The things she's seen by  Ambelin and Ezekiel Kwaymullina

"This book is a teen fiction thriller mystery. I recommend this book because the story is really deep and meaningful. It is a book about Indigenous Peoples with a thrilling story. The book is very well written and the authors used very strong and colourful descriptions to really paint the story. It kept me intrested and I kept wanting to read more and more. Another thing I liked about this book is that the book is written in 2 first person point of views which I don't see a lot of books do often."
Zion Heights Middle School

A list of cages by Robin Roe

"This book is one of my favourites of all time! It takes you through a journey of emotions from laughing until you fall off your bed to crying enough to fill an ocean. Since it's set in high school, the events and characters are so relatable."
Sir John A Macdonald Collegiate Institute

All the broken things by  Kathryn Kuitenbrouwer

"I feel other students should read this book because it broadens your perspective on what its like to adapt to a new environment. The protagonist, Bo, is a Vietnamese refugee who has come to Canada with his family for a better life. His story sheds a light on to the many challenges that New Canadians face when trying to adapt to a new land such as language barriers. The book also gives readers an insight into what it is like to live with someone with a disability as Bo's sister is severely disfigured due to Agent Orange, a chemical defoliant manufactured in Canada. Not only was Canada the manufacturer of this chemical but the country used to hold freakshows and bear wrestling circuits at the CNE. I most definitely knew none of this before reading All the Broken Things, which is another reason why students should read this novel, as it explores Canadian history. Lastly, this book educates readers on the strength, resilience and willpower of the human spirit. No matter the circumstances, people will continue to fight and we see this through Bo, who is faced with so many obstacles but does not give up."
John Polanyi Collegiate Institute

The agony of Bun O'Keefe by Heather Smith

"One reason this book is worth reading before you die is the Interesting perspective of the main character Bun O’Keefe. Her upbringing in the hoarder house gives a unique perspective of the situations and other characters that could not have made this book as captivating if it was written any other way. The second reason you should read this book is that it touches on real-world issues that we should all educate ourselves on. Some issues that were addressed are Indigenous people being attacked, hate towards the LGBTQ+ community, and child neglect. The book showed how innocent people can be hurt in such drastic ways. The third reason is all the characters have very interesting backstories for such a short novel. Not only that but their personalities really shine through so I can say there was never a dull moment. Although his book is about the story of a 14-year-old girl to me it meant much more than that. It taught me about important issues but most of all that being surrounded by people we care about and that care for us should never be taken for granted."
Bloor Collegiate Institute