All the Canadian books we're excited about this fall
Looking for your next read? Check out all our lists of Canadian fiction, nonfiction, poetry, comics and children's books to read in the second half of 2023!
Canadian fiction
Our top pick: The Circle by katherena vermette
The Circle is the third and final book set in the world of The Strangers and The Break, featuring some of the same characters. With Phoenix set for release from prison for the assault she committed in The Break, the news is sending ripples through the community. Her sister Cedar has been both dreading and longing for her return, while M, the girl Phoenix assaulted is triggered by the news. When Phoenix goes missing shortly after her release, past grievances, revenge plots and accusations begin swirling — and the community and the people who live there all search for healing in their own ways.
katherena vermette is a Métis writer from Winnipeg. Her books include the poetry collections North End Love Songs and river woman, the novel The Break and the four-book graphic novel series A Girl Called Echo. North End Love Songs won the Governor General's Literary Award for poetry. The Break was a finalist for the Rogers Writers' Trust Fiction Prize and the Governor General's Literary Award for fiction. It was defended by Candy Palmater on Canada Reads 2017.
Canadian nonfiction
Our top pick: My Effin' Life by Geddy Lee
My Effin' Life is the long-awaited memoir from Rush bassist Geddy Lee. He writes candidly about his childhood, the history of the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Canadian band Rush and their success after some struggles early on, as well as intimate stories about his friends and bandmates Alex Lifeson and Neil Peart.
Lee is the vocalist, bassist, and keyboard player for the group Rush, with drummer Neil Peart and guitarist Alex Lifeson. Lee was ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the top bassists of all-time. Lee is also the author of the best-selling Geddy Lee's Big Beautiful Book of Bass.
Canadian poetry
Our top pick: After That by Lorna Crozier
Acclaimed Canadian poet Lorna Crozier lost her longtime partner, fellow poet Patrick Lane, in 2019. In her latest collection, After That, Crozier examines immense grief and loss and highlights the beauty of sorrow and the magic you find in everyday life.
Crozier is a Governor General's Literary Award-winning poet who has written more than 15 books. She won the 1987 CBC Poetry Prize for Angels of Silence. Her other poetry collections include God of Shadows and What the Soul Doesn't Want.
Canadian comics
Our top pick: Roaming by Jillian Tamaki & Mariko Tamaki
Roaming is a YA graphic novel that follows best friends Zoe and Dani on a trip to New York City during their first year of college. As a queer romance blossoms between Zoe and Dani's classmate Fiona — who tags along — friendships get put to the test and all three girls learn more about who they are.
Jillian Tamaki is a Toronto-based cartoonist, illustrator and educator. With her cousin Mariko Tamaki, she co-created the YA graphic novel Skim, which won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — text. Another collaboration, This One Summer, won the Governor General's Literary Award for young people's literature — illustration.
Mariko Tamaki is a writer based in Oakland, California. Her other books include the YA novels (you) Set Me On Fire and Saving Montgomery Sole. She's also the author of many superhero comics for DC Comics, Darkhorse and Marvel.
Canadian YA
Our top pick: Songs of Irie by Asha Ashanti Bromfield
Songs of Irie is a historical coming-of-age YA novel set in 1976. Irie and Jilly are from two different worlds — Jilly lives in the hills, safe in a mansion, while Irie is from the heart of Kingston, where fighting on the streets is a regular occurrence. Tension is building on the streets and there is civil unrest in the lead-up to an important election. Irie and Jilly bond at Irie's dad's record store over their love of Reggae music and must fight for their friendship, and budding romance, to survive.
Songs of Irie is for ages 13 and up.
Asha Ashanti Bromfield is a writer, actress, singer and producer of Afro-Jamaican descent. She is known for starring as Melody Valentine, drummer for the band Josie and the Pussycats, in the television show Riverdale and as Zadie Wells in the Netflix show Locke and Key. Her YA novels include Hurricane Summer and Songs of Irie. She is from Toronto. CBC Books named Bromfield a Black Canadian writer to watch in 2022.
Canadian middle-grade
Our top pick: The Portal Keeper by David A. Robertson
The Portal Keeper is the fourth book in the Indigenous middle-grade fantasy series, The Misewa Saga. Morgan, Emily and Eli discover a village, Ministik, where the resident animal beings who live there are going missing. The friends are determined to help, especially once they discover who is responsible. Eli meanwhile is still trying to understand his new power — the ability to locate a portal.
The Portal Keeper is for ages 10 and up.
David A. Robertson is a writer and graphic novelist based in Winnipeg. Previous books in Roberson's Misewa Saga series include The Barren Grounds, The Great Bear and The Stone Child. Other books by Robertson include the graphic novels Will I See? and Sugar Falls, the YA book Strangers, the memoir Black Water and the Governor General's Literary Award-winning picture books called When We Were Alone and On the Trapline, both illustrated by Cree-Métis artist Julie Flett.
Canadian picture books
Our top pick: Do You Remember? by Sydney Smith
A boy and his mother talk about their memories, like having a picnic with dad who is no longer with them. Do You Remember? is a picture book that explores how memories are made, whether they're happy or sad.
Do You Remember? is for ages 3 to 6.
Sydney Smith is a writer and illustrator from Halifax. Some of his other works include illustrating Town Is by the Sea which won the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award in 2017 and the Kate Greenaway Medal, and Small in the City which he also wrote. Small in the City won the Kate Greenaway Medal and the Ezra Jack Keats Award.
