23 Canadian books for young adults to read in spring 2025

CBC

03-05-2025

Check out these Canadian YA books recently published and soon-to-be released this spring!
The Afterdark
The Afterdark is a queer YA novel following Evie Laurent, a student at a prestigious boarding school harbouring dark enchanting secrets. At Northcroft when night falls, the Afterdark covers the surrounding forest with unseen horrors, some of which call to Evie and Holland Morgan, the girl she's quickly falling for. Faced against mysterious and macabre challenges outside their hallowed halls, Evie and Holland must also reckon with the darkness in themselves.
The Afterdark is out now.
E. Latimer is a writer from Victoria, B.C. After gaining an audience on Wattpad of over 100,000 followers, she went on to write several novels for young readers such as The Strange and Deadly Portraits of Bryony Gray, Escape to Witch City and Witches of Ash and Ruin.
In the epic fantasy world of Breath of the Dragon, strong warriors are breathmarked, possessing magic abilities and born with dragon scales — Jun is not one of them. Still, the 16-year-old is determined to prove himself at Guardian's Tournament held every six years to choose the new keeper of the Scroll of Heaven. Despite his father's protest, Jun runs away to the tournament, travelling with performers Chang and his daughter, Ren. On a quest for freedom and to restore his family's name, Jun learns what he is truly fighting for.
Fonda Lee is a Canadian fantasy and science fiction writer. A finalist for the Hugo Award and the Nebula Award, she is known for her novels Jade City, Jade War, Jade Legacy and her novella Untethered Sky. Lee is currently based in the Boston area.
Bruce Lee Podcast and is also the author of Be Water, My Friend.
Prophecy by M.L. Fergus
The first novel in the romance fantasy series, Fractured Kingdom, Prophecy follows a young Persephone who longs to escape. When she meets Azriel, a daring thief, she thinks she might finally gain her freedom, only to discover his true mission. Persephone is believed to be the key to ending the tyrannical reign of the king's regent and Azriel won't let her out of his sight. Together, they hurdle through an adventure of danger, romance and incredibly high stakes.
Prophecy is out now.
M.L. Fergus is a children's author from Winnipeg. Her other works include the young adult novels, Ortega, Recipe for Disaster and the early graphic novel series Weenie Featuring Frank and Beans.
The Queen's Spade by Sarah Raughley
Inspired by real-life historical drama, The Queen's Spade is a novel about Queen Victoria's young African goddaughter, Sarah Bonetta Forbes, also known as Sally. In 1862, Sally is set one taking down the colonial system of Britain ruled by her godmother. As a former princess of the Egbado Clan, Sally resents the politics of court that have sought to take away her power and so she grows closer to the Queen's inner circle in a plot to dismantle it.
The Queen's Spade is out now.
Sarah Raughley is a fantasy novelist from Southern Ontario. Her YA Effigies series includes Fate of Flames, Siege of Shadows and Legacy of Light. Raughley was the 2022 judge for CBC's student writing challenge, The First Page.
Something Like Fate is a YA romantic comedy about two best friends testing their fates over a summer trip to Italy. The women of the Zhao-Jensen family, except for Lo, have been able to psychically find their soulmates long before they actually meet. After many years without knowing who "The One" is, Lo finally has a vision and her aunties are certain she'll meet them on her trip. Set amongst the backdrop of the Italian countryside Lo's trust in fate and friendship is tested.
Something Like Fate is out now.
Amy Lea is an Ottawa-based contemporary romance writer and Canadian bureaucrat. Her previous novels include Woke Up Like This, which was on the Canada Reads 2024 longlist, Exes and O's and Set on You. Lea was named one of CBC Books' writers to watch in 2024.
Just Kickin' It by Julie Thompson
Just Kickin' It is a coming-of-age novella written specifically for teens to develop their reading skills. The story follows Jesse three years after he lost his parents and moved in with his grandfather. Jesse doesn't have much but he saves up for the summer to buy new sneakers and finally fit in with his friends. When his summer plans and savings go awry, Jesse has to make some crucial decisions to find out who his true friends are.
Just Kickin' It is out now.
Julie Thompson is a Toronto children's writer as well as a police officer and youth communication specialist. She is also the author of When Isaac Hears the Rain.
To Steal from Thieves by M. K. Lobb
In the heart of The Great Exhibition in London lies a rare necklace heavily guarded — enter two unlikely thieves. To Steal from Thieves is a heist novel that follows Kane Durante, a skilled and handsome con man under the employ of a powerful figure in the magical dark market of the city and Zaria Mendoza, an alchemologist grieving the loss of her father. When the two are forced to team up, the risk seems great but the reward is even greater as tensions rise and the heist looms nearer.
is out now.
M. K. Lobb is a speculative fiction writer from Ontario. Her other books include Seven Faceless Saints and Disciples of Chaos.
This summer, Rachel Bird has finally settled into the small town of Aspen Lake. In the YA novel Like a Bird Rachel is forming relationships, getting along with her recently discovered grandparents and riding horses in the countryside. That is all well until the looming threat of wildfires encroaches on her front doors. In a whirlwind, Rachel becomes responsible for protecting her new family and home from the unpredictable flames.
Like a Bird is out now.
Becky Citra is a writer of books for kids and teens and former teacher based in B.C. Her other books include Rachel Bird, Murder at the St. Alice and Missing.
The Fragments that Remain by Mackenzie Angeconeb
The Fragments that Remain is a story told through letters and poetry about two siblings and the valley of grief that separates them. Ally and Andy were considered honorary twins, with either born at the start and end of the same year, and extremely close their whole lives until tragically Ally dies. In this tragic and heartfelt YA novel, Andy discovers her bisexuality, Indigenous identity and the pieces of her brother that remain.
The Fragments that Remain is out now.
Mackenzie Angeconeb is an Anishinaabekwe writer, artist and educator from Lac Seul First Nation and currently based in Sioux Lookout, Ont. As an artist she designs bead earrings and watercolours. The Fragments that Remain is their first novel.
What Wakes the Bells by Elle Tesch
What Wakes the Bells is a gothic fantasy YA novel with inspiration taken from legends of Prague. Mina is a Keeper in the literally alive city of Vaiwyn, once formed by departed Saints. A Keeper's purpose? Keep the bells of Vaiwyn from ringing or the Vespers become free to terrorize the streets as gargoyles and statues once made of stone.
What Wakes the Bells is out now.
Elle Tesch is a fantasy writer for young adults from Vancouver. One of Tesch's focus in her writing is representing asexual women. What Wakes the Bells is her first novel and she is currently working on her next novel, The Hanging Bones.
Tasha Nicastro's world is turned upside down after her father and sister are killed, revealing the truth to her about her family, the most powerful Mafia in all of New York. In the Company of Killers follows 17-year-old Tasha, once a spoiled teenager, now set to inherit the Nicastro family mob. After pledging to avenge her father and sisters death by hunting down the new mob that made the hit, Tasha is forced to team up with her former best friend and family rival.
In the Company of Killers is out now.
Elora Cook is a YA writer who splits her time between Toronto and the East Coast. In the Company of Killers is her first novel.
The Language of Stars by Nathan Hellner-Mestelman
The Language of Stars: The Scientific Story of a Few Billion Years in a Few Hundred Pages is a nonfiction collection of astronomy and scientific speculation from teen writer and scientist, Nathan Hellner-Mestelman. As he takes readers through the history of the universe, we journey from the Big Bang, through the cosmos to our current society on Earth. Hellner-Mestelman ponders the smallest details like atoms and sits with the question of what it means to exist from a scientific lens.
The Language of Stars is out now.
Hellner-Mestelman is a B.C. writer, slam poet and science communicator. He published his first book, Cosmic Wonder in 2024 at age 16. He currently works at the planetarium at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria.
Meet Me at Blue Hour by Sarah Suk
In Busan, South Korea, there's a clinic one can go to to erase your memories. Yena Bae is a teenage girl and daughter to the clinic's owner and she misses her best friend Lucas. Meet Me at Blue Hour follows the unexpected reunion of the two best friends years after he moved away when Lucas brings his grandfather with Alzheimer's disease to the clinic in search of a cure. As the two childhood friends try to figure out what happened to their memories, their connection grows again, but can their relationship ever be the same as what it once was?
Meet Me at Blue Hour is out now.
Sarah Suk is a YA writer living in Vancouver. Her other books include the young adult novels The Space Between Here & Now, Made in Korea and co-author of the middle grade novel Troublemaker with John Cho. In 2023, CBC Books named Suk one of the writers to watch.
The Haunted Blizzard is an Inuk horror graphic novel about a teenage girl trapped at home by unprecedented snow. Despite the warnings from the Elders about the blizzard, she is not prepared for the haunting figure that shadows her home. Caught between the elements and her conscience, the girl is tested by the horrors peeking around every corner.
The Haunted Blizzard is out now.
Aviaq Johnston is an Inuk writer of books for kids and young adults. Her other books include Those Who Run in the Sky, winner of the 2017 Indigenous Voices Award and the children's book, What's My Superpower?.
Athena Gubbe is an animator and illustrator currently based in Ontario. She is also the illustrator of Remembering the Sun's Return written by Carolyn MacDonald and Arctic Animal Life Cycles written by Jordan Hoffman.
Ours to Tell: Reclaiming Indigenous Stories is an anthology for young adult readers of Indigenous stories, traditions and art forms from 16 writers and artists. Including Indigenous creators like E. Pauline Johnson, Tommy Orange and Rita Joe, this collection sheds a light on Indigenous history and what it means to be Indigenous, in varied ways, today.
Ours to Tell is out on April 29.
Eldon Yellowhorn is a children's author from Peigan Indian Reserve (Piikani Nation). His other books include Turtle Island, Sky Wolf's Call and What the Eagle Sees. He is also a professor of Archeology and Indigenous Studies at Simon Fraser University in B.C.
Kathy Lowinger is a Toronto-based publisher and author whose books include Give Me Wings! How a Choir of Former Slaves Took on the World, Turtle Island: The Story of North America's First People and What the Eagle Sees: Indigenous Stories of Rebellion and Renewal.
In a YA fantasy based on medieval chivalric romance, a healer and an assassin are inexplicably bound together. The Enemy's Daughter takes place decades after the Republic was destroyed, when the battle for land has been split between the Kingsland and the five clans. After the leader of the Kingsland is slain, Isadora risks her neck to heal soldiers from the clans in the war. Tristan, a deadly foe from the Kingsland does the unthinkable once Isadora is hit with a poison arrow — he saves her with magic, binding them together. Fused by magic, Isadora and Tristan reluctantly grow closer, as their memories may serve to save each other's people.
The Enemy's Daughter is out on May 6.
Melissa Poett is a Canadian YA writer who previously studied musical composition. The Enemy's Daughter is her first novel.
You Started It by Jackie Khalilieh
You Started It is a YA romance about high school senior Jamie Taher-Foster. After three years with her boyfriend, Ben Cameron, Jamie is set on a check list of things to do before graduating. What she doesn't expect is for Ben to come back home after the summer ends and break up with her, only to be seen with another girl the following day. Now, Jamie's new plan is to get him back by fake dating Axel — a chilled out guy she has nothing in common with except for being Arab. As Jamie reckons with all these surprises to her senior year and the anxiety that comes with it, she begins to understand Axel and herself even better.
Jackie Khalilieh is a Palestinian Canadian YA writer who lives just outside of Toronto. Her first novel, Something More, was shortlisted for Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz and named one of the best Canadian books for kids & teens in 2023.
A Drop in the Ocean by Léa Taranto
A Drop in the Ocean is a coming-of-age novel based on the author's own experiences with mental illness. Mira Durand is currently staying at the Residency Adolescent Treatment Centre for her obsessive compulsive and comorbid disorders. This is not the first psych ward Mira's been to by the age of 16 and her OCD and other illnesses continue to intensify, with her only solace being her journal. Finally at this residency, Mira begins to feel a change as she starts to make true connections and build trust over time.
A Drop in the Ocean is out on May 20.
Léa Taranto is a disabled Chinese Jewish Canadian writer currently based in B.C. Her work has been featured in publications like Room Magazine and Arc Poetry Magazine. A Drop in the Ocean is her first novel.
Titan of the Stars by E.K. Johnston
Titan of the Stars is a thrilling tale of science fiction and horror about a trip from Earth to Mars gone wrong. Celeste is an apprentice engineer on the Titan, a voyager spaceship set to launch a group of people into a new extraterrestrial life. Dominic is the son of the Titan's owner and despite the adventure his father paves for him, he grieves for the hopes and dreams left behind. Also aboard the ship are ancient aliens once frozen and now on display for the passengers, that is, until someone sets them free and terror reigns on the Titan.
Titan of the Stars is out on May 27.
E.K. Johnston is a YA novelist and forensic archaeologist from Stratford, Ont. She is the author of The Story of Owen, A Thousand Nights, Aetherbound and Exit, Pursued by a Bear, which won the Amy Mathers Teen Book Award in 2017.
Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel
In Best of All Worlds Xavier Oaks begrudgingly goes on a trip to the cabin in the woods with his dad and his pregnant stepmom, Nia. One morning they wake up to discover the cabin is not in the same place it was yesterday and they are trapped in some sort of dome. After three years of still being stuck, another family is also transported to the dome and the two groups must work together to find a way out and a way home.
Best of All Worlds is out on June 3.
Kenneth Oppel is the bestselling author of many books for young readers. Among them is the Silverwing trilogy that has sold over a million copies worldwide and has been adapted into an animated TV series and stage play in addition to this new graphic novel. Some of his other works include Airborn, Skybreaker, The Nest, Half Brother and Ghostlight. He is currently based in Toronto.
Meet Me on Love Street by Farah Heron
Sana Merali believes in happily ever afters, she was basically raised to, having grown up on Love Street. Meet Me on Love Street centres a neighbourhood brimming with life. Warm, inviting homes and small businesses like that of Sana's mother, the florist, or the vintage shop where Sana works.
When new developments that will gentrify the neighbourhood come knocking, Sana rallies everyone to create a festival and save Love Street. But when notorious anti-romantic Mile Desai joins the planning committee, Sana finds herself with two missions: save the street and matchmake Miles out of his cynical stance on love.
A Treachery of Swans by A. B. Poranek
Inspired by the classic story of Swan Lake, A Treachery of Swans is a queer fantasy YA novel about two rivals who were once childhood friends. Hundreds of years ago, magic was taken away from Auréal and 17-year-old Odile is bent on restoring it. Sent by her sorcerer father to steal the king's crown, Odile must pretend to be a noblewoman as she assumes the identity of none other than the regal Marie d'Odette, her former friend, and turns Marie into a swan. In a twist of events, the king is killed and Odile must ally herself with the girl she cursed, ultimately torn between family loyalty and her feelings for Marie brimming to the surface.
A Treachery of Swans is out on June 24.
A.B. Poranek is a Canadian Polish writer with a focus on YA fantasy. She also has a veterinary degree from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences. Her other works include Where the Dark Stands Still.
A Mastery of Monsters by Liselle Sambury
A Mastery of Monsters is the first novel in a YA dark academia series about a secret society of shocking monsters and one girl's quest to save her brother. Everyone thinks that August's brother ran away before their sophomore year on his own accord, but August is doubtful. After August is attacked by a large and terrifying monster, she strikes up a reluctant deal with the only one who can help her least about the beasts, Virgil Hawthorne. A monstrous form lying within Virgil himself, August must partner with him to keep him tame, entering them both into a competition with deadly consequences.