As a result of a government directive, the production and delivery of DAISY CDs and physical braille are now on hold in an effort to combat COVID-19. Access to digital books, magazines and newspapers will continue.
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General fictionSocial issues
On the News gently introduces young children to the realities of natural disasters, terrorism and other forms of tragedy. In… age-appropriate language and tone, Dr. Roberts explains what tragedy is, the feelings it may create and how to manage those feelings. She also emphasizes the good that can come out of tragedy, looking at how people help one another in caring, compassionate and heroic ways. The book's question-and-answer format will help parents have a meaningful conversation about these difficult topics with their children and equip them to better handle questions that arise when children are exposed to the news. The World Around Us series introduces children to complex cultural, social and environmental issues that they may encounter outside their homes, in a way that is accessible. Sidebars offer further reading for older children or care providers who have bigger questions. For younger children just starting to make these observations, the simple question-and-answer format of the main text will provide a foundation of knowledge on the subject matter.
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Multi-cultural fiction, Canadian authors (Fiction)
Thirteen-year-old Yen and her family have survived a war, famine and persecution. When a powerful flood ruins their village in… rural Vietnam, matters only get worse. With the help of neighbours and family, they decide to take the ultimate risk on a chance for a better life. Grades 5-8 and older readers.
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Mysteries and crime stories
NOMINATED FOR THE ANTHONY AWARD FOR BEST NOVEL ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED CRIME, MYSTERY, AND THRILLERS OF 2018 —LitHub… ONE OF THE THE BIGGEST MYSTERY AND THRILLERS OF SPRING 2018 —BookBub ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2018 —MysteryPeople "A series not to be missed.” -Megan Abbott In Blackout, the latest novel in Alex Segura’s acclaimed Pete Fernandez Mystery series, startling new evidence in a cold case that's haunted Pete drags the exiled PI back to his hometown of Miami. But as Pete and his partner Kathy Bentley delve deeper into the unsolved murder, they become entangled in Miami’s obsession with a charismatic and dangerous cult leader and his even more menacing followers. At the same time, the detectives find themselves at odds with a Florida politician’s fixation on wealth, fame and power. It all converges in the heart of the Magic City and Pete is left scrambling to pick up the pieces—or die trying. The Pete Fernandez novels have always run on two tracks – the long-buried Miami mystery that Pete is forced to solve, and Pete’s often unpredictable evolution from self-destructive alcoholic to somewhat functional private eye. In Blackout, those two tracks blend into one dark, personal and deadly tale of dangerous obsession that will leave Pete Fernandez completely changed. It’s all been building to this.
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Adventure stories, Suspense and thrillers
A badly injured man. A nationwide power failure. A village buried in snow. A desperate struggle for survival. These are… the ingredients of The Weight of Snow, Christian Guay-Poliquin’s riveting new novel. After surviving a major accident, the book’s protagonist is entrusted to Matthias, a taciturn old man who agrees to heal his wounds in exchange for supplies and a chance of escape. The two men become prisoners of the elements and of their own rough confrontation as the centimetres of snow accumulate relentlessly. Surrounded by a nature both hostile and sublime, their relationship oscillates between commiseration, mistrust, and mutual aid. Will they manage to hold out against external threats and intimate pitfalls?
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Gay and lesbian biography, General non-fiction, Journals and memoirs
Inspiring and honest, this unique memoir of gender transition and coming-of-age proves it’s never too late to find your true… identity.Since he was a small child, Lorimer Shenher knew something for certain: he was a boy. The problem was, he was growing up in a girl’s body.In this candid and thoughtful memoir, Shenher shares the story of his gender journey, from childhood gender dysphoria to teenage sexual experimentation to early-adult denial of his identity—and finally the acceptance that he is trans, culminating in gender reassignment surgery in his fifties. Along the way, he details his childhood in booming Calgary, his struggles with alcohol, and his eventual move to Vancouver, where he became the first detective assigned to the case of serial killer Robert Pickton (the subject of his critically acclaimed book That Lonely Section of Hell). With warmth and openness, This One Looks Like A Boy takes us through one of the most important decisions Shenher will ever make, as he comes into his own and finally discovers acceptance and relief.
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Literature biography, Women biography, Journals and memoirs
Much has been written by others about the relationship Irving Layton and Harriet Bernstein shared, and most of it is… inaccurate. This book tells the true story, and in so doing provides a look into the CanLit scene between 1974-1981. Students and admirers of Layton's work will discover the genesis of many poems; other readers will find a unique and powerful love story, one that also probes issues of feminism, creativity, and self-creation.
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General non-fiction
Mudflat Dreaming tells the story of two communities on Vancouver's waterfront fringes in the 1970s.On the North Shore, a counter-cultural… village of float houses and shacks on stilts sprouted on the estuarial Maplewood Mudflats. A few miles to the south, on the southern banks of the Fraser River above New Westminster, the long-established Bridgeview neighbourhood was mired in an endless battle with local city council for basic amenities.As a teenager, Jean Walton lived just up the hill from Bridgeview, but it was only much later that the author learned about the struggle embroiling her near neighbours, as well as its connection to the Maplewood Mudflat squatter community — not to mention Malcolm Lowry and Habitat 76.Walton's way into these stories is through a few documentary films made at the time about Bridgeview and Maplewood, as well as Robert Altman's breakthrough feature film, McCabe and Mrs. Miller, shot just a few miles up the mountainside from the Maplewood Mudflats.Mudflat Dreaming traverses the intersecting domains of activist and documentary film, waterfront environmentalism, urban land use, utopian experiments, and working class struggle."Mudflat Dreaming is a wonderfully evocative account of the varied ways in which an alternative Vancouver was imagined, constructed and lived by its residents in the 1970s. From waterfront squatting to protests over basic amenities, the book recovers a city that has long since disappeared but whose history remains as important as ever. A timely and urgent reminder of what it means to think about and inhabit cities differently."— Alexander Vasudevan, author of The Autonomous City: A History of Urban Squatting"Jean Walton's lively account of two quite different communities in the 1970s resisting a growing "culture of cement" appears at a time when Vancouver's neighbourhoods are being eaten up by that same cement. Part oral history, part film archive research, Mudflat Dreaming resuscitates the spirit of opposition to uniformity and profit-making at the expense of those who recycle, self-build, and live by water. This is necessary history, rooted in place and deeply West Coast." — Daphne Marlatt"Squatters, shackers, beachfront bohemians, whatever you want to call them, they've been a neglected chapter of Vancouver's history for too long. Now Jean Walton has rescued two of these communities from obscurity in her vivid and thoughtful account. With the city fast becoming a gated community for the super-rich, Walton's story of alternative ways of imagining community couldn't be more timely."— Daniel Francis
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Environment, Nature
With intimacy and humour award-winning poet Ariel Gordon walks us through the streets of Winnipeg and into the urban forest… that is, to her, the city's heart. Along the way she shares with us the lives of these urban trees, from the grackles and cankerworms of the spring, to the flush of mushrooms on stumps in the summer and through to the red-stemmed dogwood of the winter. After grounding us in native elms and ashes, Gordon travels to BC's northern Rockies, to Banff National Park and a cattle farm in rural Manitoba, and helps us to consider what we expect of nature. Whether it is the effects of climate change on the urban forest or foraging in the city, Dutch elm disease in the trees or squirrels in the living room, Gordon delves into our relationships with the natural world with heart and style. In the end, the essays circle back to the forest, where the weather is always better and where the reader can see how to remake even the trees that are lost.
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Family stories, Fantasy
Silva and her family visit her grandfather, only to find his health has taken a bad turn. As they struggle… with this news, Silva seeks escape in books – at the local library. But she gets more than she bargained for when a magpie guides her to a secret, magical room containing books that she can not only read, but that she can live. Silva finds herself in the worlds of the characters … who all turn out to be real people. People she knows. There’s a catch, though: she soon discovers that the magpie has lured her to these books for selfish and dark reasons. Going back to the books could mean losing her soul …
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Science and technology
Using increasingly sophisticated levels of artificial intelligence (AI) and embodied intelligence (EI), a new generation of robots is being designed… to look, act and even think like humans. Hubots, or human-inspired robots, are expanding the boundaries of what robots can do. Here, ten different real-life hubots are described, highlighting each one's appearance, unique skills and purpose --- from fighting fires on the high seas, to acting as setup crew for space colonies, to providing companionship for the elderly. The book also includes an illustrated graph of the uncanny valley, which shows us what distinguishes a friendly robot from a creepy one, and back matter that provides a closer examination of some of the robots' physical components and looks to the future of these fascinating machines. The creators of the popular Zoobots bring to life the groundbreaking robotics technology that's changing the world. Award-winning author Helaine Becker uses short paragraphs and accessible vocabulary to present a book that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Hyperrealistic illustrations by Alex Ries enhance the interest level of the material for children, especially those who love all things that are weird, unfamiliar and futuristic. Reference tools include a glossary and an index. This topic spans science, technology, inventions and engineering lessons. It also provides a terrific jumping-off point for classroom discussions about the larger societal issues surrounding these cutting-edge robots.
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Parenting, Death and bereavement
One hundred years ago, on December 6, 1917, the French munitions ship Mont Blanc collided with the Belgian relief vessel… Imo in the Halifax Harbour. At first, a small fire broke out aboard the Mont Blanc, which grew bigger crowds of people and emergency responders linded the shores of Halifax and Dartmouth to get a better look. Suddenly, the Mont Blanc's explosive cargo blew up, flattening homes and businesses, and triggering a tsunami. Amid the confusion and devastation that followed the blast was fourteen-year-old Barbara Orr, who had been walking from her neighbourhood in Richmond to a friend's house. Follow Barbara as she navigates post-explosion Halifax, learning about rescue efforts, the kindness of strangers, and the bravery of heroes like Vincent Coleman along the way. Part of the popular Compass series, this full-colour non-fiction book includes highlighted glossary terms, informative sidebars, over 50 illustrations and historical photographs, a detailed index, and recommended further reading. In commemoration of the tragic event's 100th anniversary, Broken Pieces is a great resource for young readers and educators.
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Women biography, Science and medicine biography, Science and technology
Meet Elsie MacGill - the world's first female aeronautical engineer! In this amazing addition to the Scholastic Canada Biography series,… young Canadians will learn about the trailblazing Elsie MacGill, whose work on the Canadian-made Hawker Hurricane fighter helped the Allied forces to victory in World War II. Elsie was born in 1905 to a mother who was a feminist pioneer in her own right. Elsie grew up fully expecting to follow her dreams. And she did. Elsie was first woman to graduate from the University of Toronto's electrical engineering program. Elsie went on to earn a master's in aeronautical engineering -but contracted polio the day before her convocation. She battled back, and a storied engineering career followed, including being in charge of the tooling and manufacture of the famous Hawker Hurricane. Later in her life she was a champion of women's rights and her work shaped many of the protections we now enjoy. Written by award-winning author Elizabeth MacLeod, this portrait of Elsie MacGill is the first ever written for younger readers. The simple text and full-colour, comic-flavoured illustrations by Mike Deas bring this fascinating story to life!
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Sports fiction, Family stories, Humourous fiction
An exciting new middle reader series from a debut author. All twelve-year-old Jaden wants to do is be the best… at Cross Ups, the video game he and his friends can’t stop playing. He knows he could be—if only he didn’t have to hide his gaming from his mom, who’s convinced it will make him violent. After an epic match leads to an invitation to play in a top tournament, Jaden and his friends Devesh and Hugh hatch a plan to get him there. But Jaden’s strict parents and annoying siblings, not to mention a couple of bullies and his confusing feelings for his next-door neighbor Cali, keep getting in the way! Tournament Trouble marks the first book in a planned series by Sylv Chiang, a captivating new voice in middle reader fiction. With sharp dialogue and relatable characters, it chronicles the ups and downs of middle school with a relevant, contemporary twist. Accompanied by Connie Choi’s lively illustrations, Tournament Trouble invites readers into Jaden’s world, and will leave them eagerly awaiting his next adventure. Look for Book 2, coming in Fall 2018!
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Women biography, Addiction and substance abuse, General non-fiction
Personal stories of surviving after the trauma of sexual assault. In the era of #MeToo, we’ve become better at talking… about sexual assault. But sexual assault isn’t limited to a single, terrible moment of violence: it stays with survivors, following them wherever they go. Through the voices of twelve diverse writers, Whatever Gets You Through offers a powerful look at the narrative of sexual assault not covered by the headlines—the weeks, months, and years of survival and adaptation that people live through in its aftermath. With a foreword by Jessica Valenti, an extensive introduction by editors Stacey May Fowles and Jen Sookfong Lee, and contributions from acclaimed literary voices such as Alicia Elliott, Elisabeth de Mariaffi, Heather O’Neill, and Juliane Okot Bitek, the collection explores some of the many different forms that survival can take. From ice hockey to kink, boxing to tapestry-making, these striking personal essays address experiences as varied as the writers who have lived them. With candor and insight, each writer shares their own unique account of enduring: the everyday emotional pain and trauma, but also the incredible resilience and strength that can emerge in the aftermath of sexual assault. Contributors: Gwen Benaway Juliane Okot Bitek Elly Danica Amber Dawn Alicia Elliott Karyn Freedman Heather O’Neill Elisabeth de Mariaffi Lauren McKeon Soraya Palmer Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha Kai Cheng Thom
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History, Canadian history
Did you know pirates once sailed the seas around Atlantic Canada? Pirates might seem like fun in the movies, but… back in the 17th and 18th centuries—the Golden Age of Piracy—being a pirate was very serious business. From the Hackmatack award-shortlisted author of Oak Island and the Search for Buried Treasure comes the newest book from Nimbus's popular Compass series for young readers. Learn about what everyday life was like for some of the fiercest pirates of all time. Explore the history of piracy, from the ancient Romans and Greeks to modern-day pirates. How did pirates navigate the seas? What happened if they were caught? Did pirates really bury treasure? This full-colour non-fiction book includes highlighted glossary terms, informative sidebars, over 50 colour illustrations and historical photographs, an index, and recommended further reading.
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Historical fiction, General fiction
Her brother’s letter touched a match to the wick of Annie’s doused dreams. Dream enough for her, to stroll the… length of a town without the abortive glances, the stilted greetings, the wider berth given her on the sidewalk. “I could use some help out here,” he wrote. “What’s holding you to Iowa anyway?” Annie Rushton leaves behind an unsettling past to join her brother on his Montana homestead and make a determined fresh start. There, sparks fly when she tangles with Adam Fielding, a visionary businessman-farmer determined to make his own way and answer to no one. Neither is looking for a partner, but they give in to their undeniable chemistry. Annie and Adam’s marriage brims with astounding success and unanticipated passion, but their dream of having a child eludes them as a mysterious illness of mind and body plagues Annie’s pregnancies. Amidst deepening economic adversity, natural disaster, and the onset of world war, their personal struggles collide with the societal mores of the day. Annie’s shattering periods of black depression and violent outbursts exact a terrible price. The life the Fieldings have forged begins to unravel, and the only path ahead leads to unthinkable loss. Based on true events, this sweeping novel weaves a century-old story, timeless in its telling of love, heartbreak, healing, and redemption embodied in one woman’s tenacious quest for control over her own destiny in the face of devastating misfortune and social injustice.
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Poetry
The 2018 edition of Canada's go-to yearly anthology, guest edited by Hoa Nguyen, ushers readers into the heart of the… vibrant Canadian poetry scene. The Best Canadian Poetry Series annually features the fifty finest Canadian poems published in periodicals during the previous year. A must-read for anyone with a stake in contemporary Canadian literature, or with curiosity about poetry and its engagement with the world today.
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Anthologies
Now in its 48th year, Best Canadian Stories has long championed the short story form and highlighted the work of… many writers who have gone on to shape the Canadian literary canon. Caroline Adderson, Margaret Atwood, Clark Blaise, Tamas Dobozy, Mavis Gallant, Douglas Glover, Norman Levine, Rohinton Mistry, Alice Munro, Leon Rooke, Diane Schoemperlen, Kathleen Winter, and many others have appeared in its pages over the decades, making Best Canadian Stories the go-to source for what’s new in Canadian fiction writing for close to five decades. Selected by guest editor Russell Smith, the 2018 edition draws together both newer and established writers to shape an engaging and luminous mosaic of writing in this country today—a continuation of not only a series, but a legacy in Canadian letters. Best Canadian Stories 2018 features work by: Shashi Bhat, Tom Thor Buchanan, Lynn Coady, Deirdre Simon Dore, Alicia Elliott, Bill Gaston, Liz Harmer, Brad Hartle, David Huebert, Reg Johanson, Amy Jones, Michael LaPointe, Stephen Marche, Lisa Moore, Kathy Page, and Alex Pugsley.
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Poetry
A collection of playfully elucidating essays to help reluctant poetry readers become well-versed in verse Developed from Adam Sol’s popular… blog, How a Poem Moves is a collection of 35 short essays that walks readers through an array of contemporary poems. Sol is a dynamic teacher, and in these essays, he has captured the humor and engaging intelligence for which he is known in the classroom. With a breezy style, Sol delivers essays that are perfect for a quick read or to be grouped together as a curriculum. Though How a Poem Moves is not a textbook, it demonstrates poetry’s range and pleasures through encounters with individual poems that span traditions, techniques, and ambitions. This illuminating book is for readers who are afraid they “don’t get” poetry but who believe that, with a welcoming guide, they might conquer their fear and cultivate a new appreciation.
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Sports fiction, Fantasy
Practice makes . . . a perfect storm?The Ice Chips are facing a big hurdle at their hometown rink in… Riverton. Their biggest rivals, the Stars, have a major advantage, with better gear and a state-of-the-art arena. Without more ice time, the Chips just can’t keep up. Fortunately, the team has a secret weapon: their magical rink, which allows them to travel through time and meet their hockey heroes, who can teach the young players something new about the game.Lucas Finnigan and his teammates have been warned that time travel is dangerous, but when they decided to leap again—hoping to find a way to squeeze in some extra practice—they never dreamed that they would land in the middle of a hurricane! Luckily, a major save from a plucky young player gets the Chips out of some extremely troubled water, and soon they’re running drills all over the Halifax Citadel. But how will these exercises help their hockey playing? And who is this kid anyway? With the help of some of the city’s famous spirits, the players might just make it home ready to compete—and to win.