05. Coming of Age

Becoming yourself isn’t easy, no matter who that self might be. And the protagonists of these YA novels face serious struggles that would pose a challenge at any age: a life-altering surgery, the effects of intergenerational trauma, a dilemma of faith. With support from friends and family, and the courage to live authentically, these characters come of age in their own ways. Teenage film buff Wali Khan prepares for a brain surgery in Salma Hussain’s It’s Not Over Yet. In Here for a Good Time, Kim Spencer introduces us to Morgan, an Indigenous girl navigating school and a new love interest when a tragedy strikes, revealing hard truths about her mother’s traumatic past. And Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions about how his queer identity can coexist with his Muslim faith in Ahmad Saber’s funny and thoughtful debut. Moderated by Tanya Boteju. Grades 8–12.

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Event Participants:

Tanya Boteju

TANYA BOTEJU is a writer and educator living on stolen Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh land (Vancouver, BC). Her debut novel, Kings, Queens, and In-Betweens, was named a Top Ten Indie Next Pick by the American Booksellers Association and Messy Perfect was a BC and Yukon Book Award finalist. Setting the Stage for Christmas is her debut adult novel. Typically, you can find her cozy in her cabin, writing at cafés, or smooshing any dog that will let her. In both teaching and writing, Tanya hopes she’s bending the universe even the tiniest bit toward justice.

Salma Hussain

SALMA HUSSAIN grew up in the U.A.E. and immigrated to Canada when she was thirteen years old. Her first novel, The Secret Diary of Mona Hasan, was a Quill & Quire Book of the Year. Salma writes witty, warm, voice-driven fiction about the surprising ways we grow when life veers off-script. She lives with her family in Toronto.

Ahmad Saber

AHMAD SABER grew up in Pakistan before his family moved to Canada. He is a medical doctor specializing in rheumatology, and Ramin Abbas Has MAJOR Questions is his debut novel and is based in part on his own lived experience. Follow him around on social media @TheAhmadSaber or at SaberBooks.ca.

Kim Spencer

KIM SPENCER is an award-winning, bestselling author. Her debut novel, Weird Rules To Follow, won multiple awards, including a 2024 Pacific Northwest Book Award, a 2023 TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, and a 2023 Jean Little First-Novel Award. Named both the USBBY Outstanding International Book and an IBBY Honour List. The book also received a Kirkus starred review and was a 2023 Governor General’s Literary Award finalist. Kim is from the Gitxaala Nation and lives in northwest BC.