Canada Reads 2025 & How Stories Shape our Sense of Home

Karoline Bourdeau has never missed a year of the Canada Reads debates. She breaks down this year’s shortlisted top five books, focusing on the one that left her with the biggest impression, Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew. She shares how immigrant stories reflect her own journey, feeling like a lost teen soul navigating a new country, balancing the perspectives of other immigrants and their challenges with her own troubles. Plus, we get Theresa Power’s review of Colours in Her Hands by Alice Zorn, a novel painting a vivid portrait of a young artist finding her way in the world.

Books discussed in this episode are:
Watch Out for Her by Samantha M. Bailey
A Two-Spirit Journey by Ma-Nee Chacaby 
Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper 
Jennie's Boy by Wayne Johnston 
Dandelion by Jamie Chai Yun Liew
Homes: A Refugee Story by Abu Bakr al Rabeeah,
Reuniting with Strangers by Jennilee Austria-Bonifacio

AMI Audiobook Review is broadcast on AMI-audio in Canada and publishes three new podcast episodes a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Follow AMI Audiobook Review on YouTube & Instagram!

We want your feedback!

Be that comments, suggestions, hot-takes, audiobook recommendations or reviews of your own… hit us up! 

Our email address is: audiobookreview@ami.ca

About AMI

AMI is a media company that entertains, informs and empowers Canadians with disabilities through three broadcast services — AMI-tv and AMI-audio in English and AMI-télé in French — and streaming platform AMI+. Our vision is to establish AMI as a leader in the offering of accessible content, providing a voice for Canadians with disabilities through authentic storytelling, representation and positive portrayal. To learn more visit AMI.ca and AMItele.ca.

Find more great AMI Original Content on AMI+

Learn more at AMI.ca

Connect with Accessible Media Inc. online:

• X /Twitter @AccessibleMedia
• Instagram @AccessibleMediaInc / @AMI-audio
• Facebook at @AccessibleMediaInc
• TikTok @AccessibleMediaInc