Each year the Association of Book Publishers of BC works with BC Ferries to help promote local books on the vessels during the summer season. This year’s promotion has set sail!
Watch for the 16 selected titles proudly displaying “Read Local BC Selection” stickers in the Passages Gift Shop on BC Ferries. You can also pick up a copy of onBoard magazine, where we have also highlighted these titles. Find out why we recommend these reads below.
Gumboot Girls: Adventure, Love & Survival on the North Coast of British Columbia, edited by Lou Allison (Caitlin Press)
Why we recommend it: Gumboot Girls is for anyone who ever dreamed of going back to the land. It tells the stories of 34 women, through their own eyes, as they moved from their comfortable city-dwelling surroundings to the rugged north coast in the 1970s. Part back-to-the-land, part adventure, heartbreak and love, this collection will resonate with city-dwellers and off-grid-ers alike.
Bad Endings, by Carleigh Baker (Anvil Press)
Why we recommend it: Bad Endings is like a summer thunderstorm—its stories catch you off guard, wash over you, and leave you refreshed. It shouldn’t come as a shock, then, that in their finalist citation for the Rogers Writers’ Trust Fiction Prize, the jury described the book as “nothing short of electrifying.”
Maria Mahoi of the Islands, by Jean Barman (New Star Books)
Why we recommend it: Maria Mahoi of the Islands tells the story of a woman pioneer born in the mid‐1850s on Vancouver Island to an Indigenous Hawaiian father and an Indigenous British Columbian mother, and who lived on Salt Spring Island and Russell Island. First published in 2004, this book uncovers the underrepresented history of the hybrid communities living on the coast of BC.
A Day With Yayah, by Nicola I. Campbell, illustrated by Julie Flett (Tradewind Books)
Why we recommend it: Two award-winning talents team up for a radiant story of Indigenous language reclamation; this gorgeous picture book shares the story of Yayah taking her grandchildren for a day of foraging on their land in the Nicola Valley. It’s no surprise to hear praise from Quill & Quire about the book “transport[ing] readers on a bilingual learning journey with the intergenerational characters as they savour the pronunciation of each syllable of Nłeʔkepmxcín words slowly, together.”
On Island, by Pat Carney (TouchWood Editions)
Why we recommend it: Need a light-hearted giggle this summer? Dive into the Islander stereotypes Pat Carney has depicted in her bestselling book, On Island: Life Among the Coast Dwellers. A debut collection of short stories, On Island is a charming and wry look at the advantages and disadvantages of island living, describing unnamed characters with both endearing and eccentric qualities. A lovely read to take on vacation if you need to escape from the burdens of modern life.
Breaching the Peace, by Sarah Cox (UBC Press)
Why we recommend it: Listening to the mainstream news, it’s surprising how little is reported about the massive 1,100-megawatt hydro dam being pushed on the Peace Valley. In Breaching the Peace: The Site C Dam and a Valley’s Stand against Big Hydro (UBC Press), award-winning journalist Sarah Cox breaks down the controversial project in what Andrew Nikiforuk called “an elegant and infuriating piece of journalism,” comparing it to a Shakespearean tragedy.
Beach Baby, by Laurie Elmquist and Elly MacKay (Orca Book Publishers)
Why we recommend it: Your wee ones enjoy beach reads just as much as you do! Beach Baby celebrates the natural beauty of the beach and the hidden magic of the ocean, all rendered in the delightful paper-theatre art of Elly MacKay.
Marine Mammals of British Columbia, by John K.B. Ford (Royal BC Museum)
Why we recommend it: If you’re the type to spend your ferry crossing on deck in hopes of spotting a whale or porpoise, you’ll want to pick up Marine Mammals of British Columbia, which offers information on 31 species that live in or visit Canada’s western waters—and how humans are impacting these creatures’ marine environment.
105 Hikes In and Around Southwestern British Columbia, by Stephen Hui (Greystone Books)
Why we recommend it: Whether you’re a casual Grouse Grinder or a backcountry enthusiast, 105 Hikes—the all-new, expanded follow-up to southwestern British Columbia’s best-selling hiking guidebook, now featuring trails on the islands and northern Washington—is a must-have and will inspire you to take advantage of the great outdoors right in our backyard.
Listening to the Bees, by Mark Winston & Renée Sarojini Saklikar (Nightwood Editions)
Why we recommend it: The hovering of bees around your picnic doesn’t have to be annoying this summer. Listening to the Bees explores these apiformes through the distinct but complementary lenses of science and poetry. Renée Saklikar wrote poetry inspired by the scientific essays of Mark Winston and both are interspersed throughout the book. The authors reflect on society, personal connections, and the environmental devastation from industrial agriculture.
Campfire Stories of Western Canada, by Barbara Smith (Heritage House)
Why we recommend it: During your family’s next foray into the BC wilderness, grab some marshmallows and a stick, then settle in for some top-notch stories from Campfire Stories of Western Canada. From the phantom swimmer on a Vancouver Island beach to the lost lights of Waterton Provincial Park, these tales will keep the shivers running down your spine long after the campfire’s last embers have died away.
Views of the Salish Sea, by Howard Macdonald Stewart (Harbour Publishing)
Why we recommend it: With the controversy surrounding the Trans Mountain Pipeline, the pressure on the ecologically vulnerable coastal ocean has only intensified. In Views of the Salish Sea, Howard Macdonald Stewart explores the Strait of Georgia and connected waterways collectively known as the North Salish Sea through the lens of geography. As you enjoy the great outdoors this summer, read and reflect on how we, as a society, are changing it too.
Wild Fierce Life: Dangerous Moments on the Outer Coast, by Joanna Streetly (Caitlin Press)
Why we recommend it: Whether you live in an urban centre, or consider the wilderness your home, the stories in Wild Fierce Life will thrill you. A near-death experience while swimming at night and an enigmatic encounter with a cougar; these stories capture the joys and dangers of living in a wild environment. Joanna Streetly, Tofino’s newly appointed poet laureate, depicts an animated portrait of life on the west coast and evokes a sincere respect for nature.
They Called Me Number One: Secrets and Survival at an Indian Residential School, by Bev Sellars (Talonbooks)
Why we recommend it: Winner of the 2014 George Ryga Award for Social Awareness in Literature, They Called Me Number One tells of three generations of women who attended residential school. Xat’sull Chief Bev Sellars interweaves the personal histories of her grandmother and her mother with her own. At a time where reconciliation is paramount, truly listening to the stories of First Nations peoples is an important beginning.
Indian Horse, by Richard Wagamese (Douglas & McIntyre)
Why we recommend it: It’s always fun to compare the book to the movie. This special movie-tie-in edition is the award-winning book that inspired the award-winning film, Indian Horse, which tells the unforgettable story of Saul Indian Horse, a northern Ojibway boy, who survives the residential school system and discovers a gift for hockey.
At Home In Nature, by Rob Wood (Rocky Mountain Books)
Why we recommend it: For anyone who has imagined living off-the-grid, read the compelling story of Rob Wood and his wife Laurie’s life among the rugged landscapes of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains on Maurelle Island. At Home in Nature is a gentle and philosophical memoir that focuses on living deeply rooted in the natural world, and how Rob and Laurie have worked to make the world a better — and more sustainable — place.
8 replies on “Start your voyage with BC books on BC Ferries”
hi there… i flipped through a few pages of a novel i found compelling on a ferry ride a couple years ago., i can’t remember the title. it was something strange with a number in it: “____ _____ #1″… i think. the story began with a women experiencing some sort of body work in a group setting and exorcizing a frightening trauma of her past… I know this is a long shot. but any idea what that novel might be.
Hi Michael, I’m sorry to say that doesn’t ring any bells! I’d recommend asking your local bookseller or librarian. – Kate
What is the name of the publication on the BC Ferry that is all about new published books?
Hi SB, that would be BC Bookworld!: https://www.bcbookworld.com/
Très bon article. j’apprécie beaucoup votre site internet
I looked for two books on the ferry Sept 11th re; Christmas shopping. Neither book was there “Popular Day Hikes 4 & The Woods.” I won’t be sailing again until Nov. 22. Is there a place in Sidney that I can buy these books? Thank you! jean Male
Hello Jean. The books on the ferries do tend to rotate, so I’m sorry you couldn’t find the titles you were looking for. I would recommend checking at Tanner’s Books in Sidney. They may be able to order them in for you if they don’t have them in stock.
– Monica
Great collection of B.C. books!