Genre-Bending Books for Young Readers from Canadian Indie Publishers

Ra! Ta! Ma! Cue! (Annick Press) follows a group of kids on a rescue mission to retrieve their Grown-Ups who have been taken captive by the Growlies. In the end, the Growlies’ meanness is no match for the children’s magic: their collective music.

Highlight: While this dystopian-like story starts out glum and drab, as the music swells, the story becomes more and more colourful and joyful.

Star Sailor, The Story of Words (Orca Book Publishers) takes readers on a fantastical journey through space to explore how words are made. The history of how language came to be is given a bright, colourful, whimsical treatment.

Highlight: For young students being introduced to reading and writing, this book will get them excited about language and how it works.

In Asha and Baz Meet Mary Anning (Common Deer Press) the best friends continue their travels through time to meet extraordinary women scientists. In this sixth book in the series, they magically travel to 1823 to meet legendary fossil hunter Mary Anning.

Highlight: Mixing magic, science, and history, this series introduces STEM concepts and brings attention to remarkable women from history.

Howler Reef (Orca Book Publishers) takes readers back to Sueño Bay for another adventure. On a tiny island (prone to severe weather) in the Pacific Northwest, Sueño Bay is a small village famous for its mysterious crystals and legendary moon creatures. Here, Kay, Sleeves, Jenna, and Ollie are always ready to explore and discover something new. In Book 6, the group of friends find themselves searching for a shipwrecked radio host.

Highlight: This series is highly bingeable. With a balance of mystery, adventure, and fantasy, these books keep readers turning pages.

Nightmare Jones: poems (Groundwood Books) is a poetry collection that pulls from fairy tales, folklore, and ghost stories. Within its pages, a cast of unusual creatures and misunderstood monsters explores the feelings of fear we all share. The poems are accompanied by evocative line and watercolour illustrations.

Highlight: This collection shows that poetry can be fun (and creepy!) and could inspire students to write their own scary poems. 

Teddy vs. the Snuggly Menace (Annick Press) is the latest entry in The Secrets of Ravensbarrow, an action-packed horror comedy series for middle readers. In Book 3, Teddy is still struggling with feelings of anxiety, made worse when his comforting cat, Mr. Fuzzikins, transforms into something fiendish and runs off into the dark woods. With the help of his misfit friends, Teddy sets off on a perilous quest to bring Mr. Fuzzikins home.

Highlight: While being absolutely hilarious, this series also shines a light on mental health as Teddy finds strategies to cope with his fears and anxieties.

Fireboy (Shadowpaw Press) is a page-turning mystery with horror elements from a veteran fantasy writer.

The story follows seventh-grader Sam, who was lucky to stay home on the day her entire class mysteriously disappeared after their bus crashed on the way to a field trip. After a fiery apparition resembling her friend Lorenzo visits, Sam determines to find her missing classmates.

Highlight: With a similar premise to a recent smash hit horror movie, this book has a great set-up and pay-off.

The Threads of Time (Kegedonce Press) is the second entry in The A Wolf In The Sun Saga, a fantasy series that takes place in a world where sentient wolves with elemental powers face off against giant spiders. Silversong is back with new time-bending powers and a mission to unite the Four Territories.

Highlight: Animal xenofiction (like books with warrior cats, bats, and owls) is wildly popular among young readers, but there are few series for teen readers. This series fills that gap.

The Dark Cove Theatre Society (Annick Press) is a YA dark academia story with touches of mystery, romance, and the supernatural. Dark Cove Arts Academy is an elite performing arts boarding school on a rainy island off the west coast of British Columbia. Here, 16-year-old scholarship student Violet Costantino fends off a curse after landing a lead role in the Halloween play.

Highlight: With its evocative and atmospheric setting, this book is pure escapism.

Wavelength (Groundwood Books) is a love story between Sasha, a seventeen-year-old pop sensation who runs away to a nowhere midwestern city to escape fame and embrace their non-binary identity, and Lillian, a broken-hearted romantic and musically talented student at the local high school. Through their connection, Sasha and Lillian explore the deeper parts of themselves, their emotions, and their music… until a mean-spirited music executive tries to tear them apart.

Highlight: There’s enough conflict to keep readers engaged, but there’s also plenty of time to hang out and vibe with the loveable cast of queer misfit characters.