Books & Reviews

New Memoir Chronicles a Métis Woman's Journey Across Canada

‘Rooted and Roaming’ dives deep into cultural identity, land, and personal healing as author Elise Tremblay recounts her travels and reconnections.

July 28, 2025 at 06:08 — By Abigail Shaffer, Leaf & Thought

Summer 2024 is shaping up to be a banner season for Canadian literature. From long-awaited debuts to breakout sequels, a handful of new novels are capturing the attention of readers coast to coast.

One standout is 'Prairie Glass' by Lana Desrosiers, a haunting family saga set in rural Manitoba that spans three generations of women grappling with love, loss, and the ghost of colonial trauma.

Meanwhile, Toronto-based novelist Mark Liu returns with 'Night Market,' a neon-soaked thriller set in Vancouver’s Chinatown that blends crime fiction with cultural critique. Early reviews hail it as 'Blade Runner meets Zadie Smith.'

For younger readers, Sarah Menard’s 'The Cloud Keeper' offers a whimsical but grounded adventure following a Métis teen who discovers she can manipulate the weather. The novel weaves environmental themes with myth and magic.

Booksellers across the country report strong pre-orders and robust in-store interest. 'There’s an appetite for Canadian voices that reflect the country’s complexities,' says Nadine Rojas of Blue Fox Books in Halifax.

Literary festivals in Ottawa, Calgary, and Charlottetown are also featuring these authors, offering panels, readings, and pop-up bookstore events throughout July and August.