49th Shelf

Dad Era, by Jordan Abel (Coach House Books) "I used to think my only path in life as to drop out of/ school and start dealing cocaine with your/ Uncle Lee and now I regularly buy/ sweatpants at Costco./ As essential guide to parenting should include/ several comprehensive reviews of/ noise-cancelling headphones." The past and the future collide in the present in Dad Era, by Griffin Prize-winner Jordan Abel, a collection of poetic reflections and aphorisms and critiques of anything that...

An excerpt from the memoir Barefoot Gringo (On Point Press). Bringing a seasoned and highly regarded Canadian voice to the travel writing tradition, George Bowering unveils a deep love of life, food, and all things Mexico in Barefoot Gringo. Drawing on his time spent as a foreigner in Latin America, Bowering traces his footsteps to linger on the joy found in the little things. ***** If you have ever lived in a village, you know what fine art is like in such settlements.

Last year, while I was editing the stories in Earthen, I read these Canadian books, and it’s no surprise to me that each of them contains some kind of connection to the living earth, even in their titles. They represent many different forms, from poetry and children’s books to short and longform fiction, memoir and drama—forms that I also write. They are also, remarkably, all written by women and appear here in alphabetical order by first name.

While writing This Is Why I Need You, I found myself returning again and again to the relationships that have carried me through some of my toughest, darkest times, as well as stood by me when the light was shining bright overhead. We often talk (and read) about romantic love, but I decided to turn to friendships, sisterhoods, because those have been the relationships that have sustained me through the long middle of my life.

In the title story of Natalie Southworth's debut collection, sisters sneak out of their unstable mother's apartment to find "reality," an experience with lasting repercussions. Southworth concentrates on moments like this—moments of disconnection, family fragility and unexpected expressions of love.

Hollie Adams shines as the fantastic meets the hyper-realistic in her story collection Dear Humans (June). In Dennis Allen’s Indian Medicine (October), a collection of linked tales set on a remote northern community, we follow Jimmy Whiskey-Jack, an unscrupulous but lovable schemer, and his cheerful sidekick, Chubby Larue, as they stumble from absurd escapades into the heart of life on the rez.

We aren’t given much room as we grow to decide for ourselves who we want to be—often, ideas from others shape us before we even fully glimpse ourselves.

I write because I like writing. I like words and sentences. I like thinking about people. I want to understand the wicked as well as the good and the often mistaken majority in between. I like imagining their complicated lives. In A Study in Red, I delved into the lives of two women who shared a few hours and a shocking incident in 1962, when they were both young.

Avoid the summer slide with these fun and engaging STEM books for young readers. ***** Space on Earth, by Dr. Dave Williams and Linda Pruessen Do you dream of riding in a spaceship? In a way, you already have—aboard Spaceship Earth. Just as astronauts must carefully manage limited resources to survive in space, we must do the same to protect our planet. Space on Earth invites readers to think like astronauts, using space-inspired innovations to tackle real-world environmental challenges.

Get your summer reading on! And all of these books are up for giveaway throughout July 2026. Don't miss your chance to win! ***** One Day Hard and Clear, by Anne Baldo (Dundurn Press) About the book: A poignant novel about two best friends sharing yearning, rejection, and lip gloss in a close-knit blue-collar town. It’s 2004 and childhood friends Sami and Lucy are on the edge of adulthood. Lucy knows what she is going to do—she’s going to school and getting out.