The FOLD Challenge

In 2018, Muslim author Uzma Jalaluddin’s debut novel Ayesha at Last, a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, became one of Canada’s most popular romance novels, inspiring important conversation around diversity in Canadian romance.

First published in 2014, André Alexis’ Quincunx Cycle is a series of Five genre-bending novels, including the mystery The Hidden Keys. The series demonstrated Alexis’ incredible range and impeccable prose.

Vivek Shraya’s trailblazing work has graced both the page and the stage, including her 2018 memoir I’m Afraid of Men, which provided a unique and novel insight into toxic masculinity and feminine rage.

Originally a self-published collection of poetry, Rupi Kaur’s viral book, Milk and Honey, turned the Brampton native into a global icon, revolutionizing the perception of modern poetry and paving the way for other emerging poets.

Spending a record-breaking number of weeks on the Canadian bestsellers list, Cree author Jesse Thistle’s memoir, From the Ashes, revealed his inspiring and remarkable journey from addict to university professor.

Cherie Dimaline’s breakout young adult novel, The Marrow Thieves, sparked powerful conversations on CBC’s Canada Reads. The national bestseller marked a fundamental shift in the literature being discussed and read in Canadian schools.

Written by Christina Wong and illustrated by Daniel Innes, Denison Avenue demonstrated the unique ways a graphic novel can tell a story by capturing the journey of a people whose society continues to be overlooked and undervalued.

Xiran Jay Zhao’s debut young adult novel, Iron Widow, took the internet by storm in the midst of the global pandemic. Through platforms like TikTok, the author became a social media phenomenon with their sci-fi retelling of a historical Chinese figure.

Robyn Maynard’s 2017 book, Policing Black Lives, moved to the forefront of critical discourse amidst global Black Lives Matter protests, sparking important conversations about the crisis surrounding policing and the Black community in Canada.

Silvia Moreno-Garcia’s Mexican Gothic brought horror fiction into the mainstream discourse with a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror, set in 1950’s Mexico.

Amanda Leduc’s Disfigured was the first book in Canada to be “born accessible,” published in a variety of accessible formats that were made available to readers on publication day.

Gary Barwin’s Nothing the Same, Everything Haunted sparked controversial conversations by mixing tragedy with humour in a novel set in Europe during WWII.