Marching North

Written by Yolanda T. Marshall

Art by Daria Lavrova

Chalkboard Publishing

978-1-771059022

40 pp.

Ages 5–10

February 2026

 

A visit to Aunty Evangelina's is more than just a visit to enjoy some Bajan souse. It's a deep dive into history and heritage and lessons in acceptance.

From Marching North, written by Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrated by Daria Lavrova

When the child asks Aunty about getting into an altercation with her friend Ava after Ava made fun of a new boy's accent and the child stood up for him, Aunty Evangelina tells her,

Don't doubt the direction you chose. You picked your battle and you won. (pg. 9)

With talk of direction, Aunty Evangelina shows her an old compass, one of the many story-filled treasures that decorate her house. That sparks a discussion about the soldiers in some of her pictures, of which there are many, and their Caribbean origins. Most of all the child asks whether everyone was proud of them for their bravery. And Aunty tells her about the reality for Black soldiers who were often treated unkindly and might have had to challenge the government for the right to join the fighting forces.

From Marching North, written by Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrated by Daria Lavrova

Aunty introduces the child to eight extraordinary Black veterans who served Canada during the First and Second World Wars. Their names, perhaps less recognizable than they should be, were Isaac Phills, George Livingstone, William Gale, Thamis Gale, Ethelbert Lionel Cross, Hewburn Greenidge, Dr. Joseph Liverpool, and Owen Rowe. But Aunty also gives them substance beyond their military service. She speaks of the countries of their origins, from Guyana to Trinidad and Tobago, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. She speaks of their contributions to society and their cultures, whether through Caribana, now called the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, or to fields such as law and medicine. Aunty wants Abiola to know and remember these people and stand up for the freedoms they defended.

From Marching North, written by Yolanda T. Marshall, illustrated by Daria Lavrova

Though the story of Marching North is presented as a picture book, it is a narrative with information wrapped in a simple plot of a child learning how to do what is right. Yolanda T. Marshall, whose previously reviewed picture books (e.g., Big Birthday Wishes, 2025; What's in the Cookie Tin?, 2024; Hot Cross Buns for Everyone!, 2022) were lighthearted, now approaches a serious topic in Marching North. It's one of awareness of the contributions of Black Canadians who chose to join the military forces even amidst discrimination and disrespect that would have discouraged most. These men—perhaps there were Black women soldiers as well though there are none highlighted in Marching North—deserve recognition and honour for what they did. And the lesson that Abiola—whose African name means born in honour or wealth—takes from these men and her Aunty is that she will choose the direction she will take in life and make a difference. (pg. 33) 

I was captivated by Daria Lavrova's art. At first glance, it reminded me of that iconic painting by Norman Rockwell titled The Problem We All Live With (1964; oil on canvas, 91 cm × 150 cm [36 in × 58 in], Norman Rockwell Museum) in which a young Ruby Bridges is escorted by marshals to her desegregated school. It is a powerful statement about courage and strength in the face of racism, and that same message is reflected in Yolanda T. Marshall's text of Marching North. But Russian-born Daria Lavrova goes beyond that similarity—and that representation may all be in my interpretation—and adds layers by blending images of the Caribbean homes of these veterans with symbols of their new country of Canada. How Daria Lavrova created such beauty and movement, as well as strength of character and pride in her characters, is astonishing to me.

 

For this Black History month and for every lesson on the veterans who fought for Canada, Marching North will be a valuable addition. Not only do we learn about the contributions of Black Canadians with whose names many of us are sadly unfamiliar, we can acknowledge the bravery shown and sacrifices that they and others made. And, in focusing on what we should be doing, i.e., following the right path, we won't lose sight of what's important.

Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness

Written by Maria Birmingham

Illustrated by Catherine Chan

Owlkids Books

978-1771476201

48 pp.

Ages 8–12

January 2026 

 

While I suspect that identification as being left-handed is not the big deal that some used to make it, it is still an issue for many whose left hands are their dominant hands, particularly as they live in a world that is dominated by right-handers. For those who are left-handed and those who aren't but love learning about human behaviour, how our brains work, and what makes us unique and different, Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness offers opportunities for insight and for understanding. 

From Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness, written by Maria Birmingham, illustrated by Catherine Chan

Maria Birmingham, one of the stars of children's non-fiction (e.g., Snooze-O-Rama: The Strange Ways That Animals Sleep, 2021; Canada Wild: Animals Found Nowhere Else on Earth, 2022; When Nature Calls: The Unusual Bathroom Habits of the World's Creatures, 2024; Can We Talk?: How Humans Stay in Touch, 2025), takes a historical and scientific approach to the topic of why and how some people become lefties. Outside of her introduction and conclusion chapters, Maria Birmingham organizes her information according to the following:

• The History of Lefties
• Why is a Lefty a Lefty?
• Fact or Fiction?
• Inside Sports
• Body Talk
• Can Animals Be Lefties?
• Living in a Righty World 

After an introduction to being a lefty, including a fun quiz to help determine whether the reader is a lefty, a righty, or a bit of both—about one percent of people are ambidextrous—Maria Brimingham discusses some fascinating historic evidence of lefthandedness, like scratches on teeth and hand painting. She also writes of how lefthandedness was perceived in ancient civilizations—either as cursed or magical—through the middle ages, and into the Industrial Revolution. Readers will also learn how lefthandedness was seen in modern times, with parents and teachers forcing kids to write with their right hands.

From Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness, written by Maria Birmingham, illustrated by Catherine Chan

Beyond the history, Maria Birmingham gives readers the basics of the science of lefthandedness, from DNA to baby's development, and brain differences. There's also some discussion related to creativity, intelligence, and memory, as well as its role in sports and perhaps survival. And even though the term "lefthandedness" rests on the premise of having hands, other animals seem to show preferences too. A penultimate discussion about living in a world of righthandedness will give readers pause, particularly for righties who never consider the challenges for lefties using scissors, tech, and other tools.

From Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness, written by Maria Birmingham, illustrated by Catherine Chan

I appreciate Maria Birmingham's final note about moving away from the lefty-versus-righty idea. The issue isn't that we're different; it's the idea that one may be better than the other because of dominance. Since we're all about diversity, equity, and inclusion, maybe separating people along lines of handedness may not be appropriate. But, acknowledging those differences will help everyone be included and get what they need, and that's a good thing.

 

Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness is a terrific introduction to why some people use their left hands for writing and other functions rather than their right hands. The book is a thorough examination of the topic from history to science and sports, and even identity. With Toronto illustrator Catherine Chan's digital artwork (created on a Wacom tablet) to bring the non-fiction text to life in colour and context, Left-Handed: Getting a Grip on Handedness becomes an entertaining and informative read about the extraordinary nature of the ordinary.

Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story

Written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger

Illustrated by Michelle Theodore

Annick Press

978-1-77321-985-1

64 pp.

Ages 11+

August 2025 

 

Setsuko Thurlow née Nakamura was born in Kojijn-machi, an eastern part of Hiroshima, in 1932. Her family had been samurai, and she'd had a rich childhood of family and education before the war came. With it, everything changed.

From Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story, written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger, illustrated by Michelle Theodore

As happened worldwide, daily life had to accommodate the threat of attack and the rationing to support military efforts. Hiroshima, a bustling city, was an important transportation and industrial hub and, with its port, it became a critical military harbour. Young children were sent away, food was rationed, and the people were encouraged to make sacrifices for "the glory of the country." (p. 25) As a thirteen-year-old, Setsuko and other girls were recruited to decode messages. August 6, 1945 was her first day as a decoder. She was at army headquarters in Hiroshima when the first atomic bomb was detonated on their city.

From Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story, written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger, illustrated by Michelle Theodore

Setsuko Thurlow's recollections of being buried in the rubble of a collapsed building, helping the countless burned and blinded, being reunited with some family and watching others suffer and die are horrific. And as a child, she lived this horror. Her parents set an unimaginable example of fortitude and courage. Still when those who had survived began to experience mysterious illnesses and die, there was new grief and confusion.

From Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story, written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger, illustrated by Michelle Theodore

Setsuko Thurlow's story does not end with the bombing of Hiroshima. She speaks of the aftermath including Japan's surrender and the occupation by U.S. and British Commonwealth forces, and the call for the abolition of nuclear weapons by herself and other Hibakusha (Japanese for explosion-affected persons) and activist groups worldwide.

 

The story of the bombing of Hiroshima and also Nagasaki is not an easy one. With so much suffering and devastation, any discussion would be brimming with tragedy, emotional distress, and worse. This story is even more so because it is told from the perspective of Setsuko Thurlow, herself a survivor. But Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger go beyond the bombing itself and give the reader history of Hiroshima, of World War II, and of Setsuko Thurlow's activism and the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Campaign for the Abolishment of Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) with which she is involved. (She delivered the Nobel lecture upon receiving the prize.) 

From Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story, written by Setsuko Thurlow and Kathy Lowinger, illustrated by Michelle Theodore

While much of Never Silent: A Hiroshima Survivor's Story is illustrated with countless photographs and images of newspapers and other documents, Edmonton's Michelle Theodore provides artwork that elevates the book from documentation to personal. She uses ink and watercolour markers to create sombre and evocative illustrations that depict both deeply personal and deeply poignant scenes. Her focus is on the Japanese setting and people, but all converges on what they are experiencing whether it be childhood joy, distress with tragedy, or compassion.

 

The 80th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima was commemorated this past August which is when this book was released. Because many of the Hibakusha are elderly, their stories are precious recollections to inform us and encourage action for peace. Setsuko Thurlow's story in Never Silent gives us a unique perspective but also a comprehensive one by embedding it in the history of Hiroshima, World War II, and the peace movements against nuclear weaponry. It is a touching and enlightening read, and it is one we would be wise from which to learn.

The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy

Written by Erica Fyvie

Illustrated by Scot Ritchie

Kids Can Press

978-1-5253-0668-6

56 pp.

Ages 8–12

September 2025 

 

As the Grade 6 Eco Club presents their project to conduct an energy audit at the school, a buried time capsule outside the school mutters away, waiting to be discovered and realizing it hasn't had many opportunities to learn. As the kids discuss the upcoming improvements to make the school more energy efficient including a rainwater collection system, a green roof, and solar panels, construction workers outside discover the time capsule—which seems to have its own thoughts as seen by its distinct speech bubbles—left by Class 6 from 1900. In the time capsule is a note from the teacher, Miss  Edna Sorman, who speaks of the impressive engineering of Birch Elementary Public School. So, with that note and the artifacts within, the kids of Class 6 of 2025 begin to see how things have changed over more than a century. 

From The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy, written by Erica Fyvie, illustrated by Scot Ritchie

With their teacher dividing the class into 4 teams to tackle the issues of electricity, plumbing, building, and transportation, the Energy League is born. Through discussions and perusal of the time capsule's contents, the students think about the past, what their lives are like now, and then aim to apply what they've learned to predicting what things could be like in 2125, sparking plans for a Future Fair.

From The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy, written by Erica Fyvie, illustrated by Scot Ritchie

Within the context of the discovery and the class's activities, young readers will learn about energy, kinetic energy, wastewater measures, retrofitting, and more. We get glimpses into the past when a hand-cranked ice-cream freezer was a luxury at $1.26, when innovations like electric light bulbs  and indoor plumbing were often seen as dangerous, and when the horse and buggy were the norm.  In addition to revealing much about where things were at around the turn of the century (the 20th century), author Erica Fyvie provides snippets about other time capsules, some accidental, some not, like the global seed vault, the Terracotta Warriors, the wreck of the Titanic, Voyager Golden Records, and Scott's hut in Antarctica, as well as reports about recycled building materials, food waste as a source of energy, and zero-fuel transportation.

I

From The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy, written by Erica Fyvie, illustrated by Scot Ritchie

The Sustainable School covers a lot of information, but it does so in an engaging format. The use of a graphic-novel style to embed history, inquiry-based learning and STEM concepts will interest middle-grade readers and their teachers and parents. It is a story that does not need to be read in one sitting—though it could be—and can be used as a fabulous launching off for a myriad of science lessons on environmentalism and energy but also studies of history, particularly how things have changed. With those query lessons (see above for part of one based on the question, "Can we build a new building with only recycled materials?"; p. 40), Erica Fyvie offers educators a different way of looking at inquiry. She encourages focusing on the past as a step in the evolution of our infrastructure systems and to project how things might just change in the future. And with the illustrations by Scot Ritchie, whose artwork has enhanced the text of many picture books and non-fiction books (e.g., All Our Love, Frederica, and If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It), The Sustainable School becomes a welcome information book for middle graders and their classrooms. I always remark on the lightness of Scot Ritchie's artwork, probably because of his rendering it in pencil and then ink before colouring in Photoshop but it lends itself well to keeping information text manageable and hardly imposing or dull. In fact, Scot Ritchie's characters, who show the wonderful diversity of many classes today, and the graphic-novel format create a milieu for engagement.

From The Sustainable School: A Journey Through Time and Energy, written by Erica Fyvie, illustrated by Scot Ritchie

I really hope that Erica Fyvie and Scot Ritchie can extend this style of non-fiction to other topics, perhaps One Health or education. It is very reminiscent of Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin's The Good Times Travel Agency in the blending of graphics with time perspective and information, and I believe Erica Fyvie and Scot Ritchie honour those who've first accomplished much in presenting non-fiction books in captivating and informative ways. After all, looking back isn't languishing there; it's informing the future.

The Kids Book of Black History in Canada

Written by Rosemary Sadlier

Illustrated by Arden Taylor

Kids Can Press

978-1-5253-0737-9

64 pp.

Ages 8-12

June 2024

 

I know that The Kids Book of Black History in Canada came out last year but with February being Black History Month, it seems appropriate to review this stellar book on the cusp of next month.

 

While a book on Black history in Canada could never be complete, The Kids Book of Black History in Canada does a commendable job of focusing on the history of Black Canadians across the country and from the time of slavery in New France to key events like the arrival of Black Loyalists and the Underground Railway. The book also talks about the civil rights movement and representation.

From The Kids Book of Black History in Canada, written by Rosemary Sadlier, illustrated by Arden Taylor

The book starts with an explanation of what Black Canadian history is, including who are Black Canadians, terminology used, their diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds and more. The section on African beginnings is comprehensive, including discussions about trade routes and the slave trade, leading to the arrival of the Loyalists, the formation of the Colored Corps and more. While many are familiar with the Underground Railroad, Africville and contemporary events like the Black Lives Matter movement, there are many, many parts of history with which readers may be unfamiliar. There are the Jamaican Maroons, the Black Californians, and the Exodusters. There are waves of migration to Canada and from Canada. And they're all part of this history.

From The Kids Book of Black History in Canada, written by Rosemary Sadlier, illustrated by Arden Taylor

Throughout, the profiles of important Black Canadians are highlighted from those who are well-known like Viola Desmond and Mary Ann Shadd to Dr. Anderson Ruffin Abbott, the first Black graduate of Toronto's Medical College, and Stanley G. Grizzle, the first Black judge in Ontario's Citizenship Court. And because there isn't enough room to recognize all the accomplishments of Black Canadians, Dr. Rosemary Sadlier appends her book with pages of profiles of athletes, broadcasters, musicians, writers, dancers, scientists, and more who've made extraordinary contributions to Canadian society.

From The Kids Book of Black History in Canada, written by Rosemary Sadlier, illustrated by Arden Taylor

While the book is organized along a timeline, reaching from the beginning through the American Civil War, World War I and II, and the civil rights movements to the celebration of Black heritage with Lincoln Alexander Day (January 21) and the Toronto Caribbean Carnival, it is never cemented in only timely events. Dr. Rosemary Sadlier, who instrumental in establishing Black History Month and Emancipation Day in Canada, ensures there is a rich discussion about everything from segregation to the "roots of racism" and the dangers of stereotyping. The Kids Book of Black History in Canada covers everything that young people would need to know for a broad introduction to Black history while giving them opportunities to learn more and think about what it means to be a Black Canadian. 

 

Illustrated by Toronto artist Arden Taylor, The Kids Book of Black History in Canada is presented in a colourful and organized manner. Whether providing historical background images or profiles of important Black Canadians, Arden Taylor's digital artwork is well defined and personal.

 

This book will be useful for teaching and learning throughout the year, but with February, Black History Month in Canada, just around the corner, I recommend picking up this updated edition of Rosemary Sadlier's 2003 book, The Kids Book of Black Canadian History, to ensure an inclusive and timely address of a significant history.

Queer History A to Z: 100 Years of LGBTQ+ Activism

Written by Robin Stevenson

Illustrated by Vivian Rosas

Kids Can Press

978-1-5253-0835-2

64 pp.

Ages 10-14

May 2024

 

What a perfect month to review this extremely comprehensive book of non-fiction that celebrates the key players and events in the history of LGBTQ+ activism! I was riveted by what I learned.

From Queer History A to Z, written by Robin Stevenson, illus. by Vivian Rosas

Author Robin Stevenson has long championed LGBTQ+ stories in both fiction (e.g., When You Get the Chance) and non-fiction (e.g., Pride: Celebrating Diversity and Community), but in Queer History A to Z she takes the opportunity to inform on the history of those for whom LGBTQ+ issues have always been paramount. Basing her information according to the letters of the alphabet, Robin Stevenson educates readers on everything from terminology like drag and Indigiqueer and significant historical events like the protests at the Stonewall Inn and the National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights to bios of important activists like Bayard Rustin and Marsha P. Johnson who fought and inspired movements.

From Queer History A to Z, written by Robin Stevenson, illus. by Vivian Rosas

I did not exaggerate when I used the word "comprehensive." Queer History A to Z may be  based on 26 key ideas but it goes beyond just those 26 people, terms or events. It gives us so much more, including an additional 35 short bios of queer activists, a thorough timeline of a hundred years of key events, a glossary, and references of LGBTQ+ resources for young readers as well as references for books, websites and films which might be useful. If you want an introductory book about LGBQT+ history that is also inclusive and extensive, Queer History A to Z fits the bill.

From Queer History A to Z, written by Robin Stevenson, illus. by Vivian Rosas

Robin Stevenson's thorough and informative text is accompanied by Vivian Rosas's bright and bold digital art that includes everyone in the LGBTQ+ communities. Not only does she depict historical figures accurately–I know this because every story so intrigued that I was constantly checking for more info online–Vivian Rosas gives the events authenticity and the pride that is conveyed from within.

From Queer History A to Z, written by Robin Stevenson, illus. by Vivian Rosas

For all readers, young and old, Queer  History A to Z may be a primer on LGBTQ+ activism for the past 100 years but it is also an acknowledgement of communities that have endured the full gamut of discrimination for that same time. The book is in itself an act of activism to empower those who have been and may still be denied the rights to be themselves everywhere and anywhere. 

"We need in every community a group of angelic troublemakers." ~ Bayard Rustin (1912-1987)

A Song for the Paper Children

Written by Christopher Tse

Plumleaf Press

978-1-7388-9828-2

52 pp.

Ages 9+

May 2024

 

 

A Song for the Paper Children
is a tribute to early Chinese immigrants, some of whom came to Canada after the Chinese Exclusion Act was passed to severely restrict their entry. These “paper children,” courageous men and women, endured legislated racism, financial hardship, and frequent acts of violence and discrimination, but they followed in the footsteps of their predecessors to lay the foundation for a Chinese Canadian community today that is vibrant, resilient, and here to stay.

 

 

With this preface, slam poetry artist Christopher Tse introduces the background for his poem and book about the stories of Chinese Canadians who endured and thrived under challenging circumstances of racism, economic hardship, exclusionary government policies and more. Christopher Tse tells their stories with admiration and respect, and makes it a true song, a composition of historical relevance.

From A Song for the Paper Children, by Christopher Tse

Christopher Tse's poem is a tribute to his own family. He remembers his Gung Gung (maternal grandfather) and relatives toiling in his Quebec restaurant, "his smile tired bright" (p. 12). How did they manage knowing that they were not wanted, that they were not meant to succeed or put down roots?

We were never meant to make home from ashes, 

to find kin from the masses. (p. 17)

From A Song for the Paper Children, by Christopher Tse

Peppering his poem with photographs of people and documents as well as drawings, Christopher Tse instills a gravitas to his works which are already deeply evocative of time and place. Surprisingly, much of it comes from asking questions. How did they feel? What did they think? What was the cost? Are they heard now? Christopher Tse makes the reader think and feel. It is the feeling of heartbreak for mistreatment and abuses, of awe for resilience and endurance, and of astonishment that these stories happened.

From A Song for the Paper Children, by Christopher Tse

There is hurting in much of A Song for the Paper Children but that hurting is always bonded to courage and tenacity. From generations who witnessed anti-Asian signage to families destroyed by exclusionary practices like the Chinese Head Tax and the Chinese Immigration Act, there has been discrimination against and negation of their contributions  by virtue of their heritage alone. With A Song for the Paper Children, Christopher Tse gives voice of empowerment through his recognition of Chinese Canadians past and present and applauds them.

From A Song for the Paper Children, by Christopher Tse

I hope that there will be an opportunity for Christopher Tse to record a performance of A Song for the Paper Children. There is an obvious emphasis or tone to his poem that is evident in the choice of font and colour as well as placement of text, but I suspect that the cadence of a performance would be compelling. For his words and their stories to come together in one dynamic presentation would be another step forward towards reconciliation.

Shizue's Path

Written by Mark Sakamoto

Illustrated by Rachel Wada

HarperCollins

978-1-44346-459-8 

48 pp.

Ages 5-8

September 2023

 

You need to know your darkness to know your light.

This is a story from history of history. It's a history too many lived and one which should not have happened and should never happen again. Still, it is a story of resilience and courage that arose from discrimination.

From Shizue's Path, written by Mark Sakamoto, illus. by Rachel Wada

Shizue, now an elderly woman, welcomes her granddaughter to hear her story. Though her memory may be less than reliable about some things, Shizue remembers vividly her father heading out to fish and worrying about his safe return. He always reassured her.

When I am on the water, I am the water. I am clear. I am flowing. I am finding a path forward. Someday you will, too.

But then everything changes with the onset of World War II.

A war from far across the ocean washed up on our new country’s shore. 

First came the anti-Asian leagues and their protests. Then Japanese Canadians had their homes and businesses taken away and Shizue's family was relocated to the prairies. It was years before Shizue was able to return to school, and longer, not until after the war, before the family was able to return home. Still, it was not the same.

From Shizue's Path, written by Mark Sakamoto, illus. by Rachel Wada

Again, Japanese Canadians were being threatened, this time with deportation to Japan. Shizue, now a young woman attending the University of Toronto, finally saw that there were those, particularly Rabbi Abraham Feinberg, who would speak against the unfair treatment of Japanese Canadians and promote messages of peace, not hate. She took from them lessons of compassion and courage that set on her own true path.

From Shizue's Path, written by Mark Sakamoto, illus. by Rachel Wada

Mark Sakamoto, author of Forgiveness: A Gift from My Grandparents, an adult fiction book that won the CBC Canada Reads in 2014, has taken a personal story–that of his aunt–and made it one of calm triumph over adversity. Shizue learned well from her father about seeing her path, to follow "Shikata ga nai" (trans. "It cannot be helped; you must carry on.") and from others like Rabbi Feinberg to create her own ripples of courage and compassion, wisdom and goodness. The stories of Japanese Canadian internment are plentiful, each providing a different perspective and context–see Mira and Baku, Naomi's Road, Torn Apart: The Internment Diary of Mary Kobayashi, Vancouver, British Columbia, 1941 and Stealing Home for just four examples–and Mark Sakamoto gives us yet another one, taking young readers along Shizue's Path from childhood to young woman and grandmother. And he gives us her story with a poetry of depth of emotion and wisdom. He makes her story beautiful, even in its darkness, just as artist Rachel Wada does.

Vancouver's Rachel Wada's first illustrated book, The Phone Booth in Mr. Hirota's Garden (written by Heather Smith), won the Elizabeth Mrazik-Cleaver Canadian Picture Book Award for 2020, and her success with showing the weightiness of the story with the beauty of people and place is again evident in Shizue's Path. The gravity of Shizue's family's situation because of the anti-Asian racism and the lightness that comes with reading, family, and evidence of kindness are all demonstrated in Rachel Wada's art. She uses line and colour effectively to take us on that journey of adversity and comfort, through darkness into light, triumphant with wisdom and compassion.

Just as Shizue learned from her father and others about how to be resilient and show compassion, so will young readers for whom internment may or may not be an unknown concept. Shizue's Path demonstrates that Shizue could move through hardships and take important lessons from those who had the courage to share.

Swept Away: Ruth Mornay and the Unwanted Clues

Written by Natalie Hyde

DCB

978-1-77086-689-8

200 pp.

Ages 8-12

April 2023 

Reviewed from advance reading copy

When 63-year-old Beatrice Payens is swept away in the Teeswater River, her 11-year-old friend and next-door neighbour Ruth Mornay is grief-stricken and perplexed. Why would Bea, head of the Teeswater River Embankment Rehabilitation Society and diligent advocate for signage warning Pinkerton residents about the danger of getting too close to the water's edge, be so negligent? Something doesn't add up for Ruth. 

 

Things get weirder when Hugh Rolls and his young son Saul move in next door, inheriting the house from their Aunt Bea, though Ruth knew Bea had no relatives. Ruth has even more questions. Problem is, all Ruth has are questions. Troubled by weird dreams of drowning and a paltry trio of bequests–a weird water sprinkler head, some old, embroidered gloves and an ugly picture of flowers made from human hair (yech!)– Ruth starts looking for clues and suspects among her fellow residents of Pinkerton (population 134). With Saul as her secret ally, Ruth works at putting the clues together, when she isn't running after her escaped Rhode Island Red hen, Dorcas.

 

The best mysteries are the ones you don't know are mysteries. Ruth suspects something is amiss, but she doesn't really know that Bea didn't just slip into the water accidentally. But, like a puzzle with only a few pieces, Ruth starts slowly. And she thinks and speculates, and she asks questions, and she watches. With Saul, another keen observer and solver of mysteries, Ruth learns there really is much more to Bea's story and her own. That's why Swept Away is so fulfilling as a read. Not only does Ruth figure out what happened to Bea–even putting herself in danger–she learns more about herself and her family in the process. She could never have guessed that pursuing a hunch she had about Bea's disappearance could lead her to a new friend, some family history, and an important discovery about herself. Better yet, writer Natalie Hyde, who has authored outstanding middle-grade novels like Up the Creek (2021), Mine! (2017), and Saving Arm Pit (2015), blends a strong plot with an assortment of unique characters, and a touch of humour. A mystery is always an alluring story but add to it a child with six older brothers and no access to computers, a delinquent but clever hen, a wandering pig, townspeople like the town snoop Mrs. Gorgonzola and Ruth's tedious non-best friend Emily Parsons, and you get a whodunit with twists and turns but also laughter. Natalie Hyde always slips in some subtle humour to add a layer of fun. 

Four years ago at the Fall Fair, Mrs. Parsons–Emily's mom–had to be restrained by committee members when she learned Mrs. Gorgonzola's red pepper jelly had beaten hers. She claimed Mrs. Gorgonzola stole her recipe, which was her grandmother's, and passed it off as her own. Mrs. Gorgonzola said Mrs. Parsons shouldn't flatter herself, that the only thing the Parson red pepper jelly was good for was to oil her furniture. (pg. 81)

Often Ruth's observations about her small town are what give us the most humour, like the red pepper jelly debacle or the purported theft of Mrs. Gorgonzola's ugly green neon lava lamp. It's what's really happening in Pinkerton; it just happens to be funny too.

See if you can figure out this whodunit but, even if it comes as a surprise, especially what it means for Ruth, you'll enjoy visiting Pinkerton, a not-so-sleepy small town, a hot bed of secrets, and a playground for a miscellany of farm animals.

Ghostlight

Written by Kenneth Oppel

Puffin Canada

978-0-7352-7233-0

400 pp.

Ages 10+

September 2022

With Halloween almost upon us, how about a new middle grade novel about a trio of teens trying to help a ghost from the 1800s fight an evil one and save her father? Want some fantasy? How about some horror? Action-adventure? Ghostlight has it all. (Even a little romance.)

Sixteen-year-old Gabe is working the summer at Toronto Islands giving the island ghost tour while his best friend Yuri, a mechanical whiz, works maintenance for the rides at the amusement park. Part of Gabe's tour is the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse whose original keeper, William Strand, and daughter Rebecca met their unexplained and tragic ends in 1839. After Gabe unintentionally makes a connection with the ghost of Rebecca Strand in the off-limits lamp room of the lighthouse, enabling him to see and hear her, she tells him that she and her father were murdered by the ghost Nicholas Viker who devoured others to make himself more powerful. Rebecca's father, one of his victims, had been part of the Order of Keepers who protected harbours, cities and coastlines from ghosts by using powerful amber lights called ghostlights to strengthen a lamp's beam and zap ghosts.

We stand guard over the night, to protect the living from the wakeful and wicked dead. (pg. 12)

Enlisting the help of Yuri and a new acquaintance, Callie Ferreira, a teen who works at the CN Tower but also writes a ghost blog, Gabe and burgeoning-techie Rebecca follow ghosts and history to locate the ghostlight and thwart the diabolical Nicholas Viker–"His rage was boundless. His dream denied. His envy unvented." (pg. 109)–who wants the amber crystal for his own nefarious use. It's a race across time and space to find that ghostlight, fight evil spirits, ally themselves with those who do good, and reunite Rebecca with her father, while Gabe also comes to terms with the death of his own father after he'd abandoned the family. Whether they can make things right for Rebecca and her father, the other ghosts, the city of Toronto, and themselves is the story of Ghostlight and it's a doozy. 

 

Kenneth Oppel will always give us a grand story, often taking realistic fiction into the realms of fantasy but with such subtlety that the reader will always wonder: Could this really have happened? Whether it's bats or alien invasions, a sasquatch or a live-forever machine, Kenneth Oppel makes us believe. Often, he does this by embedding a strong historical basis for his story, as he does in Ghostlight, taking us to legitimate Toronto locations like the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, the Grange, the CN Tower and the Fisher Rare Book Library at U of T, and including real persons as characters such as George Brown and William Ward. And Ghostlight makes us believe in the spirits that are still of our world, whether looking for release to a better place or to create havoc for the living. 

 

Whether you read Ghostlight for Halloween or save it for another time, Kenneth Oppel will give you the creepiness of a great ghost story but also remind readers of the pervasiveness of history, good and bad, and the promise of overcoming evil through partnerships. And that's as brilliant as any ghostlight.

From Ghostlight by Kenneth Oppel

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Check out the following post for news of an author event with Kenneth Oppel this weekend.

The Case of the Burgled Bundle (A Mighty Muskrats Mystery, Book 3)

Written by Michael Hutchinson

Second Story Press

978-1-77260-166-4

208 pp.

Ages 9-12

April 2021

The four cousins from the Windy Lake First Nations, who were first introduced in The Case of Windy Lake which was Michael Hutchinson's award-winning entry in Second Story Press's 2018 Indigenous Writing Contest, are back to solve a mystery at the National Assembly of Cree Peoples.

The week-long event begins with the handover ceremony during which the kids' grandfather, the head of the Windy Lake Elders Committee, receives the pipe from the Elder from last year's host, Butterfly Narrows. But this auspicious event does not go to plan when the ceremony is held under cover of Butterfly Narrows's teepee, excluding the majority of event participants, and Grandpa makes a joke that annoys their Elder Eugene Lone Man. 

The lands of Butterfly Narrows have taught them to hold tightly to what they have, to protect what they haven't yet lost. (pg. 19)

Grandpa is ever respectful and circumspect about this slight and invites Elder Leon Shining Deer and Mrs. Shining Deer a.k.a Aunt Dee as Bundle Holders to share the bundle for Treaty 12 and the stories that are linked with it in hopes of easing tensions. Following the protocols associated with the bundle, Elder Leon conducts a welcoming ceremony to which all are welcome. But, though the bundle is guarded all night long in the Butterfly Narrows teepee, it disappears. Worried that his own misstep of toppling the Elders' pipes accidentally during the meal may have damaged the ceremony, Otter and his three cousins, Chickadee and brothers Atim and Samuel, help their Uncle Levi of the RCMP to investigate.

Though The Case of the Burgled Bundle is a great middle-grade mystery with a host of suspects and red herrings to confuse the young investigators, it's the lessons about treaties, treaty bundles, ceremony and customs that gives the story its unique perspective and opportunities for learning. Michael Hutchinson, a member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation, has not just told a story about a stolen item. He has taken us to an assembly of Cree Nations, each different in their histories, their needs and their expectations.

"Grandpa says, you are the land you live on. And the Cree people are spread across some pretty different landscapes." (pg. 8)

There is an appreciation for the differences between First Nations and the treaties they made (Treaty 12 is a fictional treaty), including how they were made and the responsibilities involved with them. Though the components of the bundle are never revealed in detail, its presentation provides the memories of its creation and the importance of guarding it and the stories for all time. With that and a culprit not easily deduced by the reader–the Mighty Muskrats are far more savvy than this reader–The Case of the Burgled Bundle has given us a whodunit rich in relevant Indigenous lessons of history, culture and people.

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The Mighty Muskrats Mystery Series

The Case of Windy Lake (2019)

The Case of the Missing Auntie (2020)

The Case of the Burgled Bundle (2021)

Road Allowance Era (A Girl Called Echo, Vol. 4)

Written by Katherena Vermette

Illustrated by Scott B. Henderson

Colour by Donovan Yaciuk

HighWater Press

978-1-55379-930-6

48 pp.

Ages 10-14

April 2021

 

In the aftermath of the Northwest Resistance, the focus of the third book in Katherena Vermette's A Girl Called Echo graphic novel series, the accidental time traveller Echo returns to 1855 to join her ancestors and other Métis and witness the execution of Louis Riel and the sustained persecution and discrimination of her people.

From Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette, illus. by Scott B. Henderson, colour by Donovan Yaciuk

Though Louis Riel had advocated for the Métis' rights to land granted to them, most scrips entitling them to land in the Red River area have not been honoured. So Echo joins them in returning to Manitoba, hopeful that the agents now set up would ensure that land deeds would be issued to them.

From Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette, illus. by Scott B. Henderson, colour by Donovan Yaciuk

But the discrimination that they have faced all along continues, with their scrips only exchanged for a few dollars and provisions. So the Métis head to Ste. Madeleine where they hope they might rebuild their community.

Time slipping back to the present, Echo's teacher speaks of the unsettling of the Métis and their need to squat on unused Crown lands called road allowance land. Later, though they'd lived there for decades, they are often driven off with violence. Echo's anger at the injustice is palpable though her friend Micah sees the fortitude of their people who were able to withstand so much and still survive.

From Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette, illus. by Scott B. Henderson, colour by Donovan Yaciuk

Still she witnesses much destruction and sadness as the Métis are displaced and then refused the opportunity to buy the land on which they had built lives. 

We are the free people, mon amie. We built this place and we will always be here. No matter what they have done to us, we're still here. We know we will survive. (pg. 38)

From Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette, illus. by Scott B. Henderson, colour by Donovan Yaciuk

Her existence reminds them of that survival, with her ancestors pointing out that they are always within her as there is "blood memory, bone memory" (pg. 29) of their sorrows and their strengths. "Go home and be the future" (pg. 40) is what she is told.

The story of the Métis is heartbreaking, as Echo has learned from her time slips into the past. History class and homework rile her, as they should for anyone with a sense of justice. But Katherena Vermette doesn't just let Echo wallow in anger or distress. She helps her accept that anger as valid but see the strength of her people and the change that has happened for each generation. 

 

Scott B. Henderson's illustrations take us smoothly between past and present, clearly depicting a contemporary Echo and her immediate family and friends versus her ancestors in their settings of prairie scenes of wagons and tipis, and dismal government buildings like courts and land offices. There is an authenticity in his characters that acknowledge the hardships but allude to the joys and colour of Métis culture. Coloured by Donovan Yaciuk, there is a sense of brightness at the edges of the past and the present that lay bare much about what was and is.

From Road Allowance Era by Katherena Vermette, illus. by Scott B. Henderson, colour by Donovan Yaciuk

This is the way to learn history, from those who lived it and those who came from them. Though the horrors of the past might offer extraordinary teachable moments, they also point forward, to a future that offers more hope with each generation. The present may still be troubled with discrimination as land claims continue to be challenged but, as Scott B. Henderson's final illustrations shows us, Echo has her family, past and present, behind her.

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The whole series A Girl Called Echo offers unique opportunities to teach and learn about Métis history. I encourage teachers to examine the whole series.

Pemmican Wars (2017)

Red River Resistance (2018)

Northwest Resistance (2020)

Road Allowance Era (2021)