With her homonymic picturebook #fakegnus, #LeslieHelakoski gives kids a fun start on fibs vs. facts, with young reporter Scoop Jackson as the mischievous guide. Take it from this Scoop Jackson, reviewer: #FakeGnus is genuine value. l1nq.com/khymot3 @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social @theseaboardreview.ca

What a hoot! #DeborahHodge and #KarenReczuch reveal that, without so much as blinking a golden eye, #TheBurrowingOwlsofthePrairieGrasslands take over burrows dug by prairie dogs, badgers, etc. Worth reading the book? Owl say! sl1nk.com/587cuoq @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social @theseaboardreview.ca

Summertime, and the reading is easy—especially with intriguing works by BC/Yukon members of the #TheWritersUnionofCanada to choose from. It was my pleasure to assemble news of these in the edition of TWUC's WestWords. Tx to rep #RhonaMcAdam and TWUC staff for their support! bit.ly/westwords-ju...

Pushing Hope is #RaymondSantana's powerful graphic memoir of wrongful imprisonment, w 4 others, for the rape of a Central Park jogger. When the real perpetrator confessed, they were free—as free as they could be, after such a nightmare. #AstraPublishingHouse @theseaboardreview.ca sl1nk.com/t342wyx

In Pizza Before We Die: An Eyewitness Account in Gaza, #HassanKanafani describes the ruin of his country by Israeli bombs. His family's home, now a fragile tent. “In the darkness... a doorless prison—a cramped space where anxiety and dread cling to the air.” @arsenalpulp.bsky.social l1nq.com/wx9t5j5

In My Humble Opinion: My So-Called Life is #SorayaRoberts' tribute to the classic '90s TV show. As Roberts notes, often there's no ambiguity to characters. Not so on MSCL. When a reply is required of her, Angela shrugs out the classic irritated-teen "I don’t know." #ECWPress shorturl.at/g1vHw

In my humble opinion: My So-Called Life, by Soraya Roberts

A Throwback Thursday review by Melanie Jackson

theseaboardreview.ca

Our latest newsletter is out featuring news from BC's kidlit creators! #readlocal #readBC #ireadcanadian

The latest news from BC's children's book creators!

Spring 2026

open.substack.com

Loved reviewing Return to Paueru Gai: 50 Years of Vancouver’s Powell St. Festival. Editor #emikomorita: the annual event is "a poignant, living expression of continuity, resilience, & cultural exchange.” Aug. 1-2, #OppenheimerPark C u there! @theseaboardreview.ca #arsenalpulppress shorturl.at/bTyKK

Return to Paueru Gai: Fifty Years of Vancouver’s Powell Street Festival

Edited by Emiko Morita

shorturl.at

Oh, shoot! Who was the real #calamityjane? In Calamity Before Jane, by #noahvansciver, a graphic novel I revued 4 #theseaboardreviewofbooks, Sciver profiles the youthful runaway (1852-1903) & the lively stories she shared in the Wild West Show of #WildBillHickok..https://shorturl.at/6RmuC #TOONBooks

Against a grim #SaultSteMarie residential school, a bright-faced, exasperated girl—who will survive: the cover of Shirley: An Indian Residential School Story, bio of #ShirleyFletcherHorn by #JoanneRobertson. My privilege 2 revu 4 #TheSeaboardReviewofBooks. #SecondStoryPress #canlit shorturl.at/DDvuX

Definitely a brush with enjoyment to read & revu this historical fiction mystery starring #emilycarr. Author #catherinewalker draws—sorry, another art pun—you in with rich character studies and an engaging plot that includes, gasp, murder. @theseaboardreview.ca #InannaPublications shorturl.at/P2jOs

Thanks, @theseaboardreview.ca 4 the chance 2 review Yes! To Canada: When Grampa Refused to Fight in The Vietnam War, by #robertdavies. An agonizing but understandable choice, to flee one's home in protest of a war even Defense Secretary #RobertMcNamara condemned. #harppublishing shorturl.at/Gca6J

Seamus and the Shiny Things, by #carakansala, is a children’s book to crow about. Seamus is greedy about collecting shiny objects, only to find out that friendship is what truly shines. Take a beak, I mean, peek at my review! @theseaboardreview.ca @breakwaterbooks.bsky.social tinyurl.com/4a73udm2

The fun, brrr!-illiantly plotted Blood Typed is my type of mystery. Tickled to have reviewed it for this issue of @theseaboardreview.ca. Whodunit, you ask? The novel's author is #JaneDoucet. The murderer? That, you'll have to read Blood Typed to find out. www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/blood-type...

Honoured to revu for @theseaboardreview.ca the reissue of #DavidARobertson's powerful graphic novel 7 Generations: A Plains Cree Saga. As a comics writer, Robertson sought to replace lies & ignorance with a new foundation to build on. Illustrator: #scottbhenderson #HighwaterPress shorturl.at/FNkMg

Glad to "batter up!" for @theseaboardreview.ca about #BillyCrawford'sDoublePlay by #BradSmith, a funny, clever novel about an aging ballplayer who can't accept he's a has-been. But, in a riff on the baseball term double play, Billy may have other greatness in him—of the moral kind. shorturl.at/26kwe

A children's book all ages can delight in and learn from: #richardwagamese's The Inquisitive Raven, which I'm delighted to review in @theseaboardreview.ca. The sharp-eyed protag, Raven, inspires us 2 ask questions & thus protect the world around us. #Douglas&McIntyre #CanLit @theseaboardreview.ca

If #agathachristie's #themousetrap went #NorthernGothic, it'd become—with (sleigh) bells on!— #ShanePeacock's A Place of Secrets. You'll be entertained +, in the best Christie fashion, whodunit-surprised. Here's my @theseaboardreview.ca revu: www.theseaboardreview.ca/.../a-place-.... #CormorantBooks

Thanks to #theseaboardreviewofbooks for featuring my review of #JohnCullen's Curling Rocks!: Chronicles of a Roaring Game, a comprehensive, fun history of a sport too often stereotyped as being fusty. What!? No way! r@douglasmcintyre.bsky.social shorturl.at/BQUOx

Curling Rocks!: Chronicles of The Roaring Game, by John Cullen

Long considered fusty, curling is enjoying a comeback. This book has the game's how-to’s and history – and is sheer fun, besides.

theseaboardreview.ca

Thanks to my friend and colleague, #PublicationCoach #DaphneGray-Grant, for featuring me in her weekly Wednesday Interview: www.publicationcoach.com/melanie-jack.... And hey, interested in writing easily more easily? Daphne's your go-to pro. Writing guidance and encouragement doesn't get any better.

Thanks to @theseaboardreview.ca for publishing my tribute to #ThomasBecket. This was definitely one from the heart. May all resistors to tyranny be so meddlesome. www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/thomas-bec...

Was tickled to review two children's books for @theseaboardreview.ca, one about an animal I love, the other about an animal I'm now, as a result, feeling a lot less cringey toward. Challenge: guess which is which. @groundwoodbooks.bsky.social lnkd.in/gN4mrpsshttp...

Cats and Us: A Ten-Thousand Year Fascination; and This Is a Tiny Fragile Snake

Refreshingly, two kids’ picture books show animals as reality rather than myth

theseaboardreview.ca

B4 Armstrong & co., NASA's high flier was Ham. I love #OriGersht's novel #hamsheaven, about the adorable chimp whose space trip set the course 4 humans. > ever I appreciate #JaneGoodall 4 ensuring animals aren't mistreated as Ham was. @warblerpress.bsky.social @theseaboardreview.ca shorturl.at/7vXAj

Ham’s Heaven by Ori Gersht

Poignant novel about the chimp who set the course for human U.S. space travel—but, unlike Shepard, Armstrong, et al., was mostly unappreciated

shorturl.at

As important now as ever: Partisans, fighting for freedom. I was delighted to have the chance to read and review the compelling, inspiring new comic book about Partisans for @theseaboardreview.ca @btlbooks.com www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/partisans-...

Partisans: A Graphic History of Anti-Fascist Resistance, Edited by Raymond Tyler and Paul Buhle

Vivid and timely, this comic book tells Partisans' harrowing stories

theseaboardreview.ca

New issue just dropped! www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-seaboa... #canlit #bookreviews

Fragile letters, ink faded, by his wife's great-grandfather proved a treasure for Canadian historian #brandonmarriott. From them he's written the riveting Till We Meet Again: A Canadian in the First World War. Here's my revu in @theseaboardreview.ca shorturl.at/RA7O8 @simonandschuster.bsky.social

Till We Meet Again: A Canadian in the First World War by Brandon Marriott

Vivid, fascinating, and—inescapably—horrifying: Historian Brandon Marriott recounts an ancestor’s WWI experiences

shorturl.at

The covers of the books reviewed in the October 8th issue of The Seaboard Review of Books. www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/the-Seaboa... #canlit

This seals it: #gingerngo's Emerson the Elephant Seal, based on the real Em in #VictoriaBC, is now a literary star! In the @theseaboardreview.ca I also celebrate #sandraboynton's When Pigs Fly! A song for dreamers. @harbourpublishing.bsky.social @simonandschuster.bsky.social shorturl.at/rLCB1

A Stubborn Elephant Seal and a Dreamer Pig

Try, just try, not to love these kidlit protagonists

shorturl.at

In our era of rapid change, innovation keeps @branksome.bsky.social not only apace but ahead. Deputy Interim Principal Kimberly BROOKER Carter’96: "[We] ensure Branksome stays responsive to today’s learner and today’s ever-evolving demands and possibilities." My interview with Kimberly in #TheROAD:

Branksome Hall’s Leap Towards Innovation with Kimberly BROOKER Carter’96 | Discover the Latest Updates from Branksome Hall

Read the latest news stories from Branksome Hall, showcasing student success, school events, and inspiring updates from our vibrant and inclusive community.

branksome.on.ca

@billarnott.bsky.social's latest travelogue, #APerfectDayforaWalkbytheWater, is well worth the reading plunge! The latest issue of @theseaboardreview.ca just 💧ed – here's my review. @arsenalpulp.bsky.social www.theseaboardreview.ca/p/a-perfect-...

A Perfect Day for a Walk by the Water by Bill Arnott

Down to the sea in shoes: Bill Arnott delights yet again

theseaboardreview.ca