Reviews of twelve new Canadian books by Roz Maclean, David A. Robertson, Stacey Matson, June Hur and more!
Where you see the character of Axi, it means the title was reviewed from an accessible format.
Picture Books | Middle Grade | YA/Teen | Non-Fiction
Picture Books
Do You Know the Dark? Exploring the Unseen, Unknown, and Unusual
written and illustrated by Roz MacLean
Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, 2026
978-1-250-39220-6 (hc) $25.99
978-1-250-47941-9 (ebook) $14.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 2
Picture Book | Nature | Light and Dark | Curiosity
Roz MacLean has a knack for writing about sophisticated subject matter for young readers in a manner that is both elegant and alluring. She does this once again in Do You Know the Dark? Starting off with light, she contrasts what you can see in the light and what you cannot see in the dark. Shadows, sounds, creatures, underground, undersea, in the night sky — what can you see and hear and experience in the dark? MacLean challenges young readers to think and dream about all the possibilities found in the dark.
MacLean’s multi-media illustrations fill double-page spreads with darkness and light. Shadows can be ominous but also funny. Some pages are packed with animals to identify and require lingering over. Others are singular images like the child’s face with eyes closed and ears prominent because “In the dark ears become alert.”
The writing is spare and poetic. It expresses wonderment at all the ways a person can experience the dark. For example, on the double page where people are staring up at the night sky, the text offers this observation: “In the dark the stars reveal themselves so, so, so far away.” This one page alone could spark a child’s lifelong curiosity about space. MacLean uses a vocabulary familiar to children but also includes words that might be new to them: “In the dark shadows spread, dancing and askew.” And isn’t that a perfect word for how shadows appear?
This is a book to pore over again and again. It is beautiful and engaging in every way. Highly recommended.
Theo Heras is an author and a former children’s librarian living in Toronto.
When I’m a Moshom
written by David A. Robertson
illustrated by Corrie Hill
Tundra Books, 2026
978-1-7748-8174-3 (hc) $24.99
978-1-7748-8175-0 (ebook) $11.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 2
Picture Book | Family | Indigenous | Swampy Cree
This lovely story begins with a child imagining what he will do when he himself becomes a moshom in the distant future. He explains that he will be sure to attend all of his grandchildren’s extracurricular activities and loudly cheer them on. With love, he will teach them traditional ways, both the culture and the language. He will tell them stories and take them to his home, to his community, and out on the land. As a moshom, he will teach them the good life. In doing these things, he knows his own moshom will be with him.
Gentle and never didactic, Robertson skillfully conveys, in a Cree way, teachings and ways of being and knowing that were naturally passed down from his own father and moshom. The generational love and the ancestors uplifting the young ones is felt throughout the book.
Hill’s beautiful, earthy, soft, pastel-hued palette is highly evocative of Julie Flett’s illustrations in the original On the Trapline. This visual connection helps bind the two stories together, always drawing the heart and mind back to the intergenerational relationship between child and grandfather.
The book includes an author’s note at the beginning explaining how the story came about, as well as a glossary of ininīmowin/Swampy Cree words at the end. When I’m a Moshom is highly recommended for home, school, and public libraries.
Colette Poitras is a member of the Métis Nation of Alberta, holds a Master's degree in Library and Information Science and is the Indigenous Public Library Services Advisor for the Government of Alberta.
When We Go Home
written by Heather Beaumont
illustrated by Nátali de Mello
Kids Can Press, 2026
978-1-5253-1251-9 (hc) $21.99
978-1-5253-1375-2 (ebook) $13.99
for Kindergarten to Grade 2
Picture Book | Caribbean | Multigenerational | Diversity | Multicultural
Can a country you’ve never visited be home? Is the country of your parents’ birth yours as well? When We Go Home explores this idea through the many things that will and do happen on a family's trip “when [they] go home”.
Mom and Dad are excited to bring the family home to Jamaica to visit.
“Not my home,” [Marlee] say.”
Her brother Nile copies her response.
I love the shift in perspective from the parents sharing what they can do when they go home to Marlee sharing what they actually do when they arrive. We see reunions for the parents and the kids meeting relatives (that they recognize from photos) for the first time. Marlee shares all the things she notices, like the star-filled sky, and new experiences, like drinking from green-water coconuts.
I love the details like picking ackee, falling asleep to reggae music, and the description of Jamaican patois as “sing-song” words. I did not get to experience going home as a child, but I did see my children experience visiting the country that was their grandma’s home. And this book has captured that excitement, wonder and feeling of belonging that develops on that first trip to a home you’ve only heard about. Marlee’s gentle shift in perspective on Jamaica is heartwarming and rings true.
De Mello’s illustrations are warm and whimsical, with a colour palette that evokes the island sun. I can recognize Jamaican foods in the family feast, and appreciate the variety of hairstyles and clothing patterns included.
This is a perfect book for first-generation kids and anyone who has more than one place they call home.
Tara Truscott is a teacher-librarian with the York Region District School Board.
Middle Grade
Eleven Out of Ten
written Stacey Matson
Scholastic Canada, 2026
978-1-0397-0879-2 (pb) $12.99
for Grades 4 to 7
Fiction | Friendship | Grief | Summer Camp
This summer was supposed to be the best summer yet for cousins and best friends Lake and Albie; Lake had a new pool, and she and Albie were going to win the young entrepreneurs contest and go to Vancouver. All this changes when Lake has a life-threatening accident and is rushed to the hospital.
Albie struggles to understand what happened to Lake and why her parents won’t let her go see Lake or even let her know what’s going on. While her mother goes to Vancouver to support Lake’s family, Albie and her younger brother, Link, are sent to day camp. As Albie meets new people and makes new friends, she feels like she’s betraying Lake. How can Albie have fun and make new friends while Lake is on her own in the hospital?
Eleven Out of Ten explains grief and the need for understanding from the perspective of an 11-year-old, and how frustrating it can be when the adults don’t seem to listen. Albie has to learn that sometimes things can’t be easily explained, that adults aren’t perfect, and that, unfortunately, bad things can happen to anyone. Albie must also learn that it’s okay to be happy, even during the bad times, and that life doesn’t stop when something bad happens.
Meagan Richards started her library career in public libraries and quickly developed a soft spot for junior and YA literature through collection development and programming. She continues to read YA titles regularly in her spare time.
A Home for Lucy
written by Mike Levitt
Lorimer, 2026
978-1-4594-2060-1 (hc) $27.99
978-1-4594-2059-5 (pb) $19.95
978-1-4594-2061-8 (ebook) $9.99
for Grades 9 and up
Fiction | Romance | Homelessness and Poverty | Activism and Social Justice
When 16-year-old Ben Belenski discovers that Lucy Campbell — the fearless track star he’s been admiring from afar — is living in a riverside tent with her mother, his understanding of homelessness shifts overnight. What begins as a moment of crisis becomes the spark for something bigger: a student-led movement to reclaim an abandoned RV park and turn it into a safe, stable community for people who need it most. As Ben and Lucy rally classmates, outreach workers, and even city council, their friendship deepens into something tender and hopeful: proof that change often starts with two young people refusing to look away.
Mike Levitt’s writing is grounded, compassionate, and unflinching, offering readers a clear-eyed look at homelessness without stigma or sensationalism. Levitt’s characters feel lived‑in and real, from the warm, steady presence of outreach workers Chuck and Sheri to the vulnerable resilience of Lucy and her mom.
This standalone novel is ideal for readers ready to engage with real-world issues through a lens of action, empathy, and community. With themes of housing insecurity, activism, friendship, and first love, A Home for Lucy speaks to middle-grade readers stepping into adolescence, as well as older teens who recognize the power of youth-led change. It’s a story for anyone who has ever wondered how to make a difference — and for anyone who needs the reminder that courage often begins with a single step.
Sara Rigotti is a student at the University of Ottawa and a board member of the Writers’ Community of Durham Region.
Ready, Cassette, Go!
(Cassette City)
written and illustrated by Jarett Sitter
Annick Press, 2026
978-1-8340-2056-3 (hc) $31.99
978-1-8340-2057-0 (pb) $19.99
for Grades 2 to 5
Graphic Novel | Early Readers | Friendship | Music | Bands | Bullying | Teamwork | Humour | Social Emotional Learning
When Melody moves to Cassette City after her mom left her and her dad, she just wants to be a solo act from hereon in. After a run-in with bully Styles, Melody decides to temporarily join a band so she can knock Styles out of the upcoming Rock Your Socks battle of the bands. Luckily, Raccoon Snackwitch and mushroom Taki are looking for a third member of their group after losing to Styles the year before. With Atikus the robot as the final member, the summer is filled with band practice, arcade time, movies and mix tapes. But Melody still insists that she’s better off on her own, and soon the band is in jeopardy right before the battle of the bands. Is she really better off solo, or is the music better with her new friends at her side?
Fun and original, Ready, Cassette, Go! is the first book in a new series by debut author and illustrator Jarett Sitter. In Cassette City, there’s no social media or modern technology. Instead, the arcade, the movie theatre and the skate park rule the summer. And, more importantly, cassettes are everything. While today’s kids won’t feel the nostalgia the way that adults will, they’ll still love the world so perfectly captured in the art. The unique character design brings to life characters that feel real from their struggles, even if they’re a talking raccoon or a robot.
Ready, Cassette, Go! isn’t all 80’s nostalgia: at its heart, it’s a story about friendship and the importance of not closing oneself off to others. This series starts off on a high note with a cool, retro look that all ages will love. Humour abounds, kids will look forward to the next book in the series and maybe even set aside the iPad to find out what the heck a cassette is.
Em Hunter works in the publishing industry. They live in Barrie with a very fluffy cat.
YA/Teen
Behind Five Willows
written by June Hur
MacMillan Publishers, 2026
978-1-2503-4808-1 (hc) $26.99
979-8-2173-4568-7 (ebook) $34.00
for Grades 8 and up
Historical Fiction | Korea | Familial Pressures | Romance | Sibling Relationships | Marriage
Haewon, the second-eldest daughter of a poor family, understands that her role is to marry well and care for her sisters. As pressure from the marriage edict presses down around her, she finds an escape as an illegal book transcriber. Her life as Magpie gives her access not only to secret fiction, but also to the books of her favourite author, Black Lotus. Seojun is in a similar place in a very different world. As the only child of a wealthy noble, he is expected not only to marry well, but also to live a respectable, restrained life. When his only escape—writing—is taken from him, he must find new meaning in a place where he least expects it.
Behind Five Willows by June Hur, author of A Crane Among Wolves, pays homage to her favourite work by Jane Austen. In this Pride and Prejudice-inspired novel, readers are transported to a version of Korea that is not often explored in the YA historical fiction space. Themes of respectability, familial pressure, and hiding one’s true self create a sense of relatability in the characters of Haewon and Seojun. Told in alternating narratives in a classic literature style, this slow-burning love story draws readers not only into the relationship between the protagonists but also into the dynamics between families, sisters, and mysterious friends. The plot of this novel smoothly takes the reader on an exploration of history that is dynamic and deep, leaving a clear picture of the moment in time in which Haewon and Seojun find themselves.
Ashley Pamenter is a volunteer with the Ontario Library Association’s Red Maple, White Pine, and Yellow Cedar Steering Committees. She is also a national manager of programs at Girl Guides of Canada (Guides du Canada).
Lake Life
written by Tanya Boteju
Quill Tree Books, 2026
978-0-06335-854-6 (hc) $25.99
978-0-06335-856-0 (ebook) $10.99
978-0-06335-857-7 (audiobook) $36.99
for Grades 9 and up
Fiction | Romance | 2SLGBTQIA+ | Activism and Social Justice | Summer
Maya has always enjoyed summers at Spruce Lake, but this year is different. She made a spectacular mistake last year when she assumed her friendship with Rashida might develop into something deeper. Now Maya must face not only Rashida but the folks of Spruce Lake who are sympathetic on one hand yet also encourage her to “quit moping” and move on. Can Maya simply be Rashida’s good friend, or can she perhaps convince Rashida that they really might have a future together as a couple?
Gabe, the other main character, has been exiled to Spruce Lake by her mother, partly as punishment for her bad behaviour, and partly to give her the opportunity to grow up and change her attitude for the better. Gabe can’t imagine how this will happen, since she doesn’t like small towns or the people in them and doesn’t want anything to do with the outdoors or activities like hiking. She hates Spruce Lake from the moment she arrives.
Naturally, the two young women meet. They hatch a “fake dating” plot in hopes of making Rashida jealous and getting her back with Maya once again. Readers follow the ups and downs of this plan and watch how this interesting three-way friendship works out.
There are various themes in the novel, as well as the main love story. Gabe and Rashida are both from families which offer very little support. Maya, on the other hand, has a solid relationship with loving parents. Along with this, readers will be introduced to environmental activists trying to protect Spruce Lake from a developer who wants to build a resort nearby. And there are Indigenous characters who play their role in attempting to protect the water and land around them.
Maya and Gabe take turns narrating the story, and both grow emotionally as the book goes on. Anyone interested in romance, and specifically in LGBTQ relationships, will enjoy Lake Life. And the sociological, environmental and indigenous themes are simply the icing on the cake!
Ann Ketcheson is a retired teacher-librarian and high school teacher of English and French who lives in Ottawa.
The Ocean Would Paint Me Blue
written by Zoulfa Katouh
Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2026
978-0-3163-5194-2 (hc) $25.99
978-0-3163-5220-8 (ebook) $16.99
for Ages 14 and up
Fiction | Family | Bullying | Islam | Art | Friendship | Syria| Racism | Grief
Jihad Dabbagh has been through the wringer; her mother was murdered in a hate crime and her father has retreated into his grief. As a Muslim of Syrian origin, Jihad wears a hijab, but those around her, even in cosmopolitan New York City, fear her culture. Her plan is to keep her head down and attend art school in San Francisco, but her family insists that she enroll in an elite private school for her final year of high school. Here she has a target on her back from day one; the lone bright spot is Jamie, a thoughtful, kind, handsome student who genuinely cares about her. When the bullying at school turns from psychological torment to a physical attack, Jihad is not surprised that there are no consequences for her classmates. Though she lost her ability to see colours after her mother’s death, Jihad returns to making art as a coping strategy. A magical sketchpad passed down from a female relative causes reproductions of her artwork to be splashed across the city, leading to an intricate conclusion.
Jihad is an intense narrator — complex, intelligent, brave — and her story is harrowing to read. Katouh depicts vile and destructive racism, and some of Jihad’s life experiences are shocking and heartbreaking. There is hope, though, as several characters find strategies to take action in this dark world, an important lesson for all young readers. Jihad’s story is immersive and expansive, and the elements of magical realism are seamlessly integrated into the text.
Kris Rothstein is an editor, cultural critic and literary agent in Vancouver, BC.
Non-Fiction
All About Us: 20 True Tales of Courage and Disability
written by Hannalora Leavitt
illustrated by Stef Wong
Orca Book Publishers, 2026
978-1-45983-708-9 (hc) $29.95
978-1-45983-710-2 (ebook) $23.99
for Grades 4 to 6
Non-Fiction | People with Disabilities | Representation | Diversity | Inclusion
Though visibility and representation of many marginalized communities have improved significantly in recent years, disability remains an underserved, stigmatized, and misunderstood facet of humanity. Children with disabilities struggle to find characters and role models who share their lived experiences, partially owing to cultural underrepresentation, but also owing to the staggering diversity within the disability community. All About Us is an excellent middle-grade resource that not only addresses the recognition needs of children with disabilities but also provides able-bodied readers with a much-needed glimpse into the experiences, challenges, and achievements of people with disabilities.
Each chapter outlines the life and accomplishments of an individual with disabilities who has succeeded despite societal expectations to the contrary. Through the stories of a very diverse array of subjects, the reader learns of a broad spectrum of disabilities and their attendant innate and socially imposed challenges. This includes mobility disabilities, sensory disabilities, intellectual disabilities, and invisible disabilities such as those that cause chronic pain. Readers learn how various disabilities manifest and hear subjects describe their daily challenges in their own words. One of the most outstanding chapters includes the story of a physiotherapist with low vision who describes her biggest challenge as overcoming her internalized ableist attitude towards her own disability. As these intrusive feelings are common among children growing up in a society that caters to the able-bodied, the inclusion of this chapter is particularly commendable.
Orca Book Publishers has provided a well-designed, accessible ebook version with features such as appropriately descriptive alt text for all images, a highly navigable heading structure, and accessible glossary links. The book includes a number of tangential insets, and the publisher has thoughtfully placed these at transitional points within the text so as not to interrupt the narrative flow when played by a reader app.
Michael Nyby is a cataloguing and metadata librarian at the Hamilton Public Library.
Let Me Be Honest: 28 Young Artists on Surviving an Uncertain World
edited by P. Anneka Lynch and Michaela Allen
Annick Press, 2026
978-1-83402-042-6 (hc) $24.99
978-1-83402-043-3 (pb) $18.99
for Grades 9 to 12
Non-Fiction | Mental Health | Substance Use | Social Issues | Poetry | Art
This collection features a stunning array of poems, interviews, photographs, and artwork created by youth living in inner-city Toronto communities, reflecting on themes of mental health, substance use, and relationships. In a beautiful opening note from the editors, Allen and Lynch welcome the reader to begin with the Five Senses activity: notice five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell, and one thing you can taste. The gentle grounding exercise prepares readers to reflect and take care as they consider the difficult problems faced by current teens, and this text is not afraid to offer an honest perspective on how teenagers are handling such pressures.
Discussion-provoking entries in the collection include an anonymized interview with a teenager about the pressures of stereotypical notions of manhood and the need to provide for one’s family. When examined in combination with a system that forces Black youth to mature at a young age, the interview demonstrates how criminal paths can be reflective of not choice, but rather survival. Such entries are simultaneously imbued with humour and hope, as one author reflects upon his resilience by noting that he is a raccoon, and raccoons are like Goonies. They never die. Another short story titled “Dear Weedman” envisions the writer sending letters to the titular Weedman, reflecting upon the vulnerability of youth exposed to the culture of substance misuse.
This collection should be a staple of high school libraries, and I would highly recommend using the text as a classroom resource for analyzing the short story and poems. The editors have also taken care to highlight the essential public resource—211, a database that assists users in finding food banks, shelters, mental health supports, and justice services. This resource can be accessed by calling 211 or visiting 211.ca.
Kayla O’Brien is a graduate of Queen’s University law school who obtained her B.A.H. and M.A. in English Literature.
She Was the Story Girl: How L.M. Montgomery Learned to Never Give Up!
written by Joann Hamilton-Barry
illustrated by Leah Boudreau
Nimbus Publishing, 2026
978-1-7747-1501-7 (pb) $19.95
for Grades 5 to 9
Non-Fiction | Biography | Canadian Novelists | 20th Century Literature | Prince Edward Island
She Was the Story Girl is an early chapter book that offers a refreshing and vital look at the woman behind the pen. This biography is a must-read for elementary school children who love Montgomery's stories and for those who are interested in becoming writers. Hamilton-Barry expertly balances the sombre realities of "Maud’s" childhood—being raised by strict grandparents who didn't value creative writing—with the unstoppable enthusiasm and deep imagination that eventually gave the world Anne of Green Gables. It serves as an inspiring narrative for young writers and educators looking to discuss resilience and the importance of finding inspiration in the everyday.
Leah Boudreau’s colourful artwork is vibrant and whimsical, perfectly capturing the lush, coastal atmosphere of PEI that Montgomery loved so dearly. Her illustrations breathe life into the "Story Girl" herself, helping younger readers visualize Montgomery’s transition from a lonely orphaned girl with a dream to a global literary icon. Teachers and curious readers will appreciate the inclusion of informational sidebars that provide historical context without breaking the narrative flow.
This is a beautiful introduction to legendary Canadian writer L.M. Montgomery that carefully reminds us all to never give up on our dreams, no matter how hard they may be to achieve. I highly recommend it for public and elementary school libraries, as well as personal collections.
Krista Jorgensen is a former public librarian currently residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is homeschooling her two children.