fold challenge 2024 Archives

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD August Challenge: Novel OR book of poetry by a Caribbean author. The titles are WEST OF WEST INDIAN by Linzey Corridon; POLAR VORTEX by Shani Mootoo; BROUGHTUPSY by Christina Cooke; and NANIKI by Oonya Kempadoo.

August FOLD 2024 Challenge: Novel OR book of poetry by a Caribbean author

Jul 24, 2024

By Alya Somar Throughout Canada, there has been a glittering Caribbean presence in our literary scene for many years. By bringing stories from overseas or cultivating new narratives on local soil, Caribbean literature has proven itself to be a mainstay of the CanLit scene through its unique ability to engage with place and colonial narratives...

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD July Challenge: A translated book by an independent Canadian Press. The titles are ROSA’S VERY OWN PERSONAL REVOLUTION by Eric Dupont, translated by Peter McCambridge; SANAAQ by Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk, translated by Peter Frost; SADIE X by Clara Dupuis-Morency, translated by Aimee Wall; and THE WAR YOU DON’T HATE by Blaise Ndala, translated by Dimitri Nasrallah.

July FOLD 2024 Challenge: A translated book by an independent Canadian press

Jul 1, 2024

By Anita Ragunathan Translation is an art. This once controversial statement is now generally accepted thanks to the advocacy of translators who fought for their work to be recognized. Canadian translator, poet, and editor Yilin Wang talks about the labour of love that translation requires from researching the author, historical period, and literary form to...

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD June Challenge: A book by a Cree author. The titles are PERMANENT ASTONISHMENT by Tomson Highway, BLACK WATER by David A. Robertson, BAD CREE by Jessica Johns, and COEXISTENCE by Billy-Ray Belcourt.

June FOLD 2024 Challenge: A book by a Cree author

Jun 1, 2024

By Meg Wheeler For the month of June, we are focusing on books by Cree authors. This month’s reading challenge includes two memoirs, one novel, and one short story collection. We hope this month’s challenge gives you a very small taste of the breadth of Cree-authored literature waiting for you. 1) Permanent Astonishment, by...

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD May Challenge: A historical fiction book by a South Asian author. The titles are THE PERFUMIST OF PARIS by Alka Joshi, THE MISTRESS OF BHATIA HOUSE by Sujata Massey, BURNT SHADOWS by Kamila Shamsie, and THE EVER AFTER OF ASHWIN RAO by Padma Viswanathan.

May FOLD 2024 Challenge: Historical fiction by a South Asian author

May 1, 2024

By Aaisha Islam This picks for this month’s FOLD Reading Challenge, which is to read historical fiction by a South Asian author, are nearly all contemporary history; based mostly in the 1940s. During that time the Independence Movement was gaining strength in the Indian sub-continent, that large landmass south of the Himalayan mountain range, jutting...

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD April Challenge: A book by a Sikh author. The titles are THE HEART OF A SUPERFAN by Nav Bhatia, HOME BODY by Rupi Kaur, BE A TRIANGLE by Lilly Singh, and LOVE & COURAGE by Jagmeet Singh.

April FOLD 2024 Challenge: A book by a Sikh author

Apr 1, 2024

By Rahma Shere The month of April ushers in the spring season with rain showers and other seasonal signs. For the Sikh community, April is also an important and sacred month. Sikhs across the world celebrate Vaisakhi, which marks creation of the Khalsa and the Sikh articles of faith. Therefore, the designation of April as...

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD February Challenge: Young adult mystery by a racialized author. The titles are TENDER BEASTS by Liselle Sambury, FIREKEEPER'S DAUGHTER by Angeline Boulley, THE RED PALACE by June Hur, and QUEEN OF THE TILES by Hanna Alkaf.

March FOLD 2024 Challenge: Young adult mystery by a racialized author

Mar 1, 2024

By Natasha Shaikh This March we are showing our appreciation for the mystery genre—specifically young adult mystery books by Black and Indigenous authors and authors of colour. In recent years, the YA genre has produced many mystery bestsellers, usually revolving around dark crimes, and boarding on thrillers. Despite the mystery genre being so vast, it...

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD February Challenge: A book that has been challenged in Canadian schools. The titles are THE HATE U GIVE by Angie Thomas, GENDER QUEER by Maia Kobabe, ALL BOYS AREN'T BLUE by George M. Johnson, and MILK AND HONEY by Rupi Kaur.

February FOLD 2024 Challenge: A book that has been challenged in Canadian schools

Feb 1, 2024

By Monica Tang To celebrate Freedom to Read Week from February 18-24, 2024, this month’s challenge is to read a book that has been challenged in Canadian schools. These are a few of many books that Canadians and others have tried to remove from schools and libraries, deeming them offensive or inappropriate for certain audiences....

White rectangular graphic with orange border, showcasing four of the eight book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD January Challenge: A book by a Palestinian author. Titles are THE PHILISTINE by Leila Marshy, SOMETHING MORE by Jackie Khalilieh, PALESTINE + 100 STORIES FROM A CENTURY AFTER THE NAKBA edited by Basma Ghalayini, and THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WALL by Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac.

January FOLD 2024 Challenge: A book by a Palestinian author

Jan 4, 2024

By Ardo Omer At the Festival of Literary Diversity (FOLD), we believe that reading is a critical skill and that reading diversely – across genres, forms, and cultures – fosters empathy and understanding. Each year, we try and think about ways to transform our own reading habits – to fill in gaps, and to spark...

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