We’ve all been there. You might find yourself staring at your shelves with no idea what to read next, or you may have lost motivation and not picked up a book in weeks. We’ve rounded up a few award-winning locally published books to help switch up your reading vibe. These titles have drawn the attention of critics based on the sheer weight of their stories, from candid personal essays on women averting societal expectations and introspective poetry to quick, fun nonfiction to breeze through in a day. There’s something below to break the spell and draw you back into the immersive world of reading.
Historical Fiction
When Morning Comes by Arushi Raina (Tradewind Books)
In the Black township of Soweto, South Africa, in 1976, Zanele is a nightclub singer who is also secretly plotting against the apartheid government. In a chain of unexpected events, a chance meeting between a young man named Jack Craven from the affluent white side of town changes everything. When Morning Comes is a richly illustrated snapshot of South African society on the eve of the uprising that changed it forever, including failed plots, murdered teachers and a secret network of students across the township. This novel is the recipient of the 2018 Africana Book Award for Best Book for Older Readers and was shortlisted for the 2018 Crossword Book Award for Young People.
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Children’s
Barnacle Bay by Jana Curll (Greystone Books)
Perfect for readers aged 6–9, Barnacle Bay is the first installment of the Little Habitat series, introducing children to the ecosystem of a bay and the marine creatures and plant life that call it home. This story follows Crab, who is fed up with the bay. Feeling underappreciated and jaded by the monotony of his days, he decides to look for a new home. Along the way, Crab bumps into Larva, who agrees to show Crab around the bay. Together, Crab and Larva visit the sea kelp, a fine shell section of oysters, mussels, clams, and a bickering group of sea anemones in the bay for the perfect spot to settle. This book is a Best Graphic Novel for Children 2025 Selection.
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The Princess and the Pants by Carla Voyageur and Natassia Davies (Strong Nations Publishing)
Written as a tribute to the author’s grandmother, this beautifully illustrated story reimagines a fairy tale in a contemporary Indigenous setting. On the banks of the Gwa’yi River, a young Dzawada̱ʼenux̱w princess grows up to be a curious student, an influential leader, and a mother. When her children discover the truth of her royal status, they lean on strategies from an old tale to put their mother’s royalty to the test. But more importantly, they also learn what it really means to be a princess. This book is the winner of a 2025 Sunshine Coast Writers and Editors Society Book Award for BC Authors. For ages 4-8.
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Poetry
The Flesh of Ice by Garry Gottfriedson (Caitlin Press)
The Flesh of Ice is a poetry collection that combines poems with personal narratives from those who survived Kamloops Indian Residential School (KIRS) and their descendants. These hauntingly visceral poems expose the hard truths about the living conditions, policies and practices of the school itself and the names of practitioners of the school, taking readers on a journey of Secwépemc resilience, survival, pain, and joy. This book won the 2025 Fred Cogswell Award for Excellence in Poetry.
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cop city swagger by Mercedes Eng (Talonbooks)
Mercedes Eng investigates whose safety really matters in Canada’s most expensive city in cop city swagger. In this assessment of Vancouver police’s acts of violence against marginalized communities, Eng juxtaposes the police’s and the city’s institutional rhetoric with its violent reality, presenting a panoramic media montage of structural harm and community care. Eng’s research culminates in a powerful call to action that demands attention. This book was a finalist for the 2025 Vancouver Book Award.
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wet by Leanne Dunic (Talonbooks)
In wet, a transient Chinese American model working in Singapore thirsts for the unattainable: fair labour rights, the extinguishing of nearby forest fires, breathable air, healthy habitats for animals, and human connection. She navigates finding place and belonging while observing other migrant workers toiling outdoors despite the hazardous conditions. This poetry collection unravels complexities of social stratification, sexual privation, and environmental catastrophe. This book won the 2025 Dorothy Livesay Poetry Prize.
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Anthologies/Short Stories
The Eh Team: A Celebration of Canadianisms from Elbows Up to Poutine by Charles Demers (Greystone Books)
The Eh Team is the ultimate guide to the quirks, charm, and outright hilarity of the Canadian lexicon.This fun, feel-good book is your backstage pass to the words, phrases, and expressions that make Canada the Great White North. From “double-double” to “pencil crayons,” from “Nanaimo bars” to “toque,” this witty and insightful book reveals the unique language and culture that define life above the 49th parallel. If you’re in need of a light and unapologetically Canadian read, settle in for a unique reading experience that will bring you right out of a reading slump.
“Funny, short snippets of Canadiana wrung through the hilariously encyclopedic mind of Charlie Demers—so good.” —Ins Choi, creator of Kim’s Convenience
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Beyond Blue edited by Christina Myers and Oga Nwobosi (Caitlin Press)
In these deeply personal essays, 26 mothers from all walks of life share their diverse experiences with postpartum depression. These stories offer a safe landing place to struggling new parents and a community for those who will see their past experiences reflected, whether they happened last year or a generation ago. From heartbreak to hope, and from doubt to healing, the essays in Beyond Blue shed light on the often invisible and unspoken experiences of postpartum mental health. This book was shortlisted for the 2025 Canadian Book Club Awards.
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Little Fortified Stories by Barbara Black (Caitlin Press)
In Little Fortified Stories, award-winning writer Barbara Black conjures a microcosm of unconventional characters. Inspired by art, music, alcoholic spirits, and what Black calls “authentic fabrications” from her own ancestry, these eclectic short stories are told with an eye to the absurd, set in a world in which everything is theatre and the regular rules don’t apply. This book won the 2025 Victoria Book Prize.
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Memoirs
Gino: The Fighting Spirit of Gino Odjick by Patrick Johnston and Peter Leech (Greystone Books)
Co-authors Patrick Johnston and Peter Leech join together to share the true story of beloved Indigenous hockey legend Gino Odjick. Drawing on insights from family members, friends, and teammates, the authors recount Gino’s early years growing up in a loving household to eventual struggles with alcohol abuse and how he responded by taking on the role of an empathetic mentor to young Indigenous people throughout his life. The book also shows how he confronted serious illnesses, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy and the rare blood disorder that he survived for years longer than expected up until his death at age 52. Readers will rediscover what made Gino’s ferocious play, contrasted by his genuinely affable and openhearted personality off the ice, won him a special place in the hearts of Canucks supporters.
“Tender and respectful.” —BC Review
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John Horgan: In His Own Words by John Horgan and Rod Mickleburgh (Harbour Publishing)
A #2 BC Bestseller for seven weeks in a row, John Horgan’s candid memoir captures the unmistakable voice of BC’s most popular premier—funny, frank, and full of heart. It traces his unlikely path from wayward youth to two-term NDP premier, touching on the moments that shaped him: a chance encounter with Tommy Douglas, forging an alliance with the Greens, navigating COVID-19, and facing the cancer that ultimately took his life in 2024. A vivid portrait of a man driven by principle, loved across the political spectrum, and deeply committed to the communities he served.
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Instead: Navigating the Adventures of a Childfree Life by Maria Coffey (Rocky Mountain Books)
Instead captures Maria Coffey’s adventurous life through her biggest decisions along the way, including the decision not to have children. It’s a vivid travelogue, a love story, and a personal commentary on the risks and rewards of choosing unconventional paths. An adventure story with a unique twist, Instead tackles the universal themes of choice and consequence, agency versus fate. It is a must read for anyone curious about stepping off the beaten track, and a testament to the power of being open to the unexpected.
“Intimate in tone, sweeping in emotional and geographic scope, this globetrotting memoir testifies to the rich possibilities that can unfold in choosing to be childfree….” —Kate Harris, 2023 Book Competition Jury
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