Fall 2025 Catalogue

A Message from the Publisher

Fall 2025 at Thistledown is all about storytelling.

A Snake and a Feathered Bird is an astonishingly deft first novel by Angie Ellis, set on Vancouver Island in the late 1880s. The gripping narrative follows the journey of a boy named Ben as he slowly uncovers the truth of his life story amid the rough and tumble of a new community ruled by poverty and greed. Only after many adventures and mishaps does Ben arrive at a place of belonging and self knowledge.

The Discovery of Finnegan Wilde is a rollicking tale set in early 20th-century Ireland that chronicles the quest of a young orphan girl to unravel the mystery of her origins. This novel for middle grade and older readers begins in the gritty streets of 1913 Dublin, takes us back in time to the hidden history of a medieval monk, and then returns to Finnegan’s discovery of the magical truth of her own life story.

In Wilfred Burton’s whimsical tale Kohkum’s Royal Bannock, a grandmother and her grandson prepare for a visit from the Queen, prompting a heroic community effort to provide this special Métis dish for the feast. Warm and captivating illustrations from Hawlii Pichette bring this delightful story to vivid life, and Michif translation creates a bridge between two cultures.

We hope you enjoy these powerful and engaging stories.

JoAnn McCaig
Publisher

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