Hi friends, happy Friday! I hope you all had a good week. Today I’m posting my review of Catherine Hernandez’s novel Scarborough.

This book was longlisted for the 2022 Canada Reads list.

Scarborough by: Catherine Hernandez: Hina has become the new facilitator for the Ontario Reads Program at a local public school where children, mostly from low income families, go to play, grab a snack and be themselves. Over the course of the school year, seasons change, and the community grows and comes together in this neighbourhood. This novel was hard-hitting in a different sort of way; the way this took the everyday of this city and placed a spotlight on how even in through poverty stricken neighbourhoods, with crime and drugs, can community be formed. The storytelling was really well done because the bonds that were formed between everyone felt so pure and genuine. The plot was well structured as it took place within a year, focusing on the changing seasons, which was a great metaphor for the plot of the book. The writing was also so well done; we got a mix of prose and letter form and it worked really well so that the reader could get a sense of who was who and how all the pieces fit together. Filled with a unique cast of characters that truly bring the city of Scarborough to light, they really showed off the diversity that lives in the city. Each character truly felt real and raw; they were deeply developed as if they were actual people; the back and forth points of view were what made this novel and gave it heart. Not only was this told from the point of view from the adults, but from the children as well and that really brought this novel home. It gave an additional voice that was just as important as the adults. Overall, this was short, but impactful read.