‘A Two-Spirit Journey,’ memoir championed by Shayla Stonechild, wins Canada Reads

TORONTO — Ma-Nee Chacaby’s memoir “A Two-Spirit Journey,” which she wrote with Mary Louisa Plummer, has won this year’s edition of Canada Reads.

Podcaster and wellness influencer Shayla Stonechild championed the book during CBC’s four-day faceoff during which public figures duke it out to decide which book all Canadians should read.

Stonechild argued the memoir is an example of what reconciliation can look like, because it honours Anishinaabe storytelling and is also a collaboration with Plummer, a non-Indigenous social scientist and researcher who brings a different perspective to the book.

The runner-up this year was “Dandelion” by Jamie Chai Yun Liew, championed by pastry chef Saïd M’Dahoma.

Other finalists were “Watch Out For Her” by Samantha M. Bailey, defended by swimmer Maggie MacNeil; “Jennie’s Boy” written by Wayne Johnston and championed by author Linwood Barclay; and “Etta and Otto and Russell and James” written by Emma Hooper and championed by actress Michelle Morgan.