Second Story Press

Our final Fall Preview title is I, TOO, AM HERE by Morgan Christie and illustrated by Marley Berot.

Swipe through to find out more about the book and what the author hopes readers will take away from this story.

The street a young girl lives on is made up of families from all over the world. Her family shares with her their stories of journey and struggle. Her own story begins here in this country, but she is sometimes made to feel she does not belong. She listens to her family’s voices. They tell her she will soar, they tell her she is beautiful. She listens and she says I, too, am here.
A multigenerational story of immigration, racism, and what it truly means to belong. Inspired by Langston Hughes’s poem, “I, Too.”

Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A: The powerful poem by Langston Hughes, "I, Too", was a huge inspiration, but mostly, I was inspired to shine a light on all the ways our beauty and existence make up the places we consider home.
Q: What do you hope readers learn or take away from your book?
A: Two things: the first, we, too, are here, regardless of what anyone might say or do to try to make us feel otherwise. The second, we have to be careful of the ways we use our words and actions, they can hurt, and also take the time to better understand and embrace each other.
Q: What books inspired you while writing this?
Your Name is a Song by Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow and Luisa Uribe. Where Are You From by Yamile Saied Méndez and Jaime Kim. I Am Enough by Grace Byers and Keturah A. Bobo. I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes and Bryan Collier.

I, Too, Am Here will be available on September 10, 2024.

[images: a graphic announcing the Fall Preview with cover of I, Too, Am Here, followed by three graphics of text that includes a synopsis and answers from a question and answer prompt on a green and pink background. The last graphic is a large image of the book cover with the release date, September 10, 2024.]

Next up on our Fall Preview is The Light Keeper by Sheila Baslaw and Karen Levine.

Swipe through to find out more about the book and what inspired this story.

Shmuel is eager to help support his poor family, but no one in town is interested in hiring a ten-year-old boy. One day, the village installs new electric lamps, bringing light to their square and dazzling away the dark. Until a lamp breaks during a storm—and Shmuel is the only one who can fix it. Will Shmuel be able to conquer his fear of heights and bring light back to his town?
A gentle tale of bravery, empowerment and community, and the thrill of transformation.

Q and A with Karen Levine
Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A: I was inspired by the story of a boy bringing light to dark times, and by my 92-year-old co-author!
Q: What do you hope readers learn or take away from your book?
A: I hope readers will be drawn to the main character, a boy who conquers his fears to help both his poor family and the small village they live in. This is a story of perseverance, ingenuity, and the dream of a better future.
Q: What books inspired you while writing this?
A: I can't say that I was inspired by particular books. But as I was working on The Light Keeper, I was flooded with memories of my father and grandmother telling me
stories of Jewish life in the shtetl.

The Light Keeper will be available on October 1, 2024.

[images: a graphic announcing the Fall Preview with cover of The Light Keeper, followed by three graphics of text that includes a synopsis and answers from a question and answer prompt on a blue and beige background. The last graphic is a large image of the book cover with the release date, October 1, 2024.]

Our next Fall Preview title is [NON]DISCLOSURE by Renée D. Bondy

Swipe through to find out more about the book and what the author hopes readers will take away from this story.

A young girl is abused by her Catholic priest. For years she tells no one, striving to meet her parents and teachers’ expectations that she be a Good Girl—passive, obedient, and devout.
When she learns as an adult that she was not his only victim—there were dozens more—the ensuing criminal trial threatens to overwhelm her. Disassembled by the abuse, she finds community working in an underground hospice for men dying from the still-taboo HIV-AIDS epidemic of the 1980s. In their midst, she recognizes the damage wrought by shame and silence, but she also finds incredible courage and love.
A profound story of finding your voice and healing what feels irrevocably broken.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A: Nondisclosure is inspired by media coverage of the widespread child sexual abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Other novels have been written on the subject, but many of them focus on the pedophile-priest, or on male victims. I wanted to write about a girl’s experience of abuse, and her search for justice and healing.
Q: What do you hope readers learn or take away from your book?
A: In a ‘big picture’ sense, [non]disclosure asks the reader to think about the abuse of power. The novel is not only about child sexual abuse in the Church, but it also shines light on the terrible discrimination against gay men in the early years of the HIV-AIDS crisis in North America. I think an important take away is that whatever learning and healing the characters achieve is in the context of caring, empathetic communities.
Q: What books inspired you while writing this?
A: While writing [non]disclosure, I read both fiction and non-fiction books about abuse and corruption in religious institutions. I was especially moved by The Bishop’s Man, by Linden MacIntyre, which won the Giller Prize in 2009. Though nondisclosure is written in a different style and voice, I tried to achieve the rich, emotional tone of MacIntyre’s excellent novel.

Nondisclosure will be available October 17, 2024.

[images: a graphic announcing the Fall Preview with cover of Nondisclosure, followed by three graphics of text that includes a synopsis and answers from a question and answer prompt on a beige background. The last graphic is a large image of the book cover with the release date, October 17, 2024.]

Book’n it!

That’s me, in Toronto, around the corner from Second Story Press, Publisher. If you look closely, you see that I am holding their tote bag celebrating 35 years of releasing feminist, diverse, inclusive fiction, non-fiction, young adult and children books! They made us feel so welcome, gave a tour of the offices, sat and chatted for a couple of hours. If this is what the publishing industry is like -I’m in! BARCELONA RED METALLIC is in good, good hands.

Now, can someone teach me how to tag Second Story Press in this post? I spelled it just the way they do it on their Fb page but no joy. Anyone?

Second Story Press

Ha!

Have you made it through your summer reading list yet?! ☀️

Next up on our Fall Preview is ALINA IN THE DEEP by Shenaaz G. Nanji.

Swipe through to find out more about the book and what the author hopes readers will take away from this story.

Can you be best friends when you’re both so different?
Alina has always dreamed of having a sibling, an instant BFF, and with her cousin Safi arriving from Kenya for the summer, her dream can finally come true!
Alina creates a list of things to do with Safi, but nothing goes as planned when she finds it hard to connect with her cousin. Safi is not who Alina expected her to be. She wears her culture proudly and acts in ways that make her stand out—and Alina hates standing out!
What will happen to the summer Alina had planned? And will she and Safi ever become BFFs?
The sequel to the award-nominated Alina in a Pinch!

Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A: Can any two people be friends? What if they are opposite personality types? What if they come from different countries and different cultures? In writing, ‘Alina in the Deep’ I wanted to explore friendship.
The story showed that any two people can be friends if they are willing to put in the effort to make it work. The communication gets easier over time; you understand their unique quirks and their point of view. Such friendships are fun and may lead to a deeper understanding about each other.
Q: What do you hope readers learn or take away from your book?
A: I hope the story will inspire and challenge young readers to make friends with those who are different from you. In doing so, your vast differences may turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

Alina in the Deep will be available October 8, 2024.

[images: a graphic announcing the Fall Preview with cover of Alina in the Deep, followed by three graphics of text that includes a synopsis and answers from a question and answer prompt on a green background. The last graphic is a large image of the book cover with the release date, September 3, 2024.]


nanji

Our next Fall Preview title is UPS AND DOWNS by Nancy MacNairn and illustrated by Doruntina Beqiraj.

Swipe through to find out what inspired the author and what she hopes readers will take away from the story.

Will it be an UP night? Or a DOWN day?
A young girl weathers the highs and lows of daily life with her mother, who has Bipolar Disorder. Her mother’s moods affect her and her brother deeply, and sometimes it can be hard. But she never doubts her mother’s love for a second.
Inspired by the author's own experience growing up with a parent with Bipolar Disorder. The author addresses this in her Author's Note and talks about the number of people affected by this mental illness in North America, making this a great conversation starter and resource for families.

Q: What inspired you to write this book?
A:Bipolar Disorder affects millions of people in North America alone. I wanted other children to know that they were not alone and that there is still plenty of room for happiness in this story.
Q: What do you hope readers learn or take away from your book?
A: I hope that this book fosters compassion and understanding for an often misunderstood mental health disorder (Bipolar Disorder).
Q: What books inspired you while writing this?
A: I love Sheree Fitch’s EveryBody’s Different on EveryBody Street (Art by Emma Fitzgerald)!

UPS AND DOWNS will be available September 3, 2024.

[images: a graphic announcing the Fall Preview with cover of Ups and Downs, followed by three graphics of answers from a question and answer on a blue background. The last graphic is a large image of the book cover with the release date, September 3, 2024.]

Next up on our Fall Preview is UNDAUNTED URSULA FRANKLIN by Monica Franklin and .dellamattia

Swipe through to find out what inspired the authors and what they hope their readers take away from this story.

Ursula Franklin was born in Germany with Jewish ancestry, she survived the Holocaust while many in her family did not. She became a physicist and an engineer at a time when women were not welcome in academics. These experiences shaped Ursula, and she went on to stand up for equality, for peace, and for the protection of the environment and the vulnerable throughout her life. Ursula was celebrated in her lifetime, receiving both the Order of Canada and the Pearson Peace Medal.

UNDAUNTED URSULA FRANKLIN is available September 16, 2024.

Welcome to our Fall Preview for 2024! We are kicking things off with BARCELONA RED METALLIC by Christine Cosack:

When the death of a child in a hit-and-run shocks the quiet seaside town of Oyster Hill, police officer Luci Miller is called in to investigate. She finds a fragment of car paint—a unique shade of red that could help identify the killer. Luci’s investigation leads her to Jo Nelson, a grandmother in her seventies, who is deeply affected by the tragedy. The closer Luci gets to Jo, the more she struggles to maintain objectivity. As the investigation draws in around her, Jo must confront the possibility that someone she loves has done the unforgivable.

Swipe to learn more about how BARCELONA RED METALLIC took form.

[images: a graphic announcing the Fall Preview with cover of Barcelona Red Metallic, followed by three graphics of answers from a question and answer on a red background. The last graphic is a large image of the book cover with the release date, October 15, 2024.]


Christine Cosack - writer

Congratulations to and on being shortlisted for the Fred Kerner Book Award by the Canadian Authors Association!

A tender story for readers ages 9–12, OBAASAN'S BOOTS explores the generational impact of Japanese Canadian internment during WWII.

Jury's comments:
“A fabulous little book, illuminating a painful period in Canada’s past with compassion and sensitivity. Lou and Charlotte’s journey into their grandmother’s past unfolds organically. The prose is simple and unadorned, the better to serve a profoundly moving story.”

“Skillfully incorporating narrative perspectives from both the past and present, this novel gives middle-grade readers an age-appropriate glimpse into the atrocities inflicted on Japanese Canadians during the Second World War internments. Young readers gain valuable insight into the debilitating impacts of racism and misguided perceptions, not only on the communities that experience them directly but also on the generations that follow.”

OBAASAN'S BOOTS is available now at your local book store or on our website.

[image: a graphic with the cover of OBAASAN'S BOOTS on a yellow background with green and gold banners surrounding it. Underneath there is text with the announcement of the book being shortlisted for the Fred Kerner Book Awards.]

Who’s reading some YA this summer? We recommend The End of Always, a recent debut from Rebecca Phillips. What YA titles are you reading?

A treasure hidden away for hope, acts of kindness, and a story that comes full circle.

TWO PIECES OF CHOCOLATE
by Kathy Kacer, Illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard

The author has managed a difficult task. She has written a picture book that handles the topic of the holocaust in a manner that can be grasped by young children. Although this true story is set in the horrific prison camp, Bergen Belson, Kacer focuses on the kindness of a young girl. Francine's mother has hidden away two pieces of chocolate which she is saving for when the young girl most needs hope. But Francine is concerned for a woman who is wasting away, despite her hidden pregnancy. She decides that the woman needs hope more than she does and gives away the chocolates. Miraculously, the baby stays hidden and years later, Francine is thanked for her kindness.
This book is beautifully illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard with haunting pictures done in watercolors, gouache and oil. I recommend this book for history lessons about the holocaust for elementary school students.

This Saturday July 6th join Michael Hutchinson at the Read by the Sea book festival in Nova Scotia! He will be discussing his latest novel in the Mighty Muskrats Mystery series: "The Case of the Pilfered Pin". This event will be part of the OnWords stories afternoon for kids and it will be held 9:40am-10:20am in the Remembrance Gardens at the River John Legion.

Alexandra Harrington, author of "The Last Time I Saw Her", will also be joining Michael in discussing their writing process, how they got published, their inspirations, and tips for young writers.

The Case of the Pilfered Pin (ages 9-12):
The Windy Lake First Nation’s lands have been shared with cottagers for fifty years, but no one can agree on where the reserve land ends. The only thing that can prove the boundary is a steel surveyor’s pin with the borders of the Windy Lake reserve etched into its head. When the Mighty Muskrats hear that the pin was stolen years ago—and that it is connected to their grandpa’s mysterious past—they make it their mission to find the missing pin and prove that the land belongs to their people. But the mystery gets tense when Grandpa becomes a suspect. Cousins Sam, Otter, Atim, and Chickadee must find that pilfered pin!

In honour of National Indigenous History Month, Canada Post has unveiled a stamp honouring Anishinaabe Elder and world-renowned water-rights activist, Josephine Mandamin.

On a rainy day in April 2003, Nokomis (grandmother) Josephine Mandamin and the Mother Earth Water Walkers set out on their first walk for water. Nokomis was inspired to act by the prophecy Midewiwin Grand Chief Eddie Benton-Banai shared, warning that water would become scarce and expensive if we didn't reverse our carelessness.

Nokomis walked for all life on earth…trees, birds, plants, insects, animals, your family, and all of your grandchildren's grandchildren yet to come. We are so happy to see Josephine-ba honoured in this way. Find her story in Joanne Robertson's book "The Water Walker", and the dual language (Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) and English) edition: "Nibi Emosaawdang / The Water Walker".

You can learn more about her walks at www.motherearthwaterwalk.com

Josephine-ba was from Wikwemikong on Manitoulin Island and resided in Thunder Bay, Ontario in Canada.

[image description of stamp: this stamp features a photo of Nokomis. Along the bottom of the stamp is a stylized illustration of water.

The cancellation mark is a stylized image of the ripples emanating from a droplet of water. The dynamic rings reference Nokomis’s work to protect water, rippling outward from the centre in the same way that her legacy continues to inspire.]

Have you read KEKWAN ETAKWAK MÎKISÎHK / WHAT'S IN A BEAD? by Kelsey Borgford and illustrated by Tessa Pizzale yet?

Kirkus Reviews called it “a delicate tribute to beading and storytelling, connecting the past, present, and future of Native communities.”

A beautifully illustrated picture book to help learn about Indigenous history through beading. 🟣💜🟪

Tessa loves how her grandmother always smells of campfire stories. Mom says it’s because Kohkom spends her days sewing beautiful beads onto smoked hides. Inspired, Tessa asks Kohkom to teach her beading, but first she must listen and learn about the many stories held in a bead.

Beautifully illustrated by Tessa Pizzale (), WHAT’S IN A BEAD? is a celebration of Cree craftsmanship, language, and learning. The loving exchange of knowledge between Tessa and her kohkom will be familiar to many children. Readers will learn that different Indigenous communities have different beadwork techniques, and that this traditional art form is alive and thriving today.

Available at your local bookstore or on our website:https://loom.ly/MetxJ3Q

[image: a graphic with a review quote on a white background with the cover of KEKWAN ETAKWAK MÎKISÎHK / WHAT'S IN A BEAD?]

✨ Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day! ✨
A special day to celebrate the past, present, and future of Indigenous people. We'd like to thank the Indigenous creators we've had the joy to work with here at the press, including the wonderful artist Tessa Pizzale whose vibrant illustrations bring to life the children's book "What's in a Bead/Kekwan Etakwak Mîkisîhk?", written by her talented friend Kelsey Borgford as a celebration of their Cree and Anishinaabe cultures.
✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨

Love a female-led Indigenous adventure with a touch of historical fiction? BERNICE AND THE GEORGIAN BAY GOLD by Jessica Outram (Sunshine in a Jar) is the perfect book for you! 🚣‍♀️

"A treasure map sparks a coastal Canadian Métis eight-year-old’s search for gold in an exuberant, richly detailed novel from a Métis author sharing her family's fictionalized history.... A sweet historical fiction pick for fans of well-intentioned young protagonists with enlightening Indigenous representation."—Booklist

Saturday, June 8th -- Meet author Ann Lambert at the MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival from Toronto International Festival of Authors at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto! Ann will be at the Crime Writers Canada tent to sign her books in the Russell and Leduc Mystery series, and there will be a reading at 3:00PM on Saturday at the BAYS Stage.

"We are excited to bring chilling thrillers, forensic scientists and true crime masterminds to MOTIVE this June!" - MOTIVE Crime & Mystery Festival at Harbourfront Centre!

Celebrating NIGHTS TOO SHORT TO DANCE by Marie-Claire Blais this Pride Month!

We were fortunate and honoured to publish the English translation of Marie-Claire Blais' final novel, Un coeur habité de mille voix, now translated as NIGHTS TOO SHORT TO DANCE. Translated from the french by the very talented Katia Grubisic.

René, a trans man, confronts age and illness on a winter’s night. Charismatic as ever, he is surrounded by friends and lovers. They look back over a century of struggle—Stonewall, the AIDS epidemic—and realize it’s not over. But neither is the love. Blais, a q***r literary icon, brings to life pivotal moments in the fight for q***r rights.

“Blais’ characters ask us: what if the body is less fixed than we have been made to believe? Perhaps two souls can share the same body, or multiple bodies can share the weight and pain of one soul. NIGHTS TOO SHORT TO DANCE is a poetic rumination on what it means to live. Blais reminds us, in her novel filled to the brim with love, of the agonizing fleetingness of life: to love is also to make yourself vulnerable to loss, and to feel loss is to know that you have once loved." —

NIGHTS TOO SHORT TO DANCE is available now at your local bookstore or on our website.

[image: a graphic with a review quote on a swirly prurple background with the cover of NIGHTS TOO SHORT TO DANCE]

Join in the conversation with Ann Lambert at the first-ever Montreal Mystery Festival! 🕵️‍♀️
Her latest book, WHALE FALL, is the third one in the Russell & Leduc Mystery series - contemporary thrillers where the search for justice can be shocking, each case exploring themes of societal malaise and historical injustice.
WHALE FALL is an eco-thriller where the murder of an iconic environmentalist might be connected to his protest of a high-stakes land development, or it might have been driven by something much more intimate.
🔎
Accompanied by Catherine McKenzie and hosted by Will Straw on 24th May, 7-8 pm, this Montreal Crime Time is not to be missed!

Second Story Press’ publisher and co-founder, Margie Wolfe, has received her medal for the Order of Canada from Governor General Mary Simon! 🎉
Margie’s appointment was originally announced on June 29, 2022. The Order of Canada honours Margie for “her dedication as a leading publisher, feminist and social justice advocate in Canada’s literary industry who champions inclusive and diverse publications.” 📚
The entire team at Second Story Press wishes Margie Wolfe our heartfelt congratulations! Read more: https://loom.ly/eLf80-s

Today is the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia which coordinates international events to raise awareness of LGBTQ+ rights violations and support LGBTQ+ activism worldwide! 🏳️‍🌈

always falls on May 17th, to commemorate the decision to remove homosexuality from the International Classification of Diseases of the World Health Organization in 1990.

PRIDE & PERSISTENCE: STORIES OF Q***R ACTIVISM by Mary Fairhurst Breen is the perfect book to celebrate the day.

This collection of biographies for middle-grade readers profiles activists from around the world who you may never have heard of. The activists between these pages have stood up for the q***r community, whether on their own behalf or in support of people they love. Some made a difference by confronting injustice; others dared to be fully themselves. 🏳️‍🌈

Available on our website or at your local bookstore.

[image: PRIDE AND PERSISTENCE on a rainbow coloured background]