The Governor General’s Literary Awards (GGBooks) celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada. They provide finalists and winners with valuable recognition from peers and readers nationwide.
Empty Spaces by Jordan Abel
A reimagining of James Fenimore Cooper's 19th-century text The Last of the Mohicans from the contemporary perspective of an urban Nisgaa person whose relationship to land and traditional knowledge was severed by colonial violence.
Scientific Marvel by Chimwemwe Undi
Marked by rhythmic drive, humour and surprise, Undi’s poems consider what is left out from the history and ongoing realities of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
There is Violence and There is Righteous Violence and There is Death or, The Born-Again Crow by Caleigh Crow
This sly chamber piece from new voice Caleigh Crow turns post-capitalism ennui on its head with a righteous fury. It unearths the subtle (and not so subtle) ways we gaslight the marginalized, especially Indigenous women, people living with mental health afflictions and anyone struggling to make ends meet in low-income service jobs.
Wînipêk: Visions of Canada from an Indigenous Centre by Niigaan Sinclair
Based on years' worth of columns, Niigaan Sinclair delivers an essay collection on the resilience of Indigenous peoples. We meet the creators, leaders and everyday people preserving the beauty of their heritage, but we also meet the ugliest side of colonialism, the Indian Act and the communities who suffer most from its atrocities.
Crash Landing By Li Charmaine Anne
This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends.
Skating Wild on an Inland Sea By Jean E. Pendziwol and Todd Stewart
Jean E. Pendziwol describes the exhilarating experience of skating on the wild ice of Lake Superior, including the haunting singing that occurs as the ice expands and contracts.
Nights Too Short to Dance Translated by Katia Grubisic
René, a once-vibrant cabaret pianist now recovering from illness, reflects on his past while grappling with both his aging body and his identity. Surrounded by friends and former lovers, they share memories of love, loss and the ongoing struggle for queer rights.
