21 Great Books that Take Place in Canada (2024)
Looking for books that take place in Canada? You’re in the right place. I’m Canadian, a teacher (decently well-read) and I also love reading for fun.
I’m apart of two local book clubs and I read about 5-6 books every month; many of them being books set in Canada.
The other nice thing about books that take place in Canada, is that is a very diverse country – so you can pick books that are from different areas, giving you a full taste of life and culture and history in Canada.
It’s not possible to list every book that is set in Canada, because the list would be never-ending. (There’s more than you might think.) But, I am focusing on the highest rated ones that have been well received and/or that I personally enjoyed, or at least have a solid review from someone who has read it.
Here are the best books set in Canada – fiction, non-fiction, and memoirs.
Fiction Books that Take Place in Canada
1. Greenwood
By Michael Christie
Published: 2019
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
Greenwood primarily takes place on Vancouver Island, and is set both in the future, and the past, and told from multiple viewpoints. It has a strong environmental message to it, and it is beautifully written.
I recently read Greenwood for a book club, and everyone enjoyed it. However, those who read it seemed to enjoy it more than those who listened to the audiobook.
2. Alias Grace
By Margaret Atwood
Published: 1996
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
Margaret Atwood is a famous Canadian author, and a lot of her books are bestsellers. You may know her for author of The Handmaid’s Tale, which the Netflix show is based on.
Alias Grace is one of her most popular books set in Canada, and was also turned into a Netflix series. It’s based on a true story about an immigrant woman in the 1800s from Ireland who is convicted of murdering her bosses. It takes place in Ontario.
Margaret Atwood has other bestsellers that take place in Canada – Edible Woman was another good one that I enjoyed, and is set in Toronto.
3. The Birds that Stay
By Ann Lambert
Published: 2019
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.1)
The Birds that Stay is a murder mystery that also goes back into the past to deliver further clues about the present. It takes place in the Laurentians and in Montreal.
Normally I’m not big on murder mysteries, but I couldn’t put this one down. It was so well written, with good characters and a really compelling mystery that kept the pages turning. It’s also apart of a larger series, although, I’ve only read the first book.
4. The Book of Negros
By Lawrence Hill
Published: 2007
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
The Book of Negroes takes place partially in Canada, as well as Sierra Leone, the US and the UK. It’s about a girl named Animata sold into slavery from her village in Africa; she is sent to the US, and eventually ends up in Nova Scotia where lives for a while.
This is a historical fiction novel that deals with many true events, including that thousands of Africans were shipped to Nova Scotia in 1783. The author Lawrence Hill is half Canadian and half African American and grew up in Ontario.
At first I found it hard to connect with because of the initial brutality, but I’m so glad I stuck it out with The Book of Negroes. It won awards and was even turned into a mini series in 2015.
5. Déja Dead (and/or others in the series)
By Kathy Reichs
Published: 1997
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
Kathy Reich’s novels (including Deja Dead, and several others) were the basis for the TV show Bones. I was addicted to her novels, flying through them. The books are mostly set in the province in Quebec; mainly in Montreal.
This is a big reason why the titles are bilingual. Temp Brennon is sent to Quebec because she is the only North American with her forensic qualifications who is also bilingual in French. In Deja Dead, she also spends time in Quebec City as well as Montreal.
Some of her other books set in Montreal are Death du Jour and Fatal du Voyage. I would recommend them all.
6. Five Little Indians
By Michelle Good
Published: 2020
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Five Little Indians deals with the history of the residential school system in Canada. It is about First Nation Children (young adult) who head to Vancouver, where they try to adjust to Canadian life follow their release from the residential school system.
The book details the impact that the residential school system had on the students who were forced to attend them, as well as their communities and outcomes. It’s an award-winning book and a work of historical fiction told from Good who based it on the stories of her mother and grandmother.
7. Letters Across the Sea
By Genevieve Graham
Published: 2021
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
Letters Across the Sea is historical fiction mostly set in Toronto, as well as places abroad like Hong Kong. It’s set during the depression in 1933, as well as during WW2 in 1939. It’s so well researched and beautifully written.
If you enjoy Graham’s writing, I also recommend checking out her other popular novel, The Forgotten Home Child which is about British Home Children that were sent from England to live in New Brunswick, Canada and is also a good read.
8. Amazing Grace
By Lesley Crewe
Published:
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
Amazing Grace by Lesley Crewe tells the story of an older retired woman leaving peacefully in Cape Breton island in Nova Scotia, when events lead to her having to become guardian of her grand-daughter. It’s a story about family secrets, dysfunction and forgiveness. I would highly recommend this one!
9. A Town Called Solace
By Mary Lawson
Published: 2022
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
A Town Called Solace takes place in a Northern Ontario town, where there are buried family secrets. Three unlikely people come together (an old woman, a young girl, and a young adult man) and their stories intertwine in an compelling way. It was interesting, and a page turner.
In addition to this book, Mary Lawson has written other best sellers that take place in Ontario, including Crow Lake and Road Ends.
10. This Has Nothing to Do With You
By Lauren Carter
Published: 2019
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.5)
This Has Nothing to Do With You is written by a young woman with a broken past. As she drifts around trying to find herself, she eventually settles in a small town in Ontario.
If you’re a dog lover, you’ll especially love this book. The main character adopts a dog from the shelter that she volunteers at, and the dog, while presenting challenges – is a big part of her life as she strives to find stability and peace.
It’s a beautifully written, easy read, but hard to source – you may have to check Canadian websites, such as Indigo or Amazon.ca to find it.
11. No Great Mischief
By Alistair McLeod
Published: 2001
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
No Great Mischief is a classic and favourite, especially among Nova Scotians. It’s about a family from Cape Breton in Nova Scotia, and takes place during the character’s childhood there, as well as their young adulthood working in Northern Ontario, as well as Toronto. It also goes back to their family history of emigrating from Scotland in the late 1700s.
It has dysfunctional families, alcoholism, family history and shared clan. The narrative jumps back and forth from the present and the past.
12. Fall on Your Knees
By Anne-Marie MacDonald
Published: 2002
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.3)
Fall On Your Knees is about a dysfunctional family with four daughters living in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (as you can see, quite a few Canadian novels seem to be set in Cape Breton!)
I will warn you that there are some disturbing elements to this book; I read it as a teenager, and still remember it now. There’s incest, rape, molestation, and other mature themes.
The author, Ann-Marie MacDonald is a beautiful writer though and her books have won awards and have become bestsellers. Her other book, The Way the Crow Flies is about a military family who lives on-base in rural Canada; the daughter later relocates to Toronto as an adult. I enjoyed the descriptions of downtown Toronto later in that book; although I had to skip parts of it because I found it too disturbing.
13. The Maid
By Nita Prose
Published: 2023
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2)
The Maid is a quick, easy and entertaining read. I read this for a book club, and found it to be a page turner.
It’s important to know that at no point is Canada mentioned in the book, or does the story appear to take place in Canada. However the author is Canadian, from Toronto, so I think it deserves a spot on this list.
Canadian Memoirs
Here are some awesome memoirs written by Canadians
1. From the Ashes
By Jessie Thistle
Published: 2021
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
From the Ashes is my favourite of all the Canadian memoirs that I’ve read. The author, Jesse Thistle, has indigenous heritage and came from a dysfunctional childhood and spent most of his early adulthood addicted to drugs and trouble with the law; he was in and out of shelters, jail and family member’s couches. It seemed for a while that he would never be able to change.
However, Jessie is now a professor at the York University in Toronto, as well as a husband, father and published author. He’s been clean for years. I highly recommend his story; it is one of the most memorable memoires I’ve ever read and I still have it on my shelf.
2. House in the Sky
By Amanda Lindhout
Published: 2014
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Amanda Lindhout is a Canadian woman from Red Deer, Alberta (halfway between Calgary and Edmonton.) She travelled solo to some of the most risky countries in the world, and was kidnapped and held hostage for several months in Somalia.
You can read about her story on the news, after she was rescued. However, her memoir, A House in the Sky is worth reading. While it received some criticism because of her “choice” to travel to high-risk countries, I was amazing by her courage and bravery, and how she held on for all those months in captivity.
While quite a bit of the book takes place abroad, Lindhout talks quite a bit about her life growing up and coming of age in Alberta, as well as the Canadian Royal Mounted Police’s role in her rescue.
3. An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything
By Chris Hadfield
Published: 2015
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
Chris Hadfield is a Canadian astronaut who has been to space three times, and largely responsible for building the Canadarm.
His memoir, An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth talks quite a bit about being an astronaut (so, his life at NASA and at the ISS) but he also talks briefly about his early years growing up in Milton, Ontario.
The above memoris are the ones I’ve read personally and would recommend, but there are more great suggestions of Canadian memoirs on the CBC website here.
Memoirs Partially Set in Canada
Canada is not the main focus of these books below; nor are these books written by Canadians. However, the authors spend time in Canada; they describe the scenery and their experiences there as a visitor
- Things I Learned from Falling by Claire Nelson. Claire spends time in Quebec City in winter
- Coffee First, Then the World – Jenny Graham. Jenny, a Scottish cyclist, spends part of her world-tour biking through the Canadian rockies (this is one of my favourite memoirs!)
Non-Fiction Books That Take Place in Canada
These books are great for learning more about Canadian history and how the country was formed, from multiple viewpoints and perspectives
1. Emperor of the North
By James Raffan
Published: 2007
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.4)
Emperor of the North is about Canada’s early days and highly worth a read for anyone interested in history. It’s about the establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Trading company (HBC) which played a massive role in the establishment of Canadian land, and the relationship between the English, French and the Indigenous people of Canada.
If you haven’t heard of the HBC, it has been so influential in Canada, that we even have a chain department store named after it (called Hudson’s Bay Company, or sometimes just “The Bay.”)
2. Seven Fallen Feathers
By Tanya Talaga
Published: 2017
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.7)
Seven Fallen Feathers is a must-read if you want to know about Canadian history, especially if you plan to spend any time in Thunder Bay, which is where the events of the book mainly take place.
It’s about seven indigenous young adults died in Thunder Bay, but their deaths did not follow procedures, nor were they investigated properly. There’s a horrible epidemic of instances like these happening to indigenous kids, in Thunder Bay and Canada-wide.
I know that the topic sounds depressing, and it is – but this book was so well written and researched, about a very important aspect of a big issue in Canada.
3. A History of Canada in Ten Maps
By Adam Shoalts
Published: 2018
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.6)
If you’ve always thought that Canadian history is boring and uneventful, then this is a good book to read. A History of Canada in Ten Maps brings true historical events to life which are told is a concise way that is interesting to the reader, and it also includes maps.
The maps are classics and slightly hard to read (due to scale) but this book is highly worth picking up anyway. My husband and I have a copy on our shelf and want our kids to read it eventually to, to know more about Canadian history.
Canadian Children’s Books
Here are some books for children that are written (and in some cases, take place) in Canada
1. Anne of Green Gables books
Anne of Green Gables books are set in the idyllic Prince Edward Island, and take place in the early 1900s. They’re popular worldwide – translated into over 30 languages, and tourists come from worldwide to see PEI where the books are set.
Anne of Green Gables books are best for middle grade, and early high school. I regret that I didn’t read them as a child, but I really enjoyed visiting the attractions in PEI when I visited, and seeing the play in Charlottetown with my family.
2. Franklin the Turtle books
Franklin the turtle are Canadian books series for primary grade kids. The author, Paulette Bourgeous, is Canadian.
I loved Franklin books as a kid, and enjoy reading them to my own kids. They usually have relate-able childhood situations, with a moral to them.
3. Robert Munsch books
Robert Munsch is a famous Canadian author, who lived in Ontario (but originally, moved from the United States.) My husband even got to meet him when he was a child, as Robert Munch visited his school.
His books are humourous; usually starting with a relatable situation and then becoming more and more ridiculous until the problem is resolved. We own several of his books and they’re always a hit.
Resources for Books Set in Canada
- Indigo is the largest book retailer in Canada. They have in-person stores in all major cities, and an online store.
- Many cities and small towns in Canada have independent bookstores, and used book stores- highly recommend checking those out too.
- Canada Reads is a book championship that takes place every year, and a great resource to find more great Canadian books. There’s also a French version of it called Combat Des Livres.
- You can sometimes find a greater selection for Canadian books on Amazon.ca than the .com.
Canadian Books FAQ
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about Canadian authors and books that are set in Canada
Who is the most popular Canadian author?
One of the most popular Canadian authors is Margaret Atwood, who’s written a number of international bestsellers, including The Handmaid’s Tail which became a popular Netflix TV series. Aside from some of her world-renowned bestsellers, Atwood has a number of books that take place Canada.
Final Thoughts on Books Set in Canada
Whether you’re looking for a special gift or souvenir from Canada, or simply want to have a deeper understanding of the country – these books will help you see Canada through different perspectives and sets of eyes.
I hope that you enjoyed this list of books that take place in Canada, and have found more books to add to your to-read list!