This week (Nov. 22-28) is Canadian History Week. This is an opportunity for Canadians to learn more about the people and events that have shaped the country we know today — there are so many great individuals, places, and stories to discover.
Jennifer Robinson, a librarian at our Amherstview Branch, has curated a varied assortment of adult fiction and non-fiction titles that explore fragments of Canadian heritage. Together, they reflect and celebrate social values such as tolerance, fairness, courage, and resourcefulness. Read ahead to explore her picks, all of which are available at the library.
Fiction:
The Letter Opener by Kyo Iona Maclear
“This luminous novel about a mail sorter who searches for clues to match undeliverable mail with addresses takes on layers as she investigates her missing Romanian co-worker and uncovers comparable family history.”
Song of Batoche by Maia Caron
“This intriguing story based on the Riel Rebellion involves multiple alliances and agendas as characters converge on the brink of change. A peek into the hidden history behind Louis Riel and Gabriel Dumont.”
The Book of Negroes by Lawrence Hill
“This compelling novel reveals the experience of freedom seekers formerly held in bondage and forced to perform labor under threat of physical mistreatment or death who left the US for resettlement in Nova Scotia only to discover the resettlement was steeped in its own form of repression.”
Except the Dying by Maureen Jennings
“This richly detailed period mystery set more than a century ago features a Canadian detective who investigates realistic crimes of the time.”
The Boat People by Sharon Bala
“Inspired by a real incident, this morally complex novel explores the experience of a group of refugees who survive a perilous ocean voyage to reach Canada only to face the threat of deportation and accusations of terrorism.”
Non-Fiction:
Who Killed the Avro Arrow? By Chris Gainor
“This book offers an in-depth examination of the international politics, pressures and personalities behind Canada’s controversial decision to mothball the sophisticated jet fighter, the Avro Arrow.”
Nurse at the Top of the World by Gloria Hunter-Alcock
“This biography relates the adventures of a young Canadian nurse who lived and worked for several years in the Canadian Arctic, providing healthcare to the Inuit people.”
A Peter Gzowski Reader by Peter Gzowski
“This anthology of Peter Gzowski’s writing covers a variety of pieces across many roles he held. He contextualizes each chapter with personal stories. It includes his well-known work on social issues and selections he wrote on several well-known Canadians.”
The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism by John U. Bacon
“This riveting account of the largest explosion in history prior to the atomic bomb relates the details of the catastrophic collision as well as tales of survival and heroism that rose from the ashes.”
The North-West is Our Mother: The Story of Louis Riel’s People, the Metis Nation by Jean Teillet
“Metis author Jean Teillet fills in a missing chapter in the white settler narrative of Canada’s Indigenous peoples. It shares some of the untold story of the Metis nation: their initial battle for survival and their subsequent reputation for military skills, nomadic life, and buffalo hunts.”
Discover Canadian history at your branch of the County of L&A Libraries or online at CountyLibrary.ca.