50 Must-Read Canadian Middle-Grade Books: Recommended by the CCBC in Celebration of our 50th Anniversary

When Marilla Cuthbert and her brother, Matthew, decide to adopt a child from a distant orphanage, they don't get quite what they bargained for. The child who awaits them at the tiny Bright River train station is not the strapping young boy they'd imagined—someone to help Matthew work the fields of their small farm—but rather a freckle-faced, redheaded girl named Anne (with an e, if you please).

Matthew and Marilla may not be sure about Anne, but Anne takes one look at Prince Edward Island's red clay roads and the Cuthberts' snug white farmhouse with its distinctive green gables and decides that she's home at last. But will she be able to convince Marilla and Matthew to let her stay? Armed with only a battered carpetbag and a boundless imagination, Anne charms her way into the Cuthberts' hearts—and into the hearts of readers as well. First published in 1908 by LC Page & Co.

From the mid-1800s to the late 1990s, the education of Indigenous children was taken on by various churches in government-sponsored residential schools. More than 150,000 children were forcibly taken from their families in order to erase their traditional languages and cultures. As Long as the Rivers Flow is the story of Larry Loyie’s last traditional summer before entering residential school. It is a time of adventure and learning from his Elders. He cares for an abandoned baby owl, watches his kokom (grandmother) make winter moccasins, and helps his family prepare for summer camp, where he will pick berries, fish and swim. While searching for medicine plants in the bush with Kokom, he encounters a giant grizzly bear. Gently but truthfully written, the book captivates its readers and reveals a hidden history.

Winner of the 2003 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction.

Morgan and Eli, two Indigenous children forced away from their families and communities, are brought together in a foster home in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They each feel disconnected, from their culture and each other, and struggle to fit in at school and at their new home—until they find a secret place, walled off in an unfinished attic bedroom. A portal opens to another reality, Askí, bringing them onto frozen, barren grounds, where they meet Ochek (Fisher). The only hunter supporting his starving community, Misewa, Ochek welcomes the human children, teaching them traditional ways to survive. But as the need for food becomes desperate, they embark on a dangerous mission. Accompanied by Arik, a sassy Squirrel they catch stealing from the trapline, they try to save Misewa before the icy grip of winter freezes everything—including them.

Available in French as Les terres isolées from Éditions Scholastic, The Barren Grounds was a finalist for the 2021 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.

Malia has had a privileged upbringing in Indonesia, but since her Indonesian father died, her Canadian mother wants to return to her own family on the other side of the world. Malia is determined to stay. Indonesia is her home, and she loves it. Besides, if she leaves, how can she continue to fight for her country’s precious rainforests?

Ari knows he is lucky to be going to school and competing on the chess team, even if it means an endless round of chores at his uncle’s restaurant. Back in his home village, he and his cousin Suni dreamed about getting a chance like this. But now he is here without her, and the guilt is crushing him. As if that weren’t enough, he’s horribly worried about Ginger Juice, his uncle’s orangutan. The too-small cage where she lives is clearly hurting her body and her mind, but where else can she go? The rainforest where she was born is a palm oil plantation now.

Kadarusman spins together three perspectives: Malia, who is prepared to risk anything for her activism; Ari, who knows the right path but fears what it will cost; and Ginger Juice, the caged orangutan who still remembers the forest and her mother. The choices the young people make will have consequences for themselves, for Ginger Juice, and for others, if they are brave enough—or reckless enough—to choose.

“Tell no one what I’ve given you.” Until he got that cryptic warning, Christopher Rowe was happy, learning how to solve complex codes and puzzles and creating powerful medicines, potions, and weapons as an apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn—with maybe an explosion or two along the way.

But when a mysterious cult begins to prey on London’s apothecaries, the trail of murders grows closer and closer to Blackthorn’s shop. With time running out, Christopher must use every skill he’s learned to discover the key to a terrible secret with the power to tear the world apart.

In his stunning debut novel, Kevin Sands brings readers on a heart-stopping adventure rich with suspense, mystery, and unforgettable characters. Young readers will want to read the entire six-book series. Winner of the 2016 John Spray Mystery Award.

Thirteen-year-old Ara lives in an isolated community called Jupiter Station with her family. They abide by the teachings of Father Jupiter, their self-appointed leader, and follow the strict rules laid out in his Book of Jupiter. Ara has always believed what she's been taught, including Father Jupiter's prophecy that the family will soon become stardust and “Ascend to the planet Jupiter,” where they'll live together forever. But when her older brother Leo reveals his doubts about Father Jupiter, particularly his story about how they became part of the family, Ara must decide what to do, as she starts to realize he may be right.

Stevenson has written a chilling tale of awakening that readers won't be able to put down. The gripping story with unexpected plot twists will keep readers guessing to the very end. The fictional world is based on the author's research of real-world cults, providing fascinating insight into how cults function and how a person's perceptions of reality can be skewed. Ara's struggle will raise questions for readers about trusting one's instincts and what truths are worth uncovering.

Martin O'Boy's life is not easy. His beloved Granny has just died, his pregnant mother and father fight all the time and his twin, Phil, is completely incapacitated. Martin is the one his mother counts on.

But life in Ottawa's Lowertown is not all bad. He has his best friend, Billy Batson (a.k.a. Captain Marvel), the movies, his cat Cheap and there's the glamorous Buz from next door, who is off at the war. As the war comes to an end with the bombing of Hiroshima—on Martin's birthday—Ottawa is in a state of turmoil. Returning soldiers, parties, fights and drunks fill the streets.

It would all be very exciting, except for one thing. In their endless pursuit of more funds, Martin and Billy have joined the church choir—as summer boys. And the organist, Mr. T.D.S. George, is awfully fond of Martin. But Martin, despite his hardships, has a pure soul and his Granny's love, Billy's friendship, Buz's imminent return, and even his mother's reliance on him, which help him to deliver a kind of justice to Mr. George, and to heal himself and others.

Winner of the 2004 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.

Eleven-year-old Parvana lives with her family in one room of a bombed-out apartment building in Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital city. Parvana’s father—a history teacher until his school was bombed and his health destroyed—works from a blanket on the ground in the marketplace, reading letters for people who cannot read or write. One day, he is arrested for the crime of having a foreign education, and the family is left without someone who can earn money or even shop for food.

As conditions for the family grow desperate, only one solution emerges. Forbidden to earn money as a girl, Parvana must transform herself into a boy, and become the breadwinner.

Available in French as Parvana : Une enfance en Afghanistan from Éditions des Plaines.

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The Case of Windy Lake
(A Mighty Muskrats Mystery, Book 1)
written by Michael Hutchinson

Second Story Press, 2019

for ages 9-12

Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee are four inseparable cousins growing up on the Windy Lake First Nation. Nicknamed the Mighty Muskrats for their habit of laughing, fighting, and exploring together, the cousins find that each new adventure adds to their reputation. When a visiting archeologist goes missing, the cousins decide to solve the mystery of his disappearance. In the midst of community conflict, family concerns, and environmental protests, the four get busy following every lead. From their base of operations in a fort made out of an old school bus, the Mighty Muskrats won’t let anything stop them from solving their case!

The Crazy Man
written by Pamela Porter
Groundwood Books, 2005
for ages 9-12

It is 1965, and 12-year-old Emaline lives on a wheat farm in southern Saskatchewan. Her family has fallen apart. When her beloved dog, Prince, chased a hare into the path of the tractor, she chased after him, and her dad accidentally ran over her leg with the discer, leaving her with a long convalescence and a permanent disability. But perhaps the worst thing from Emaline's point of view is that in his grief and guilt, her father shot Prince and then left Emaline and her mother on their own.

Despite the neighbours' disapproval, Emaline's mother hires Angus, a patient from the local mental hospital, to work their fields. Angus is a red-haired giant whom the local kids tease and call the gorilla. Though the small town's prejudice creates a cloud of suspicion around Angus that nearly results in tragedy, in the end he becomes a force for healing as Emaline comes to terms with her injury and the loss of her father.

Porter uses free verse to tell this moving, gritty story that is accessible to a wide range of ages and reading abilities.

Winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award at the 2006 CCBC Book Awards.

It’s 1980, and 12-year-old Tho Pham lives with his family in South Vietnam. He spends his afternoons playing soccer and cricket fighting with his friends, but life is slowly changing under the Communists. His parents are worried, and Tho knows the Communist army will soon knock on their door to make his brother, and then him, join them. Still, it shocks him when his father says that arrangements have been made for him to leave Vietnam by boat, immediately. Tho tries to be brave as he sets out on a harrowing journey toward the unknown.

Co-authors Tho Pham and Sandra McTavish, childhood friends, have loosely based this historical fiction novel on Tho’s real-life experience as one of the Vietnamese Boat People, and have included many factual details from his journey on the South China Sea and in a Philippine refugee camp. Depictions of pirate attacks, hunger and loneliness make for a riveting survival story, sure to elicit empathy for refugees. Eventually adopted by a Canadian elementary school teacher, Tho’s story is ultimately one of hope, courage and resilience.

Winner of the 2024 Jean Little First-Novel Award, as well as a finalist for the 2024 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.

One summer, / after a long plane ride / and a rotten bad year / I went to Grandma Jo’s. / It was my mother’s idea. / Jett, what you need is a change of scenery. / I think she needed a change of scenery, too. / One without me. / Because that rotten bad year? / That was my fault.

Thus begins the poignant story, told in free verse, of 11-year-old Jett. Last year, Jett and his mother had moved to a new town for a fresh start after his father went to jail. But Jett soon learned that fresh starts aren’t all they’re cracked up to be. When he befriended a boy with a difficult home life, Jett found himself in a cycle of bad decisions that culminated in the betrayal of a friend—a shameful secret he still hasn’t forgiven himself for. Will a summer spent with his unconventional grandmother help Jett find his way to redemption?

Writing in artfully crafted free-verse vignettes, Smith uses a deceptively simple style to tell a powerful and emotionally charged story. The engaging narrative and the mystery of Jett’s secret keep the pages turning and will appeal to both reluctant and avid readers. 

Eleven-year-old Elijah lives in Buxton, Canada, a settlement of runaway slaves near the American border. Elijah's the first child in town to be born free, and he ought to be famous just for that—not to mention for being the best at chunking rocks and catching fish. Unfortunately, all that most people see is a "fra-gile" boy who's scared of snakes and tends to talk too much. But everything changes when a former slave steals money from Elijah's friend, who has been saving to buy his family out of captivity in the South. Now it's up to Elijah to track down the thief—and his dangerous journey just might make a hero out of him, if only he can find the courage to get back home.

Winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award at the 2008 CCBC Book Awards.

Elvis, Me, and the Lemonade Stand Summer

It’s the summer of 1978 and most people think Elvis Presley has been dead for a year. But not 11-year-old Truly Bateman—because she knows Elvis is alive and well and living in the Eagle Shores Trailer Park. Maybe no one ever thought to look for him at on the Eagle Shores First Nation on Vancouver Island.

It’s a busy summer for Truly. Though her mother is less of a mother than she ought to be, and spends her time drinking and smoking and working her way through new boyfriends, Truly is determined to raise as much money for herself as she can through her lemonade stand... and to prove that her cool new neighbour is the one and only King of Rock ‘n’ Roll. And when she can’t find motherly support in her own home, she finds sanctuary with Andy El, the Salish woman who runs the trailer park.

Winner of the 2022 Jean Little First-Novel Award, and a finalist for the 2022 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.

Fatty Legs
written by Margaret-Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton and Christy Jordan-Fenton
illustrated by Liz Amini-Holmes
Annick Press, 2020 ©2010
for ages 9-12

On a trip to Aklavik with her father, Margaret is mesmerized by the dark-cloaked nuns and the pale-skinned priests. She knows they hold the key to the greatest of the outsiders’ mysteries—reading. Even though her father warns her that her spirit will be worn down and made small, she begs to attend the school. At the hands of a cruel and heartless nun, Margaret suffers humiliation, but emerges with her spirit intact. Margaret Olemaun Pokiak-Fenton’s powerful story of residential school in the far North was re-issued to commemorate the memoir’s 10th anniversary with updates to the text, reflections on the book’s impact, and a bonus chapter from the acclaimed follow-up. 

Available in French as Les bas du pensionnat from Éditions Scholastic. In 2013, Fatty Legs was adapted into a picture book titled When I Was Eight.

From Anna
written by Jean Little
Scholastic Canada, 2022 ©1972
for ages 9-12

Nine-year-old Anna Solden has always been the clumsy one in the family—somehow she can never do anything right. She bumps into tables, and she can’t read the chalkboard at school. Her perfect brothers and sisters call her “Awkward Anna.”

When Papa announces that the family is moving from Germany to Canada—he’s worried about what the Nazis’ rise to power will bring—Anna’s heart sinks. How can she learn English when she can’t even read German properly? But when the Soldens arrive in Canada, Anna learns that there is a reason for her clumsiness. And suddenly, wonderfully, her whole world begins to change.

Discover why generations of readers have loved this classic story by one of Canada’s most beloved storytellers. Available in French as Dans les yeux d'Anna from Éditions Scholastic.

Hana's Suitcase
(The Holocaust Remembrance Series for Young Readers) 

written by Karen Levine

Second Story Press, 2002

for ages 9-12

In March 2000, a suitcase arrived at a children's Holocaust education centre in Tokyo, Japan from the Auschwitz museum in Germany. Fumiko Ishioka, the centre's curator, was captivated by the writing on the outside that identified its owner: "Hana Brady, May 16, 1931, Waisenkind (the German word for orphan)." Children visiting the centre asked: who was Hana Brady? What happened to her? Inspired by their curiosity and her own need to know, Fumiko began a year of detective work, scouring the world for clues. Her search led her from present-day Japan, Europe and North America back to 1938 Czechoslovakia to learn the story of Hana Brady, a fun-loving child with wonderful parents, a protective big brother, and a passion for ice skating, their happy life turned upside down by the invasion of the Nazis.

Available in French as La valise d'Hana from Hurtubise HMH, this true story was also adapted for the stage by Emil Sher in Hana's Suitcase on Stage.

The spooky tales that kids have loved for the past 20+ years are now available as graphic novels. In this first collection, horror lovers will read about a corpse that haunts a crossroads, a creepy doll with a mind of its own, an island that is no vacation destination, and a neighbour with a scary reputation.

Perfect for those who love graphic novels and existing fans of the original series, these four stories have it all: creepy Canadian settings, hair-raising history and super-scary storytelling. Illustrated in full colour, these blood-curdling tales are sure to keep any reader turning the pages—and awake at night.

Available in French as Lieux hantés : La bande dessinée : N˚ 1 - Quatre histoires terrifiantes from Éditions Scholastic.

This narrative journey through Black history in Canada begins with the arrival in 1604 of Mathieu Da Costa, the first known African in the country, and continues through the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing fight for social justice. A one-of-a-kind book, it contains inspiring and thought-provoking stories of the people involved in Canada’s legacy of slavery, the Black Loyalist and Exoduster movements, the Underground Railroad and the fight for civil rights. Separate from the chronological history, the book also examines key issues that have affected the lives of Black Canadians, including slavery, racism and prejudice, and representation.

The definitive children’s guide to Black history in Canada, this book is an essential update to the bestselling and award-winning The Kids Book of Black Canadian History, which was first published in 2003. 

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The Longest Shot: How Larry Kwong Changed the Face of Hockey
(Orca Biography)
written by Chad Soon and George Chiang
illustrated by Amy Qi
Orca Book Publishers, 2024
for ages 9-12

Larry Kwong became the first player of Asian descent in the NHL when he played one shift with the New York Rangers in 1948. Even though Larry's achievement happened more than 70 years ago, his contribution to hockey is only now being recognized. He broke hockey's colour barrier and fought racism and discrimination at every step of his career. From his humble beginnings on the outdoor rinks in Vernon, British Columbia's Chinatown all the way to playing at Madison Square Garden and in the NHL, this inspiring hero has a timeless story for young readers.

A finalist for the 2025 Sharon Fitzhenry Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction.

Odd Man Out

written by Sarah Ellis
Groundwood Books, 2006

for ages 9-12

Kip is spending the summer with his grandmother and his five eccentric girl cousins, including Emily, who thinks she's a dog. Gran's house is about to be demolished, so anything goes, whether it's drawing maps on the walls or sawing off the knob at the bottom of the banister for a smoother ride.

When Kip bashes through an old closet, he discovers the binder his late father kept as a teenager. He's bewildered by what he finds: puzzling lists, hair samples, old newspaper clippings and business cards—all accompanying a confidential report written by a mysterious young operative who is carrying out a secret plan to infect teenagers with a cell-altering virus.

Winner of the 2007 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award, this novel has all the Sarah Ellis hallmarks—quirky characters, insight and wit—underpinned by resonant themes of family, memory and the creative imagination.

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One Year in Coal Harbour
written by Polly Horvath
Groundwood Books, 2012
for ages 9-12

Readers rejoice—Primrose Squarp is back! The wise and curious heroine of the Newbery Honor Book Everything on a Waffle is facing another adventure-filled year in Coal Harbour. Even though her parents, once lost at sea, are home, there's a whole slew of problems and mysteries to keep Primrose—and eager fans—busy. There's Uncle Jack and Kate Bowzer, who may (or may not) be in love. There's Ked, a foster child, who becomes Primrose's friend. And there's the new development on the outskirts of town that threatens the Coal Harbour Primrose knows and treasures. Prolific and brilliant, Horvath has delivered a masterful sequel to a beloved novel, sure to please old fans and gain new ones.

Winner of the 2013 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.

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Owls in the Family
written by Farley Mowat
McClelland & Stewart, 2017 ©1961

Every child needs to have a pet. No one could argue with that. But what happens when your pet is an owl, and your owl is terrorizing the neighbourhood? Owls in the Family is a delightful treasure to be read again and again.

In this exciting story for young readers, a boy's pet menagerie, which includes crows, magpies, gophers and a dog, grows out  of  control with the addition of two cantankerous pet owls. The story of how Wol and Weeps turn the whole town upside down is warm, funny, and bursting with adventure and suspense.

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Plain Kate
written by Erin Bow
Scholastic Canada, 2011

for ages 11 and up

Plain Kate lives in a world of superstitions and curses, where a song can heal a wound and a shadow can work deep magic. When Kate's village falls on hard times—crops fail, and even Kate's father falls victim to a deadly fever—the townspeople look for someone to blame, and their eyes fall on Kate.

Enter Linay, a stranger with a proposition: In exchange for her shadow, he'll give Kate the means to escape the town that seems set to burn her, and what's more, he'll grant her heart's wish. It's a chance for her to start over, to find a home, a family, a place to belong. But Kate soon realizes that she can't live shadowless forever—and that Linay's designs are darker than she ever dreamed.

Winner of the 2012 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.

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Run
(Canada Puffin Classics)
written by Eric Walters
Puffin Canada, 2013 ©2003
for ages 8-12

Winston MacDonald is in trouble. He’s been suspended from school and he’s run away from home. After the police pick him up, he is sent to spend time with his father—a newspaper columnist who hasn’t been around much since the family split up a year ago.

Travelling to Nova Scotia with his father, who is covering what he thinks is just a human interest story about a young man trying to run across Canada, Winston spends some time with Terry Fox and Terry’s best friend, Doug. Their determination to achieve what seems like an impossible goal makes a big impression on Winston and he takes courage and inspiration from Terry’s run. He is overjoyed when his father’s article about the Marathon of Hope ignites public interest across the country.

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Silverwing
written by Kenneth Oppel
HarperCollins Canada, 2010 ©1997
for ages 8-11

Shade is a young silverwing bat, the runt of his colony. But he's determined to prove himself on the long, dangerous winter migration to Hibernaculum, millions of wingbeats to the south. During a fierce storm, he loses the others and soon faces the most incredible journey of his young life. Desperately searching for a way to rejoin his flock, Shade meets a remarkable cast of characters: Marina, a Brightwing bat with a strange metal band on her leg; Zephyr, a mystical albino bat with an unusual gift; and Goth, a gigantic carnivorous vampire bat. But which ones are friends and which ones are enemies?

In this epic story of adventure and suspense, Shade is going to need all the help he can find—if he hopes to ever see his family again.

In 2023, Silverwing was adapted into a graphic novel featuring illustrations by Christopher Steininger.

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The Sky Is Falling
(The Guests of War)

written by Kit Pearson

Puffin Canada, 2014 ©1989

for ages 8-12

It is the summer of 1940, and all of England fears an invasion by Hitler’s army. When Norah learns that she and her brother Gavin are being sent to Canada, she’s not sure what to expect; she only knows that she doesn’t want to leave her home, her family, or her friends. The rich woman who takes them in prefers Gavin to her, the children at school taunt her—and, as the news from England becomes worse, she longs for home. But as Norah begins to make friends, she discovers a surprising responsibility that might help her accept her new country—and her new situation. Will Norah and Gavin be able to find their way through the shadows of war, even as the sky is falling? Young readers will also want to read the second and third books in the series—Looking at the Moon and The Lights Go On Again.

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The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan
written by Salma Hussain

Tundra Books, 2022

for ages 10-14

Mona Hasan is a young Muslim girl growing up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, when the first Gulf War breaks out in 1991. The war isn’t what she expects—“We didn’t even get any days off school! Just my luck”—especially when the ground offensive is over so quickly and her family peels the masking tape off their windows. Her parents, however, fear there is no peace in the region, and it sparks a major change in their lives.
 
Over the course of one year, Mona falls in love, speaks up to protect her younger sister, loses her best friend to the new girl at school, has summer adventures with her cousins in Pakistan, immigrates to Canada, and pursues her ambition to be a feminist and a poet. 

A finalist for the 2023 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction of Young People.

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The Sockeye Mother
(Mothers of Xsan, Book1)
written by Hetxw'ms Gyetxw (Brett D. Huson)
illustrated by Natasha Donovan
HighWater Press, 2017
for ages 9-12

To the Gitxsan people of Northwestern British Columbia, the sockeye salmon is more than just a source of food. Over its life cycle, it nourishes the very land and forests that the Skeena River runs through and where the Gitxsan make their home.

A finalist for the 2018 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, The Sockeye Mother explores how the animals, water, soil, and seasons are all intertwined.

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Some of the Kinder Planets
written by Tim Wynne-Jones
Groundwood Books, 2000 ©1993
for ages 9-12

Meet someone new… Harriet, who sees Mars and tastes pomengranates—all in one day; Cluny, a girl who wants to publish a magazine for people with weird names; Ky, who lives in a geodesic dome deep in the country; Fletcher, the survivor of an almost fatal illness, who decides to paste the names of exotic places he would like to visit on his chest and stomach; Edward George, who made a discovery and became famous—famous and forgotten—on a hot day in 1867.

You'll get to know them all in Some of the Kinder Plants—nine stories full of humour, surprise, fear and wonder, peopled by characters who are just like you, and yet very, very different.

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Sorry for Your Loss
written by Joanne Levy
Orca Book Puhblishers, 2021
for ages 9-120

Evie Walman is not obsessed with death. She does think about it a lot, though, but only because her family runs a Jewish funeral home. At twelve, Evie already knows she's going to be a funeral director when she grows up. So what if the kids at school call her "corpse girl" and say she smells like death? They're just mean and don't get how important it is to have someone take care of things when your world is falling apart. Evie loves dusting caskets, polishing pews, and vacuuming the chapel,and on funeral days, she dresses up and hands out tissues and offers her condolences to mourners. She doesn't normally help her parents with the grieving families directly, until one day when they ask her to help with Oren, a boy who was in a horrific car accident that killed both his parents. Oren refuses to speak and Evie, who is nursing her own private grief, is determined to find a way to help him deal with his loss.

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Stealing Home
written by J. Torres
illustrated by David Namisato
Kids Can Press, 2021
for ages 9-12

Sandy Saito is a happy boy who reads comic books and is obsessed with baseball—especially the Asahi team, the pride of his Japanese-Canadian community. But when the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor, his life, like that of every other North American of Japanese descent, changes forever. His family is forced to move to a remote internment camp, and his father must spend months away from them. Sandy, his mother and his brother cope as best they can with the difficulties at the camp. Over time, Sandy comes to realize that life is a lot like baseball. It's about dealing with whatever is thrown at you, however you can. And it's about finding your way home.

In this emotionally gripping graphic novel, J. Torres has artfully woven a fictional story into a historically accurate, thoroughly researched account of the events surrounding the internment of Japanese Canadians during World War II. Using the approachable graphic novel format, the story of this grave chapter in North American history is gently told with sensitivity and insight, and the theme of baseball runs through the story as a message of hope and renewal. The time and place are evocatively rendered in David Namisato's detailed sepia-toned art. 

A finalist for the 2022 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.

 

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Teddy vs. the Fuzzy Doom
(Secrets of Ravensbarrow, Book 1)
written and illustrated by Braden Hallett
Annick Press, 2024
for ages 8-12

Starting at a new school is hard enough for an anxious kid like Teddy. But Ravensbarrow Elementary seems extra unsettling. First, there are the zombie-like kids and teachers, with their vacant stares and strange, echoey voices. Then there are the hamsters. So. Many. Hamsters. With their scrabbly claws and beady eyes and... wait. Can those hamsters talk?

Teddy must face old fears (making friends) and new ones (evil hamsters!) in this frightening and fast-paced, hilarious, and heartfelt debut, which was a finalist for the 2025 Jean Little First-Novel Award.

  

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Thanks a Lot, Universe
written by Chad Lucas
Amulet, 2021
for ages 10-14

Brian has always been anxious, whether at home, in class, or on the basketball court. His dad tries to get him to stand up for himself, and his mom helps as much as she can, but after he and his brother are placed in foster care, Brian starts having panic attacks. And he doesn’t know if things will ever be “normal” again...

Ezra’s always been popular. He’s friends with most of the kids on his basketball team—even Brian, who usually keeps to himself. But now, some of his friends have been acting differently, and Brian seems to be pulling away. Ezra wants to help, but he worries if he’s too nice to Brian, his friends will realize that he has a crush on him...

But when Brian and his brother run away, Ezra has no choice but to take the leap and reach out. Both boys have to decide if they’re willing to risk sharing parts of themselves they’d rather hide. But if they can be brave, they might just find the best in themselves—and each other.

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This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall
(Macdonald Hall, Book 1)

written by Gordon Korman
Scholastic Canada, 2013 ©1978

for ages 9-12

Macdonald Hall's ivy-covered buildings have housed and educated many fine young Canadians. But Bruno Walton and Boots O'Neal are far from being fine young Canadians. The roommates and best friends are nothing but trouble! Together they've snuck out after lights-out, swapped flags, kidnapped mascots... and that's only the beginning.

Bruno and Boots are always in trouble. So the headmaster, a.k.a. "The Fish," decides it would be best to separate them. Bruno must now room with ghoulish Elmer Drimsdale, plus his plants, goldfish and ants. And Boots is stuck with nerdy, preppy, paranoid George Wexford-Smyth III. Of course, this means war. Because Bruno and Boots are determined to get their old room back, no matter what it takes.

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Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging
edited by Jael Richardson
Scholastic Canada, 2024
for ages 10-14
In this collection of short fiction, 10 BIPOC authors explore the theme of home—home as a place, a concept, as a way of thinking about the body—through prose, verse and graphic storytelling.

In “In a Flash” by Marty Chan, three kids come across a camera that traps the people it photographs. But can they figure out how to get out?

When a lady from church comes to visit bringing “gifts,” Hunter sees his home on the rez in a new light in “Home Fires” by Michael Hutchinson.

In “The Secret Cousin” by Chad Lucas, Lonnie is spending Thanksgiving with his mother’s family, who he hardly knows. Lonnie navigates the tension and discomfort of being one of two Black people in the house. But he finds new friendship in his cousin Ethan.

These stories and more bring together perspectives on belonging from BIPOC authors from across the country. These additional authors include Jael Richardson, Rosena Fung, Angela Misri, Mahtab Narsimhan, Danny Ramadan, Liselle Sambury, and Brandon Wint.

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Turned Away: The World War II Diary of Devorah Bernstein
(Dear Canada)
written by Carol Matas
Scholastic Canada, 2005
for ages 9-12

Devorah learns that 5,000 Jewish children in France have visas to leave the country, but the Canadian government will not let them in, leading Devorah to desperately lobby the government to change its policies.

Turned Away illustrates the restrictions on the life of Jewish people in Paris via letters from Sarah who is living in German-occupied France. It also reveals Canada's dismal record on Jewish immigration during World War II and depicts the impact of the war in Canada. In Winnipeg, one intriguing response to the war was "If Day," when local people posed as Nazis and staged a mock invasion to illustrate what it would be like if the city was occupied. Also included are fascinating period documents and photographs, many from the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

A finalist for the 2006 Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People.

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The Umbrella House
written by Colleen Nelson
Pajama Press, 2022
for ages 8-12

Middle-schooler and New Yorker Roxy Markowski wants to tell the truth fearlessly and powerfully, just like her idols at Veracity News. She and her best friend Scout already make YouTube videos together about East Village life, so when Veracity News announces a Young Voices video competition, Roxy knows it’s the perfect opportunity to make a name for herself, if only she can find a story worth telling. When a real-estate mogul threatens to buy her historic East Village apartment building, Umbrella House, Roxy sets out to create a video about the people who live in her building, depicting their love for art, community, and family.

With time—and her options for saving Umbrella House—running out, Roxy finds herself caught up in the mystery of the Midnight Muralist, a famous East Village artist whose murals once made buildings famous and valuable. Could finding this enigmatic artist be the key to saving her historic East Village apartment building?

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The Water You're Swimming In
written by Rachel Schwartz Fagan
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
for ages 9-12

Noah is used to being a straight-A student, swim champ and all-around easy kid.

But things haven't been the same since Noah's older brother Jamie ran away to Halifax, leaving only a note behind. His parents spend every free second on the phone or driving to Halifax to try to find Jamie, and Noah is left trying to mask his anxiety and grief by pretending to be the perfect son who does everything right. But inside he feels like crying and gets a knot in his stomach whenever he thinks of Jamie.

Some warmth returns to their home when Grandma Aisling comes to stay, bringing her fiddle and her genius for making chocolate cake with her. At school, funny and kind Alysha joins his class and Noah has a new friend to distract him from his worries. When a swim competition is announced with the grand prize being a trip to Halifax, Noah knows he has to win it so he can go to Halifax himself, and get Jamie back.

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Water, Water
written by Cary Fagan
illustrated by Jon McNaught
Tundra Books, 2024
for ages 10 and up

One morning Rafe wakes up to discover his bedroom is floating in a vast sea of water. Alone with only his dog for company, Rafe adapts to this strange new world by fishing cans of food out of the water and keeping watch. Boxes float by, as does a woman, playing her cello. Then, one day, Rafe fishes out a young girl, who joins him in his room—they don't speak the same language, but they will face this uncertain future together.

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Weird Rules to Follow 
written Kim Spencer
Orca Book Publishers, 2022
for ages 9-12

Mia knows her family is very different than her best friend's.

In the 1980s, the coastal fishing town of Prince Rupert is booming. There is plenty of sockeye salmon in the nearby ocean, which means the fishermen are happy and there is plenty of work at the cannery. Eleven-year-old Mia and her best friend, Lara, have known each other since kindergarten. Like most tweens, they like to hang out and compare notes on their crushes and dream about their futures. But even though they both live in the same cul-de-sac, Mia's life is very different from her non-Indigenous, middle-class neighbour. Lara lives with her mom, her dad and her little brother in a big house, with two cars in the drive and a view of the ocean. Mia lives in a shabby wartime house that is full of relatives—her churchgoing grandmother, binge-drinking mother and a rotating number of aunts, uncles and cousins. Even though their differences never seemed to matter to the two friends, Mia begins to notice how adults treat her differently, just because she is Indigenous. Teachers, shopkeepers, even Lara's parents—they all seem to have decided who Mia is without getting to know her first.

Spencer's debut novel pulled off a hat-trick at the 2023 CCBC Book Awards, winning the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction for Young People, the Jean Little First-Novel Award, and the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.

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The Witness Blanket: Truth, Art and Reconciliation
written Carey Newman and Kirstie Hudson
Orca Book Publishers, 2022
for ages 10 and up

For more than 150 years, thousands of Indigenous children were taken from their families and sent to residential schools across Canada.

Artist Carey Newman created the Witness Blanket to make sure that history is never forgotten. The Blanket is a living work of art, a collection of hundreds of objects from those schools. It includes everything from photos, bricks, hockey skates, graduation certificates, dolls and piano keys to braids of hair. Behind every piece is a story. And behind every story is a residential school Survivor, including Carey's father. This book is a collection of truths about what happened at those schools, but it's also a beacon of hope and a step on the journey toward reconciliation.

Winner of the 2023 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-Fiction, as well as a finalist for the 2023 TD Canadian Children's Literature Award.

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The Wolf Suit
written and illustrated by Sid Sharp
Annick Press, 2022
for ages 8-11

Bellwether Riggwelter is, once again, out of blackberries. This time, rather than tiptoe through a forest full of predators, he comes up with a new plan. He will keep himself safe by blending in—he will sew a Wolf Suit! The disguise works perfectly... sort of. Bellwether realizes he can’t enjoy the forest in a bulky suit, and he may not be the only creature in the forest who feels that way. Perhaps not everyone is as wolfish as they appear.

With humour, darkness, and insight reminiscent of Jon Klassen and Edward Gorey, Sid Sharp turns the idiom “wolf in sheep’s clothing” on its head.

Shortlisted for the 2023 Jean Little First-Novel Award, this touching graphic novel debut about the pressures of conformity and conquering fear by finding community is the perfect contemporary folktale to press into the hands of anyone who has felt they need to pretend to be someone else.