We’re wrapping up our Spring preview today with a series of wild-card picks! Read on for a list of titles of all kinds and genre-defying picks that should be on everyone’s list.
For more new releases sorted by genre, check out our poetry and prose picks, non-fiction recommendations, and books for children and teens.
For Children
The Corn Chief by Karen Whetung, photos by Lindsay Delaronde (Medicine Wheel Publishing)
Told with the help of traditional corn husk dolls, The Corn Chief tells the tale of a wizened old chief who is set to step down, and young Linny who dreams of being chosen as his replacement.
Out Now!
I Am Everything In Between by Sydney Sunderland (Rebel Mountain Press)
An important and encouraging book for kids who may not fit into stereotypical gender norms, written and illustrated by Sydney Sunderland.
Out Now!
Sangeet and the Missing Beat by Kiranjot Kaur (Rebel Mountain Press)
“The book’s joyful storyline is complemented by vibrant, cartoon-like illustrations that have a homespun feel. Cue applause for this picture book about a Sikh girl who loves music.” — Kirkus Reviews
Out Now!
Bigfoot Crossing by Gail Anderson-Dargatz (Orca Book Publishers)
Perfect for middle-grade readers, Bigfoot Crossing follows young Jay, a Bigfoot skeptic, and his father, a Bigfoot hunter, on a camping trip. What lurks in the forest?
From the Publisher:
Jay doesn’t believe in Bigfoot.
His dad loves hunting for Bigfoot, but searching for a mythical creature in the dark isn’t Jay’s idea of fun. Especially because he always gets stuck looking out for his little sister while his dad plays with the cool gear, like night-vision goggles. But while out on a camping trip, a large creature starts hunting them, and then Jay’s father goes missing. Jay is forced to start tracking the creature himself while still keeping his sister safe. It turns out that not only is Bigfoot real but it isn’t the only threat in the woods. There’s a different kind of monster out here, one who is armed with a gun. Jay must act fast to save his father before it’s too late. And he needs Bigfoot’s help to do it.
This high-interest Orca Currents book is written specifically for middle-schoolers reading below grade level.
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Star Eaters by Brooke Carter (Orca Book Publishers)
A sci-fi adventure for middle-grade readers. In a world where suns and other stars are being consumed by Star Eaters, members of an intergalactic corporation use advanced technology to steal energy from planets to fuel a fleet of roving starships.
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For Adults
Sex, Sexuality, and the Constitution: Enshrining the Right to Sexual Autonomy in Japan by Shigenori Matsui (UBC Press)
From the publisher: This rigorously detailed legal analysis argues for sexual autonomy as a constitutional right, a position that has potential implications for government policy not only in Japan but in all countries facing similar issues.
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The New Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life of California: Completely Revised and Expanded by J. Duane Sept (Harbour Publishing)
This guide to the most common animals and plants of the West-Coast seashore is a must-have for any curious beach visitor or California tourist.
Coming Fall 2023!
Nothing Comes Back: Stories by Susan E. Lloy (Now or Never Publishing)
The fourth collection from established short story writer Susan E. Lloy explores themes of aging and transformation.
Out Now!
My Paddle’s Keen and Bright: Summer Camp Stories by Rika Ruebsaat (New Star Books)
Reminiscent and nostalgic, the stories in this collection recall every aspect of summer camp. The narrators capture the exhilaration and nervousness of summers spent away from home at camps across the country.
Out Now!
Cafe Conversations: Democracy and Dialogue in Public Spaces by Michael Picard (Anvil Press)
Written by MIT-trained philosopher Michael Picard, Cafe Conversations is the first book to look closely at the phenomena of philosophizing in a cafe.
Out Now!
Pandexicon: How the Language of the Pandemic Defined Our New Cultural Reality by Wayne Grady (Greystone Books)
“Words coined by Covid deftly woven into a journal/timeline, taking us through two years of surrealism and limbo.” — Margaret Atwood
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Spring Rain: A Life Lived in Gardens by Marc Hamer (Greystone Books)
From the beloved author of How to Catch a Mole and Seed to Dust comes a highly original memoir of childhood, old age, and the restorative power of the garden.
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The Missing Caribou Hide: Traditional Tłı̨chǫ Stories and Legends by Wendy Stephenson and Cecilia Judas, editing by Madeline and Cecilia Judas, illustrated by Joan Sherman (Hancock House)
“Not only should the book be in every classroom, but every Canadian should also read these stories to help understand Indigenous Peoples and their culture.” — Paul Andrew, Order of the Northwest Territories
Out Now!
Room at the Inn: Historic Hotels of British Columbia’s Southern Interior by Glen A. Mofford (Heritage House)
A fully illustrated social history profiling forty historic hotels spread over five regions of the southern interior of British Columbia, covering the time period of the 1890s to 1950s.
Coming May 16, 2023!
A Complex Coast: A Kayak Journey from Vancouver Island to Alaska by David Norwell (Heritage House)
David Norwell is an author, illustrator, and world traveller who has worked for six seasons conducting biological and geological surveys in BC, Alberta, and the Yukon. Follow along his 1,700-kilometre kayak journey from Victoria, BC, to Gustavus, Alaska, illustrated with whimsical watercolour maps and images.
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Inheritance: a pick-the-path experience by Daniel Arnold (Talonbooks)
A unique theatrical experience that includes insightful forewords by President of the Haida Nation Miles Richardson and environmentalist David Suzuki, a brief history of the Secwépemc People, a detailed study guide for students and teachers, and an interview with the co-creators.
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Kechika Chronicler: Willard Freer’s Northern BC and Yukon Diaries, 1942-1975 by Jay Sherwood (Caitlin Press & Dagger Editions)
Award-winning historian Jay Sherwood delves into the diaries of reclusive packer Willard Freer to uncover daily life in one of the most remote areas of BC.
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