We love books that allow us to learn about a whole host of different people within its pages. The allure of compilation books is that you can skip forwards and backwards, reading and rereading about the people who most inspire you. Amazing Black Atlantic Canadians by Lindsay Ruck and James Bentley is one such book. Filled with the stories of so many incredible Black people who lived and worked just in Atlantic Canada. With the amount of people featured from just one small corner of the country, it makes me older what other stories are we missing and who are the people we should be celebrating in books about incredible Canadian accomplishments.

Author Lindsay Ruck takes readers on a journey through the Maritimes starting with the history of Black People in Atlantic Canada. Middle grade readers will learn about the people like Mathieu Da Costa and Rose Fortune and places of significance like Birchtown and Grand Bay-Westfield. Readers are given a truthful account of how Black people came to Canada and what early life was like. From there we get to learn all about incredible athletes, artists, Black people of importance, military heroes and some firsts, such as Paul Growns and Jevaughn Coley becoming the first Black members of the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, in 2019! Lindsay Ruck shares the stories of those who are well renowned throughout Canada alongside those who only people in Atlantic Canada may have heard of before. There are so many different people featured that readers are sure to be inspired by many of the stories within these pages. 

James Bentley’s gorgeous illustrations throughout the book are captivating, I only wish there were more of them! Shared sparingly throughout the book, readers get an opportunity to put a face to some of the names highlighted.

Complete with a timeline of important events, a glossary of terms and some fantastic additional resources, readers will be able to continue learning about those who inspire them the most. Remember, Black history is something to celebrate all year long!