Canadians reading Canada
For our second post in celebration of Canadian Children’s Book Week 2021, I’ve picked three Young Adult books written by Canadian Women that are set in Canada. Because sometimes, when I read Canadian, I actually want to read about Canada and Canadian people in Canadian places. Our country is huge and has so much to offer in terms of fascinating setting and a variety of cultures to explore. And I love reading books set in my province, Alberta – if we don’t talk politics or COVID, Alberta is pretty wonderful and has some of the most gorgeous landscape in the world. The three books I have chosen for this post are heavily infused with beautiful Alberta setting and revolve around very real feeling teens with difficult problems.
The first book is a recent release by Danika Stone called Switchback, published by Swoon Reads. It is a riveting survival story about teens separated from their camp group and lost in the wilderness in Waterton Lakes National Park in dangerous weather and the threat of encroaching wildfire.
The cover of Switchback by Danika Stone.
Next, I picked Under the Radar by Judith Clark, published by DCB, an imprint of Cormorant Books. This one is set in Southern Alberta, in the rural Medicine Hat area and in Calgary. It is a heartwarming contemporary novel about teenage boy, Gunnar, who loves riding horses, working on his parents farm, and wrestling in the school wrestling team. And he has kept his sexuality a secret. It is a coming out story that is uplifting, at times very funny, and ultimately a celebration of becoming who you were always meant to be.
Cover for Under the Radar by Judith Clark.
And up last for today, is The Hill by Karen Bass, published by Pajama Press. This one is set up in Northern Alberta. It is the story of a teen, Jared, who survives the crash landing of a plane he is travelling in. He is found by a Cree teen, Kyle, and together they survive while a creature from legend hunts them. Infused with elements of horror this one is a page turner that simultaneously explores the slow build of trust, friendship, and respect between two very different teen boys.
Cover for The Hill by Karen Bass.
Happy Reading!
– Stacey
Find these books at your local Canadian indie bookseller!
