited guests at a barbecue and disappear. Following cryptic instructions their parents left behind, the twins make their way to a small hotel in Edinburgh and closer they get to the truth, only one thing is clear: Someone is following them. Sara da Waard’s Defy (October) is about Darius, who just wants to save his little sister from an imminent death sentence, but what if he risks exposing her to a horrible natural demise. And award-winning author Jen Ferguson returns with A Constellation of Minor Bears (September), a powerful story about teens grappling with balancing resentment with enduring friendship—and how to move forward with a life that’s not what they’d imagined.
In her stunning debut, The Unfinished (September), Cheryl Isaacs pulls the reader into an unsettling tale of monsters, mystery, and secrets that refuse to stay submerged. It’s Not Me, It’s You (November) is another compulsively readable rom-com by Alex Light, author of The Upside of Falling. And Between the Pipes (September), by Albert McLeod, contributions by Elaine Mordoch and Sonya Ballantyne, illustrated by Alice RL, explores toxic masculinity in hockey through the experiences of an Indigenous teen.
From Abdi Nazemian, the award-winning author of Like a Love Story and Only This Beautiful Moment, comes Desert Echoes (September), a propulsive, moving story about human resilience and connection. We Are the Medicine is the moving final volume of Tasha Spillett's best-selling Surviving the City series, illustrated by Natasha Donovan, with the teens struggle with feelings of helplessness in the face of injustice. When a flash flood leaves Zack and his younger foster brother stranded at home, it’s up to Zack to make sure they survive in Gabrielle Prendergast's Flash Flood (August).
God Flare (September) is the latest volume in the Reckoner Rises series from best-selling author David A. Robertson. Deeply moving and authentic, debut novel in verse Light Enough (October), by Lauren Seal, follows teenage Evie through her eating disorder treatment and recovery. And An Unbalanced Force (November), by Valerie Sherrard, asks how far will Ethan go to expose his dad’s lies, and what if the truth forces Ethan to make a choice that could throw his whole world off balance?
In the moving graphic novel Little Moons (September), by Jen Storm, illustrated by Ryan Howe, 13-year-old Reanna grieves the loss of her older sister; can she find comfort through her family’s Ojibwe traditions? Returning to a favourite Northwest Territories setting, Richard Van Camp brings his exuberant style to a captivating teen novel in Beast (October), blending the supernatural with 1980s-era nostalgia to reflect on friendship, tradition and forgiveness. Pam Withers’ latest is Cave-In (November), about a teen who needs to call on his caving instincts and scientific knowledge to prevent a local disaster. And Zetian must balance dangerous politics with a new quest for vengeance in Heavenly Tyrant (December), by Xiran Jay Zhao, the sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller Iron Widow, a blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction.