FOLD Challenge Archives

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD December Challenge: A book by an author who identifies as Mad or who writes about mental health. Titles are HELLO I WANT TO DIE PLEASE FIX ME by Anna Mehler Paperny, WHERE THE SILVER RIVER ENDS by Anna Quon, THE GHOST GARDEN by Susan Doherty, and THE WOO WOO by Lindsay Wong.

December FOLD 2023 Challenge: A book by an author who identifies as Mad or who writes about mental health

Dec 1, 2023

By Ramona Porter December has arrived, heralding a season of jubilation for some and an added burden of mental strain for others. Recognizing this duality, our reading challenge for this month is a fitting tribute to authors who identify as MAD or writes about mental health. While commendable strides have been made in fostering open...

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD November Challenge: An epistolary title by an author from a marginalized community. Titles are I’VE BEEN MEANING TO TELL YOU by David Chariandy; THIS IS HOW YOU LOSE THE TIME WAR by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone; ORDINARY NOTES by Christina Sharpe; and LETTERS TO AMELIA by Lindsay Zier-Vogel.

November FOLD 2023 Challenge: An epistolary title by an author from a marginalized community

Nov 1, 2023

By Monica Nathan For November’s reading challenge, we’re recommending books by authors from marginalized communities who utilize the epistolary format; work primarily composed of written correspondence or diary-type entries. This unique style provides an intimate and revealing perspective into a character’s thoughts and emotions while also offering profound insight on the relationship dynamics between writer...

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD September Challenge: A title featuring magic by a Latine/Latinx author. Titles are SIGNAL TO NOISE by Silvia Moreno Garcia; BINLE PUNK BRUJA by Desideria Mesa; ONE HUNDRED YEARS OF SOLITUDE by Gabriel García Márquez; and EARTHEATER by Dolores Reyes, translated by Julia Sanches.

October FOLD 2023 Challenge: A title featuring magic by a Latine/Latinx author

Oct 1, 2023

By Ardo Omer and Jonisha Lewinson This month the spotlight is on books by Latine/Latinx authors that feature magic. While efforts have been made to uplift the Latine/Latinx community, there is still an overwhelming lack of representation of them in the publishing industry. With disparities in access to networking spaces and publishing professionals, the struggle...

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD September Challenge: An audiobook by an Indigenous author. Titles are THE BERRY PICKERS by Amanda Peters; KUKUM by Michel Jean, translated by Susan Ouriou; MAKING LOVE WITH THE LAND by Joshua Whitehead; and TRUTH TELLING by Michelle Good.

September FOLD 2023 Challenge: An audiobook by an Indigenous author

Sep 1, 2023

By Monica Tang This month we are highlighting books by Indigenous authors that are accessible as audiobooks. We’ve also included a few bonus titles that will be releasing this Fall! The land in so-called Canada is home to many diverse Indigenous peoples and cultures. The following titles feature authors from different nations, cultures, and geographical...

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD August Challenge: A book that explores the justice system by an author with lived experience. Titles are HARVESTING FREEDOM by Gabriel Allahdua, MY ROAD FROM DAMASCUS by Jamal Saeed, FIVE LITTLE INDIANS by Michelle Good, and SOLITARY by Albert Woodfox.

August FOLD 2023 Challenge: A book that explores the justice system by an author with lived experience

Aug 1, 2023

By Anita Ragunathan It is widely acknowledged that experiences with the in/justice system are not equal. As a system built on colonial and class violence and for the protection of property, people on the margins of society who come into contact with the in/justice system are often victims of unspeakable brutality. In these harrowing accounts,...

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD July Challenge: A book by a Black author from the East Coast. Titles are HOLD MY GIRL by Charlene Carr, ABOLITIONIST INTIMACIES by El Jones, SOCIAL OBLIVION RAISED BLACK IN CANADA by Thandiwe McCarthy, and UNSPOKEN TRUTH by Angela Bowden.

July FOLD 2023 Challenge: A book by a Black author from the East Coast

Jul 24, 2023

By Alexandra Yeboah This month as we pave the way for the observance of Emancipation Day in Canada, we’ve selected books from Black Atlantic Canadian authors that center the experiences of Black individuals all over the African Diaspora. These individual and collective narratives touch on themes relating to racial identity, motherhood, prison justice, family and...

White rectangular graphic with a dark purple border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD June Challenge: A book that celebrates queer joy by a BIPOC author. Titles are LOVE AFTER THE END: AN ANTHOLOGY OF TWO-SPIRIT AND INDIGIQUEER SPECULATIVE FICTION edited by Joshua Whitehead, THE FOGHORN ECHOES by Danny Ramadan, THE LOST CENTURY by Larissa Lai, and JADE IS A TWISTED GREEN by Tanya Turton.

June FOLD 2023 Challenge: A book that celebrates queer joy by a BIPOC author

Jun 1, 2023

By Lavanya Narasimhan Joy is a healer; it’s a connector; it’s as necessary to a person and community as food and water. Oftentimes, narratives for marginalized people focus on trauma or overcoming hardships. But joy is just as compelling of a storytelling element – the attaining of it, the celebration of it, the maintaining of...

White rectangular graphic with a dark pink border, showcasing Four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD May Challenge: A recently released young adult novel by a BIPOC author. Titles are TAHIRA IN BLOOM by Farah Heron, IRON WIDOW by Xiran Jay Zhao, WRONG SIDE OF THE COURT by H.N. Khan, and SUMMER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jen Ferguson. For full list, visit thefoldcanada.org/readingchallenge2022

May FOLD 2022 Challenge: A recently released Young Adult novel by a BIPOC author

May 1, 2022

By Fiona Ross Young Adult novels, affectionately referred to as YA, are aimed at the 12-17 age group and will usually have protagonists of a similar age. They can be any of the genres included adult writing and can offer many similar themes and conflicts, but tend to be explored in a different way. One...

White rectangular graphic with a dark pink border, showcasing four book covers for the titles chosen for the FOLD April Challenge: A book of poetry by a writer over 50. Titles are CANE | FIRE by Shani Mootoo, BROKEN DAWN BLESSINGS by Adam Sol, NOTHING WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE by Nancy Jo Cullen, and WALKING IN THE TALL GRASS by Chief R. Stacey Laforme. For full list, visit thefoldcanada.org/readingchallenge2022

April FOLD 2022 Challenge: A book of poetry by a writer over 50

Apr 1, 2022

It can be easy, in a culture that sometimes seems to give more space to young writers and young accomplishments than not, to forget that writing is a career that lasts a lifetime. There is no age limit to brilliance–writing can sing and reach readers regardless of the age of the person who pens it....

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