Fascinating Fiction from BC

Hell and Gone by Sam Wiebe (Harbour Publishing) merges a nail-biting murder mystery with the quick pace and culture of Vancouver. Part of the Wakeland detective series, Wiebe keeps readers guessing as he layers plot on top of plot, masterfully peeling back the layers one by one in this thrilling detective novel.

Firmly rooted in the childhood adventure novels that seem to belong to a different age, Lost on the Prairie by MaryLou Driedger (Heritage House Publishing) tells the story of twelve-year-old Peter who becomes lost in the South Dakota prairie on his way to Saskatchewan. Frightened but undeterred, Peter embarks on a remarkable homeward journey, meeting a memorable cast of characters and exploring an unforgettable landscape along the way.

Half Brothers and Other Stories by Bill Stenson (Mother Tongue Publishing) stitches together a fascinating novella and four short fictions that explore the complexities and challenges of life. Pulling the remarkable out of the ordinary, Stenson highlights the unique tone of the Cowichan Valley with sly wit and warmth.

Keeping with the theme of short fiction, Ghost Geographies by Tamas Dobozy (New Star Books) dabbles in the absurd with larger than life characters moving through a baffling, chaotic world. From a wrestler in an air balloon to a filmmaker fighting fascism to an eccentric philosopher, there’s something here for everyone with a taste for something slightly outside the norm.

Avenue of Champions by Conor Kerr (Nightwood Editions) follows the sometimes harrowing navigation a Métis youth within urban constructs and colonial spaces. Following the story of Daniel, Avenue of Champions is a book fraught with a history of trauma and racism that roots itself in hope and courage and connection to enduring culture.

Stella’s Carpet by Lucy E.M. Black (Now Or Never Publishing) unfolds the lives of trauma survivors in a similar way. Surviving the unimaginable comes at a heavy price, but the decisions that follow and shape how life is lived going forward define true strength of character. Stella’s Carpet layers overlapping stories of struggle and survival and the determination to not be solely defined by the events of one’s past.

Death is a hard thing for our youth-centric culture to come to grips with, but not for Evie, the twelve-year-old protagonist of Sorry for Your Loss by Joanne Levy (Orca Book Publishers). Evie’s parents are funeral directors, and so death for Evie is simply a part of the natural course of life. But comforting those who are grieving isn’t always easy, especially when Evie is grieving herself. This tender middle grade novel is a perfect entry into larger themes about death, grief, and the power of human connection.

Superpowers, aliens and deep family secrets? Sign me up! Guardians of Porthaven by Shane Arbuthnott (Orca Book Publishers) challenges what it means to be a true hero when faced with a seemingly impossible choice. What is right and wrong is never without complications, and sometimes it takes courage to break away and fight on the side of one’s principles.

All the Quiet Places by Brian Thomas Isaac (TouchWood Editions) is the story of what can happen when every adult in a person’s life has been affected by colonialism. As Eddie is pushed and pulled across multiple borders both geographical and life-defining, he must make sense of the confusing world of the adults in his life, while carving out his own path before him as well.