Canadian Literature

The Canadian Literature Collection highlights the diversity and talent of Canadian authors. Representing the broad range of genres and traditions reflected in Candian Literature, this Collection includes fiction by Margaret Atwood, John Irving, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and other Canadian writers who have shaped the nation's literary canon.

Publication year 2012

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Humor

Ungifted is a 2012 novel for children written by Gordon Korman and is the recipient of the 2014 Red Cedar Award. Narrated from multiple perspectives, the story follows Donovan Curtis, an average student at Hardcastle Middle School who is accidentally sent to an academy for gifted kids. It chronicles the characters’ growth and change as they learn to balance intellectual achievement with experience and social engagement.Donovan is a prankster who struggles to control his impulses... Read Ungifted Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Natural World: Animals, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness

Tags Realistic Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Humor, Action / Adventure, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Masculinity, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Latin American Literature, Historical Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, History: World


Publication year 1984

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Education, Education, French Literature, Classical Period, Canadian Literature, Travel Literature, Classic Fiction

Jacques Poulin’s Volkswagen Blues is a road-trip novel in the tradition of Jack Kerouac’s masterpiece, On the Road. Originally published in French in 1984, it chronicles the North American journey of Jack Waterman, a francophone writer from Quebec City, and a young woman of French and Indigenous American ancestry named La Grande Sauterelle. They are both on a quest of self-discovery, but their expedition from Quebec to San Francisco is also an allegory for Quebec’s... Read Volkswagen Blues Summary


Publication year 1972

Genre Short Story, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Emotions/Behavior: Regret, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Fathers, Society: Class

Tags Historical Fiction, Great Depression, Education, Education, Classic Fiction

“Walker Brothers Cowboy” by Alice Munro is a short story set during the Great Depression. The story uses the themes of The Disillusionment of Fading Childhood, The Bittersweet Effects of Nostalgia, and Finding Solace in Companionship to implicitly explore larger issues of poverty and social class. The story was published in Munro’s debut collection, Dance of the Happy Shades, in 1968. The stories in this collection are set in and around a variety of fictional... Read Walker Brothers Cowboy Summary


Publication year 2002

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Society: War, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Tags History: World, Holocaust, WWII / World War II, Education, Education, Military / War, History: European


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Relationships: Friendship, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Military / War, Historical Fiction, Survival Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Realistic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Military / War, WWII / World War II, Children's Literature, History: World


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags Historical Fiction, Race / Racism, History: World, Action / Adventure

Set in the 1830s and beginning on a slave plantation in Barbados, Esi Edugyan’s Washington Black tells the story of the eponymous Washington and his unlikely adventures as he meditates upon the complexities of race, relationships, science, and art. In 1830, Wash is an uneducated, orphaned slave boy around 10 or 11 years old taken under the wing of Big Kit, a powerful and intimidating field slave. Big Kit protects him from the other slaves... Read Washington Black Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Hope, Life/Time: Aging, Identity: Disability, Natural World: Animals, Society: Class, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal

Tags Historical Fiction, Romance, Great Depression, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

Water for Elephants, a New York Times bestseller and author Sara Gruen’s third novel, was published in 2006 by Algonquin. The novel was adapted into a full-length film in 2011 starring Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattison.Gruen often features animals in her novels, and Water for Elephants is no exception, as she follows two lovers in a forbidden relationship set against the backdrop of a circus and its eclectic mix of characters and exotic animals. The... Read Water for Elephants Summary


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Realistic Fiction, Relationships, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, LGBTQ

We Are All Made of Molecules (May 2015) is by young adult and middle-grade author Susin Nielsen. Nielsen spent many years as a scriptwriter for Canadian television shows, including Degrassi Junior High. Her writing focuses humorously on the trials and tribulations of being a teenager. Like the characters in We Are All Made of Molecules, Nielsen lives in Vancouver, Canada. Her other titles include Word Nerd (2010), Dear George Clooney: Please Marry My Mom (2010)... Read We Are All Made of Molecules Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Sexuality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Gender, Society: Community, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Society: Immigration

Tags Gender / Feminism, LGBTQ, Immigration / Refugee, Religion / Spirituality, Biography


Publication year 2016

Genre Novella, Fiction

Themes Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, History: World, Canadian Literature


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: The Future, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Natural World: Objects, Natural World: Place, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, LGBTQ, Religion / Spirituality, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Gender, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Natural World: Place, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Business / Economics, Mystery / Crime Fiction


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Immigration / Refugee, Social Justice, Politics / Government, Coming of Age / Bildungsroman, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2009

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Tags Psychology, Sociology, Science / Nature, Business / Economics, Social Science, Psychology, Self Help


Publication year 2005

Genre Novel, Fiction

Tags LGBTQ, Education, Education, Modern Classic Fiction, Canadian Literature

What We All Long For, written by Dionne Brand and published in 2005, tells the overlapping stories of four friends in their early- to mid-20s as they navigate Toronto as queer people, people of color, and children of immigrants.Content Warning: The source material and this guide contain instances and discussions of suicide, racism, and abuse.Tuyen is a queer woman and the daughter of Vietnamese immigrant refugees. When her parents fled Vietnam, they were separated from... Read What We All Long For Summary


Publication year 2003

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Self Discovery

Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Self Help, Psychology, Mental Illness


Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Music

Tags Romance, Contemporary Literature, Western, Music