Our online bookstore is now closed for the holidays. Click on any book to find it at your local bookstore or library.

Discover new perspective this summer with the Discover #ReadAtlantic collection. 

Whether set in mystical realms or on icons of the natural world, like the Restigouche River, these books do what books do best: make us wonder, explore and reflect.

Tale of Two Fiddlers by Fred MacDonald 

Discover the story of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, told through the artful device of Frederick “Fiddler” MacDonald’s old route as a newspaper boy attending an all-boys Catholic school. Fred MacDonald captures his youth in this memoir but also a snapshot of mid-1950s life for his Charlottetown family and local community. Be on the other side of the news, and explore the day-to-day city and people that shape Charlottetown’s history. 

Marilla Before Anne by Louise Michalos 

The story of Anne of Green Gables is well-known – but what before her? Marilla Cuthbert was 52 when Anne Shirley came to live with her and her brother on PEI. She was a seemingly cold and dour spinster. Louise Michalos’ debut novel explores an earlier point of time. Who was Marilla as an 18-year-old girl? Find out in this historical fiction that captures her young years in Avonlea, her coming of age in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and her journey back.

Two Ferries Out by Ben Robicheau

What is life like on Briar Island, Nova Scotia? Follow Ben Robicheau’s childhood on Briar Island, from joys and life-threatening encounters at sea. Explore the brine of the sea, rewards and challenges of daily island life with his eye for detail and storytelling. 

Ouaf? Ouaf? Cot! Cot! by Carolyn Rowe-Turner

Have you ever wondered what a chicken thinks? Ouaf? Ouaf? Cot! Cot! is an adventurous French-language children’s book, with Henriette running from the family Labrador and twins Caro and Claude hot on her trail to the rescue. Colourful, creative and full of surprises, this is a fun tale for children and families. 

Barefoot Helen and the Giants by Andy Jones

Andy Jones weaves a clever yarn of new-old stories, with this spin on classic folklore. Explore female bravery through the creative tale of Helen, raised by bears, captured by giants and forced into a wicked plot. She becomes capturer of Princess Antoinette, but quick on her feet, devises a plan to rescue them both – a secret. Unravel the mystery as Antoinette and her father, the king, set out on their own path to find the hero of this story. Get to the heart of new and old storytelling with this humorous tale.

Strange Terrain: The Fairy World in Newfoundland by Barbara Rieti 

Explore fairies in the Newfoundland oral tradition with Dr. Rieti’s insightful study, putting storytellers at centre stage in her work. Her study analyzes the context in which fairy experiences are told, how they are told, and their cultural meanings, including human social relationships and relationships with nature. Curious about storytelling? Learn more about oral tradition and fairies in this comprehensive study. 

My Indianby Mi’sel Joe and Sheila O’Neill 

Mi’sel Joe and Sheila O’Neill reclaim Sylvester Joe’s identity in this historical fiction. William Epps Cormack sought a guide in 1822 to lead him to the last remaining Beothuk camps, and referred to Sylvester Joe in diaries as “My Indian.” My Indian follows Sylverster Joe from his birth in Miawpukek First Nation to his journey across the island with Cormack, and reclaims his story.

Restigoucheby Philip Lee

Philip Lee takes a deep dive into Restigouche and the river’s rich history, while travelling by canoe on ancient portage routes. The Restigouche River flows through the border region between Quebec and New Brunswick, along forest hillsides. Restigouche Valley has been home to Mi’kmaq, as well as descendants of French Acadian, Irish and Scottish settlers, and played host to wealthy visitors seeking wilderness experiences. With Lee’s tome, you too can explore the river and its many stories. 

Love, lifeby Bernadine Stapleton 

What is love; what is life? Stapleton brings the past to life in this made-up true fable, following a Newfoundlander in Italy’s ties to a decades-old love story. Follow her journey of coming out, exploring Italian food, humor and heartbreak in this dynamic fiction. Settle in for adventure and romantic yearning this summer with Love, Life. 

Reset: Breathe by Tracey Garins Brioux 

What is our daily story? This journal is a guide towards wellness, with daily suggestions and trackers, concluding with blank pages and challenges. For those of us who want to adventure in our own mind, this is a great prompt to consider our own perspective and wellness.