Saskatchewan’s literary tradition is something we can all be proud of. Our province is the place many classics were born, including W.O. Mitchell’s Who Has Seen the Wind, Wolf Willow: A History, a Story, and a Memory of the Last Plains Frontier by Wallace Stegner, plus modern works like Guy Vanderhaeghe’s The Englishman’s Boy.
Whether you’re in the mood for non-fiction or a romp in a world of fiction, there are plenty of fantastic titles to choose from.
For the fiction fan
Life On The Refrigerator Door - Alice Kuipers
Life on the Refrigerator Door is a novel about the bonds of love and frustration that tie mothers and daughters together. It tells the story of teenager Claire and her mother through notes left on the fridge door.
Waiting for Joe - Sandra Birdsell
Waiting for Joe tells the story of Joe Beaudry and his wife, Laurie on the lam in a stolen motorhome on the edge of a Walmart parking lot in Regina, Saskatchewan. They're broke with nothing to lose, and looking for answers.
For the foodie
Only In Saskatchewan: Recipes and Stories from the Province’s Best-Loved Eateries - Naomi Hansen
Hansen explores the province's best-loved restaurants, writing profiles of the chefs and families behind their beloved recipes. Hansen highlights restaurants such as Moose Jaw’s Yvette Moore Gallery Cafe, Regina’s beloved Italian Star Deli, and Ayden Kitchen & Bar in Saskatoon.
Flat Out Delicious: Your Definitive Guide to Saskatchewan’s Food Artisans - Jenn Sharp
Sharp toured Saskatchewan to showcase the people behind the food grown and raised across Saskatchewan. The book is divided into seven regions with essays that explore food artisans and their work.
For the historian
Call Me Indian: From the Trauma of Residential School to Becoming the NHL's First Treaty Indigenous Player - Fred Sasakamoose and Bryan Trottier
Fred Sasakamoose was the first Indigenous player with Treaty status in the NHL, debuting as a 1954 Chicago Black Hawks player on Hockey Night in Canada. He played 12 games before returning home. However, his story is more than just hockey. Sasakamoose was a residential school survivor. After playing hockey for another decade in leagues around Western Canada, Sasakamoose would become a band councilor, serve as Chief, and establish athletic programs for kids, before his passing.
Saskatchewan: A New History - Bill Waiser
Saskatchewan: A New History, by author and historian Bill Waiser details Saskatchewan's unique history from 1905, when the province joined Confederation. The book is a gift to the province from the University of Saskatchewan, written to commemorate the province's centennial celebrations in 2005.
For the true crime buff
Sour Milk: & Other Saskatchewan Crime Stories - Barb Pacholik and Jana Pruden
Compiled by local crime and court reporters Barb Pacholik and Jana Pruden, the book features 40 unique crime stories that have taken place in Saskatchewan over the course of the past century. The authors followed up this book with Paper Cows & More Saskatchewan Crime and Boiling Point and Cold Cases: More Saskatchewan Crime Stories.
For the kids
Tunnels of Time - Mary Harelkin Bishop
The Tunnels of Time book series takes kids into an amazing world set in Moose Jaw’s historic underground tunnels. The adventure starts with Tunnels of Time, and carries through three more fantastic time travel novels.
L is for Land of Living Skies: A Saskatchewan Alphabet - Linda Aksomitis
This alphabetical journey takes young readers around Saskatchewan answering questions while celebrating our province. Learn why Saskatoon is called the "Bridge City,” where you can find the Prickly Pear Cactus and much more.
