Dr. Bethune’s Children by Xue Yiwei, translated by Darryl Sterk (2017)
In Montreal, a statue of Norman Bethune stands as a quiet reminder of a doctor who gave everything in the service of others. In China, his legacy was remembered for generations. At a time when healthcare workers across Canada are exhausted and undervalued, this masterpiece, banned in China, is a powerful reminder of what medicine, sacrifice, and compassion can look like at their best.
The Vetala by Phillip Ernest (2018)
Vampires never truly leave literary imagination; they change form. Phillip Ernest’s novel offers something rare: a vampire story steeped in Sanskrit scholarship, obsessive love, and genuine dread. If you thought you’d seen every take on the undead, The Vetala may prove you wrong.
Who Belongs in Quebec? Identity Politics in a Changing Society by Raquel Fletcher (2020)
Few questions feel more urgent right now than who belongs here, and who gets to decide? Journalist Raquel Fletcher moved from Saskatchewan to Quebec City and fell in love with her adopted province, then started asking questions about identity, inclusion, and the cost of drawing lines around belonging. This is an essential read for anyone trying to make sense of the conversations happening right now.
No Crystal Stair by Mairuth Sarsfield (2021)
Black history doesn’t always have to come from a textbook; sometimes it comes through story. Set in Montreal’s Little Burgundy neighbourhood in the 1940s, this novel is a tender and quietly devastating window into a community, a jazz scene, and a city that asked Black women to make themselves invisible to survive. A beautiful entry point into Montreal’s Black history for readers of all backgrounds.
Dear Humans: A Letter from the Animals by Nisha Coleman, illustrated by Shanthony Exum (2023)
As wildfires burn across Canada, we are past the point of waiting to talk to children about the environment. This picture book gives them language, hope, and a reminder that it’s not too late to change. Honestly? The adults in the room will need it just as much.
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Thanks to Shakiya Williams at Linda Leith Publishing for sharing these must-read titles from their backlist. You can order any of these books through All Lit Up, or click the “Shop Local” button on the book listings to discover them at your local indie bookstore.
