We don’t choose the families we’re born into.  And that goes for young children who are adopted into families as well.  Like Alfred, or Alfie as he’s known – an eleven year old boy who grew up in poverty in Scotland is sent to Canada.  A new country.  A new family.  A new life.  This is a short story called The Boy in the Photograph by Alexander McCall Smith.

The Boy In The Photograph is by Alexander McCall Smith.  Copyright ©2020 Alexander McCall Smith.  A special commission for the Toronto International Festival of Authors.

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Why would turning eleven years old be shocking?  But it is for Oma in the gripping story called “Rubber.”  It’s part of a collection of short stories called Step by award winning writer Deborah Ellis.  She explores the experiences of children around the world as they turn eleven – on the precipice of adulthood and taking the next “step” into their future.  As in the case of Oma in “Rubber.”  A stunning story crafted by a superbly gifted writer.  

“Rubber” is from a collection of short stories called “Step” by Deborah Ellis.  Copyright ©2022 Deborah Ellis.  Published by Groundwood Books groundwoodbooks.com.

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This book profoundly moved and surprised me. I don’t recall reading a novel in which old age is depicted with such tenderness, sensitivity and passion.  

Not surprisingly,  this book has received many honours including being short listed for a Governor General’s Literary Award. 

It was difficult to choose just one excerpt from And The Birds Rained Down by Jocelyn Saucier, beautifully translated by Rhonda Mullins.  I hope you enjoy it. 

Excerpted from And The Birds Rained Down by Jocelyn Saucier, translation by Rhonda Mullins.  Published by Coach House Books https://chbooks.com

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There’s always been a fascination for the Romanovs – the last imperial family of Russia.  Much has been written about Anastasia, the youngest daughter of Nicholas II and his wife Alexandra.  But Olga, the eldest of the five children had her own compelling story, captured in Bryn Turnbull’s new book “The Last Grand Duchess.”  

Excerpted from The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull, Copyright © 2022 by Bryn Turnbull.  Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A. 

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Barbados 1962.  A lost soul named Lapetus roams the island, scared and alone, after witnessing a traumatic event.  Then a generation later,  his granddaughter Calypso is born and carries deep within her the secrets of the past.  In this excerpt from The Island of Forgetting by Jasmine Sealy, Calypso now a beautiful and wilful teenager wants much more to her life.  

Excerpted from “The Island of Forgetting” by Jasmine Sealy.  Copyright © 2022 by Jasmine Sealy.  Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Caanda.  

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Award winning French/Cree/Iroquois journalist Brandi Morin is a survivor of the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ crisis.  And she has reported and shared indigenous stories internationally for the last decade.  In her much anticipated memoir “Our Voice of Fire,” Brandi talks about the woman who inspired her passion and fight for justice:  her grandmother.  

 Excerpted from Our Voice of Fire by Brandi Morin.  Available in bookstores on August 2, 2022.   Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com

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Liv Green is a maid but really wants to be a writer.  That’s been her dream all her life.  And as luck would have it, she lands a housekeeping job with her idol -  bestselling author Essie Starling.   Essie’s a bit eccentric and reclusive, and as the two get to know each other better, she makes an unusual request of Liv. 

Excerpted from “The Messy Lives of Book People” by Phaedra Patrick.  Copyright @ 2022 by Phaedra Patrick, used with permission by Park Row Books.  Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Canada. 

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Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins, House of Anansi Press, and Coach House Books!

There is an indescribable joy in becoming a new parent.  In this powerful excerpt from “Secret Lives of Mothers and Daughters,” that joy is experienced by Nandini.  She becomes a new mother on the day her adopted baby girl arrives at her door.

Excerpted from “Secret Lives of Mothers and Daughters” by Anita Kushwaha.  Copyright © 2020 by Anita Kushwaha.  Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Canada.  

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We are all a product of our past.  But how do we deal with troubling events that have shaped us – and move on to find acceptance and our place in the world?  This is an excerpt from the book of short stories  “All the Shining People” from Kathy Friedman.  In this story called “Seeing Clearly,” Martin Romm tries to do just that with his life.  

The short story “Seeing Clearly,” excerpted from All the Shining People.  Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com 

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It is the first century AD in Britain.  An era of druids and pagan traditions.  This is the story of a mother and daughter and the formidable challenges they face as their ancient way of survival is threatened by a new world order.  In this excerpt from Daughter of Black Water by Cathy Marie Buchanan, a girl named Devout comes of age.  

Excerpted from “Daughter of Black Lake” by Cathy Marie Buchanan. Copyright © 2020 by Cathy Marie Buchanan.  Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Canada.  

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The life of one of America’s greatest poets - Emily Dickinson - is celebrated in a novel by Dominique Fortier.  It’s called “Paper Houses.”  The book contains short vignettes from Emily’s childhood to adulthood in Amherst Massachusetts -  they’re glimpses into the character and genius of this remarkable, reclusive woman. 

Excerpted from “Paper Houses” by Dominique Fortier, translation by Rhonda Mullins.  Published by Coach House Books.  For more info and how to purchase, go to https://chbooks.com

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Hard to believe this is Cherie Jones’s debut novel.  Raw and powerful, “How the One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House” explores what happens when two worlds separated by race and class, collide.  Lala and her husband Adan, a petty criminal,  live on the beach in a small resort town in the Barbados.   In this scene, Lala contemplates her relationship with Adan, and has an encounter she wasn’t expecting.  

Excerpted from “How The One-Armed Sister Sweeps Her House” by Cherie Jones, copyright © 2021 by Cherie Jones.  Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Canada.  

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Award winning filmmaker Ann Shin’s debut novel is a harrowing story about love, sacrifice and the meaning of freedom.  The Last Exiles centres on a young couple, Suja and Jin, who live in North Korea and face incredible challenges to be together.  In this excerpt, Suja and Jin are in the first flush of their relationship and feel an undeniable attraction to each other.

Excerpted from “The Last Exiles” by Ann Shin.  Copyright © 2021 by Ann Shin.  Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Canada.  https://www.harpercollins.ca/

***Will incl. info here about virtual interview with Ann Shin. 

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Award winning writer Martha Batiz writes about issues close to her heart in her new book “No Stars In The Sky:”  the plight of migrant children along the Mexico-US border, the tragedy of the disappeared, and the racial and domestic violence that makes life a constant struggle for survival.  In this short story “The First Piano” there is a moment of transcendence for a struggling community.

“The First Piano.”  Excerpted from No Stars In The Sky by Martha Batiz.  Release date May 2022.  Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com 

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This is a repeat of an episode originally aired on Dec 29, 2021

You’ve probably heard the saying “you don't get to choose the family you’re born into.”   But what if you’re an orphan?  There’s no choice in family there either.  This is How We Love explores the notion of “what is family?”  We’re thrilled to get an early look at this brand new book by Lisa Moore.  In this passage, an orphan named Trinity visits a potential home – and family.   

Excerpted from This Is How We Love by Lisa Moore. ©2022 Lisa Moore. Published by House of Anansi Press 

This is How We Love will be released in May 2022.  For more info and how to purchase, go to www.houseofanansi.com

Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins and House of Anansi!

At first the argument with your spouse or partner seems trivial, banal even. You shrug and get on with things.  But the argument happens again and again in different variations - comments veiled in a dismissive kindness until you can’t take it anymore.  Then something happens one day.

Excerpted from Nothing Could Be Further From the Truth by Chrisopher Evans. Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com

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This is a story told by a daughter, Chidiogo Akuniyili-Parr who assumes her mother’s voice in the book "I Am Because We Are.”  Her mother, Dora Akuniyili, believed in the African philosophy of Ubuntu: the importance of community over the individual.   In this excerpt, 9 year old Dora leaves her family and the comforts of the city to go and live with her grandmother in a rural village.

Excerpted from I Am Because We Are; An African Mother’s Fight for the Soul of a Nation by Chidiogo Akunyili-Parr. Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com

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This is truly a stunning short story told simply and powerfully.  “Laundry” by Deborah Ellis captures a shocking moment in the life of a young boy but gently wraps it in a universal truth.  Masud is an 11 year old in a Libyan migrant centre who takes a difficult step towards manhood - his step alone to take.

 Excerpted from Step by Deborah Ellis. Published by Groundwood Books.  Available this March 2022.  For more info and how to purchase, go to www.houseofanansi.com  

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It was a dark and stormy night!  Celebrate Valentine’s Day early with this excerpt from the magical romance novel “Ring” by Andre Alexis. From the beginning, Gwen and Tancred seem made for each other.  In this passage, it’s still early in their relationship. (Oh the intensity of those first days!) Then one night, a snowstorm forces them to spend the night together, alone.

Excerpted from “Ring” by Andre Alexis.  Published by House of Coach House Books.  For more info and how to purchase, go to https://chbooks.com

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Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins, House of Anansi Press, and Coach House Books!

What do you do when your life changes in a flash – and not for the better?

That’s what happens to 11 year old Miriam Brockman.  Uprooted from exciting NYC and her friends, she heads to smalltown USA and life in a rundown motel. Phooey!  But bad situations can lead to surprising things you learn about yourself.  In this excerpt from “No Vacancy” by Tziporah Cohen, it’s Day 1 for Miriam at the Jewel Motor Inn.  

 Excerpted from No Vacancy by Tziporah Cohen. Published by Groundwood Books.

For more info on “No Vacancy” and how to purchase, go to www.houseofanansi.com   

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Imagine:  a group of dogs are given human intelligence by two Greek gods.   What will be the outcome at the end of their lives?  Happiness or unhappiness? It’s a dazzling question at the start of the novel Fifteen Dogs by Andre Alexis. 

One of the dogs, a black poodle named Majnoun, develops a deep bond with a human named Nira.  In this passage, Majnoun waits for Nira to come home, and contemplates the meaning of his existence.  

 Excerpted from Fifteen Digs by André Alexis. Published by House of Coach House Books.

 For more info on Fifteen Dogs and how to purchase,  go to https://chbooks.com

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 Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins, House of Anansi Press, and Coach House Books!

David A. Robertson’s award winning memoir, Black Water, is about a journey of discovery and identity.  David, the son of a Cree father and a white mother knew virtually nothing about his indigenous roots growing up.  But he takes a trip with his father to the family trapline – to Black Water – a profoundly moving experience that raises questions of the past, the meaning of memory, and the ties that bind. 

 Excerpted from Black Water: Family, Legacy, and Blood Memory by David A. Robertson, Copyright © 2020 by David A. Robertson. Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Canada.

 For more info on Black Water and how to purchase, go to www.harpercollins.ca

 Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins and House of Anansi!

This passage is a short story about a young woman who learns to know and experience herself, unbound, in a magical town that she finds by accident in the field behind her home.  The story is called “The Town Carmen Found” by Angelique Lalonde.  

 Excerpted from Glorious Frazzled Beings by Angélique Lalonde. ©2021 Angélique Lalonde   Published by House of Anansi Press.  

 For more info on Glorious Frazzled Beings and how to purchase, go to www.houseofanansi.com   

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To me a library has always been a magical place – a place of discovery, worlds unknown, and the unexpected.  Writer Cyrille Martinez, a librarian himself,  writes about the magical library.  His story is a loving meditation on the meaning of libraries and how they can come alive – a place where ideas and stories roam free.  In this excerpt, he looks at how it all began:  the origin of the Great Library.

Excerpted from “The Dark Library” by Cyrille Rodriguez.  Translated by Joseph Patrick Stancil.  Copyright © 2020 by Cyrille Rodriguez.  Published by arrangement with Coach House Books. https://chbooks.com/

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Were you a young reader who was once captivated – entranced - by the magical world of Narnia  – the world of “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis?

“Once Upon A Wardrobe” by Patti Callahan explores the magic and inspiration behind Narnia. 

In this excerpt, college student Megs is invited into the home of C.S. Lewis and his brother Warnie.  Megs’s 8 year old brother is dying.  He loves the The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe and wants Megs to ask one question of the great author – the question all children wondered -  Is Narnia real?  

 Excerpted from Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan. Copyright © 2021 by Patti Callahan Henry. Used by permission of Harper Muse, an imprint of HarperCollins Focus LLC.

For more info on and how to purchase,  go to www.harpercollins.ca

Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins and House of Anansi!

You’ve probably heard the saying “you don't get to choose the family you’re born into.”   But what if you’re an orphan?  There’s no choice in family there either.  This is How We Love explores the notion of “what is family?”  We’re thrilled to get an early look at this brand new book by Lisa Moore.  In this passage, an orphan named Trinity visits a potential home – and family.   

Excerpted from This Is How We Love by Lisa Moore. ©2022 Lisa Moore. Published by House of Anansi Press 

This is How We Love will be released in May 2022.  For more info and how to purchase, go to www.houseofanansi.com

Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins and House of Anansi!

This passage is from a true story about a group of courageous Jewish women in Poland - some still teens - who became resistance fighters against the Nazis.  One of their most powerful weapons?  The word. 

Excerpted from The Light of Days: The Untold Story of Women Resistance Fighters in Hitler's Ghettos by Judy Batalion, Copyright © 2020 by Judy Batalion. Published by arrangement with HarperCollins Publishers 

 For more info on The Light of Days and how to purchase, go to www.harpercollins.ca

 Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins and House of Anansi!

Can you imagine if all your friends are superheroes?  And you’re not?!  That’s Tom’s life.  In fact, he’s even married to one – The Perfectionist.  Everything’s going great until their wedding day.  Then something happens and now Tom’s invisible.  What’s he to do to convince her that he’s actually there – even though he’s not.  Yikes!

Excerpted from “All My Friends Are Superheroes” by Andrew Kaufman.  Copyright © 2013 by Andrew Kaufman.  Published by arrangement with Coach House Books. https://chbooks.com/

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You may think a Parisian restaurant is the epitome of elegance, class, and of course
gastronomic delights. But Edward Chisolm saw a completely different world on the other side
of the kitchen door – as a Parisian waiter. Get ready for a wild ride with Edward as he takes you to the unsavoury side of fine French dining.

Excerpted from 
A Waiter in Paris: Adventures in the Dark Heart of the City 
by Edward Chisolm 
©2022 Edward Chisolm. Published by House of Anansi Press www.houseofanansi.com


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Here is the perfect passage to end your day.  Peaceful, poetic and beautifully reflective.

Writer Kirstijana Gunnars takes you to the lush and dreamy landscape of the B.C. interior where she once lived in a small cottage.  

 “The Substance of Forgetting” is from “The Scent of Light” the collected novellas of Kristijana Gunnars.  Copyright © 2022 by Kristijana Gunnars.  Published by arrangement with Coach House Books.  

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Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins, House of Anansi Press, and Coach House Books!

There comes a time when roles reverse and you the child must take care of your own parent. 

The short story “Joy of Vicks” by Sidura Ludwig captures the powerful push and pull a daughter feels - the myriad of conflicting feelings - when she must take care of her own mother who’s ill.  Anyone who’s cared for a parent will identify with the struggle:  the sadness, the pity, the repulsion, the guilt.  And the love.   

“Joy of Vicks” is from the short story collection “You Are Not What We Expected” by Sidura Ludwig.   Copyright © 2020 by Sidura Ludwig.  Published by arrangement with House of Anansi Press.

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Thank you to our wonderful literary partners Harper Collins, House of Anansi Press, and Coach House Books!

We've had a super busy summer, so we've had to extend our break just a little longer. Our apologies, but we'll be back on our new date of Wednesday, September the 14th with more compelling passages from books old and new. We'll explore love, death, romance, heartache, friendship and joy ~ the human condition in all its many forms.  We hope Passage to Wonderland gives you a sense of calm and completion at the end of a busy day. See you on September 14th!

Summer's almost here and it's time for us to take a break!

We've loved sharing all the wonderful stories provided by our partners Harper Collins, House of Anansi Press and Coach House Books.  

A big thank you to them along with the Temerty Foundation for their generous support.

And a special thanks to YOU for listening!

We'll be back with more compelling passages from books old and new.  So watch for our return on Wed. Aug. 31.

In the meantime, we hope you have a wonderful summer.

And if you missed any of our past episodes, now's the time to enjoy them!