The #CanLitSummer project began as a personal reading goal. In 2023, I decided to read only Canadian books over the summer, and I shared reviews of my selections on Instagram. This year, I’m bringing the project back, and I’m extending the invitation to you.
Whether you join #CanLitSummer for a single book or the whole summer, I’ll have book recommendations, CanLit chats, and giveaways for you to enjoy.
Read on for details!
How to participate in #CanLitSummer
If you want to take part in the discussions and giveaways, then make sure to do one (or more) of the following:
Subscribe to my email newsletter
You can also share your own summer reads on Instagram or Bluesky with the hashtag #CanLitSummer.
And, of course, you’re welcome to join the project offline by reading Canadian books and chatting with your friends about them face-to-face!
#CanLitSummer will run through July and August, but I hope it’ll inspire you to celebrate Canadian books all year long.
Questions you may have
Is #CanLitSummer only for Canadians?
Nope! Wherever you are in the world, I invite you to explore Canadian literature!
What counts as CanLit?
The simple answer: a book written by a Canadian.
The more complex answer is that it’s not my place to define what makes someone Canadian. CanLit can include a wide range of voices, including authors born and raised in the land we call Canada, Indigenous authors who identify as Canadian, Indigenous authors who do not recognize the colonial boundaries imposed upon their ancestral lands, authors who emigrated from Canada to somewhere else, authors who immigrated to Canada, and more.
Do I have to read only Canadian books?
That’s my goal, but if you read only a few Canadian books (or even just one), that’s fine too.
This summer, I’ll be sticking to CanLit for my leisure reading but allowing exceptions for my book club’s pre-chosen selections.
Do children’s books count?
Sure! I’ll be including middle grade and YA in my summer choices (both because I enjoy them and because as an editor, I want to stay on top of what’s out there).
My #CanLitSummer is about my personal reading choices; yours could be about reading as a family!
Shameless plug: If you’re looking for Canadian books for your kids (many of which have Canadian illustrators and Canadian publishers!), I invite you to check out my picture books!
Why did you start #CanLitSummer?
There are a lot of things I could say about the relative visibility of the publishing markets in Canada and elsewhere, and those are important reasons to read Canadian. But the reason I first started this project goes back to the flicker of joy I feel when reading a book with an unapologetically Canadian setting.
As much as I enjoy playing “spot the Canada Post mailbox” when watching shows set in NYC (I’m looking at you, Suits!) and stumbling across Canadian landmarks that I recognize from American media (Hey, isn’t that U of T building in the background of Mean Girls? Yes; yes it is.), I love it even more fun when those settings get to be what they really are.
It’s one thing when a location swap is practical; I know there are reasons that movies are often shot in Canadian cities. But sometimes these changes mean something more. For example, I know an author who was told they should change their fictional small town’s setting from Ontario to New Jersey to make their book more marketable.
Of course, in the years since my first #CanLitSummer, Carley Fortune and Rachel Reid have invited the world to fall in love with Canadian cottage country, so I’m optimistic that those “Canada isn’t relatable” conversations are on the way out!
Seeing yourself in the story
Representation matters. As a white, cisgender Canadian, I see myself reflected in most American and Canadian media. Yes, I’m delighted by books that celebrate Canadian settings, but I’ve never been at risk of not being included in the narrative.
There are a lot of kids and adults who don’t have the privilege of seeing themselves in a wide range of media and genres, and that’s not okay. There are so many people working to amplify underrepresented voices in publishing: as a starting point, check out groups like the Festival of Literary Diversity and We Need Diverse Books.
Ready to read?
Find a great Canadian book, and let’s get reading! (Remember, if you want to take part in the giveaways, sign up for my newsletter or join me on Instagram or Bluesky.)