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10 powerful books about dads for Father’s Day

Vancouver Public Library and V.I.A. have teamed up to help you discover new reads, hidden book gems and surprising literary finds. Check back every couple of weeks for the latest reading recommendations from the experts at Vancouver’s library.

Vancouver Public Library and V.I.A. have teamed up to help you discover new reads, hidden book gems and surprising literary finds. Check back every couple of weeks for the latest reading recommendations from the experts at Vancouver’s library.

On this special day for dads, VPL’s reading experts bring you this list of books to help you explore all the wonders, mysteries and complexities of fatherhood:

Pops by Michael Chabon

Pops by Michael Chabon

This collection of short essays explores the meaning of fatherhood. The book is centred on an article Michael Chabon wrote for GQ magazine about his son, and the deep respect Chabon has for him. Through the book, Chabon examines his role as a father and his relationship with his own father.

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Fun Home by Alison Bechdel

Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir chronicles her early life in rural Pennsylvania and reflects on the complex relationship with her late father. Filled with gothic drawings and dark family tales, this award-winning story is both heartbreaking and funny.

Census by Jesse Ball

Census by Jesse Ball

A father and his adult son embark on a journey across the country as census takers. They move through towns and encounter people from all walks of life. Throughout the story, a thoughtful beauty emerges from the father’s unconditional love and consideration. You'll need tissues for this one.

The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang

The Wangs vs. the World by Jade Chang

The Wang family faces financial ruin in America, and patriarch Charles Wang decides they should return to China and attempt to reclaim the family's ancestral lands. While trying to gather the kids from expensive schools and upstate hideouts, he finds himself on a journey to bring the family back together.

I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You by David Chariandy

I’ve Been Meaning to Tell You by David Chariandy

This book begins is a way for David Chariandy to explain the issues and underlying history of race and prejudice to his young daughter. Full of love and wisdom, Chariandy's letter shares his own story and his hopes for her future. This meditation on the politics of race is both intimate and beautiful.

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison

The Revised Fundamentals of Caregiving by Jonathan Evison

Ben Benjamin hits rock bottom and begins a new career as a caregiver. His first client is a teenager with muscular dystrophy named Trev. They end up on a road trip to see Trev’s estranged father and, after facing a series of setbacks, discover what it truly means to care for someone else.

Where’s the Mother by Trevor MacDonald

Where’s the Mother? by Trevor MacDonald

As a transgender man, Trevor MacDonald knew he would face a lot of questions when starting a family. Trevor and his partner share their thoughts on common questions new parents face, and also tackle unfamiliar territory such as giving birth as a man, nursing and being a transgender parent.

Elmet by Fiona Mozley

Elmet by Fiona Mozley

Living a quiet and simple life, Daniel, his sister Cathy and their father find peace in a little corner of Yorkshire. Their father sometimes disappeared to make money in underground fights, but he always returned to them as a ‘gentle giant.’ But when tension erupts between their father and the landowner, everything changes.

Archipelago by Monique Roffey

Archipelago by Monique Roffey

A year after a devastating flood destroys their home and life, Gavin and his six-year-old daughter return to Trinidad to rebuild and start over. When the rainy season begins, so do his daughter’s nightmares about the tragedy. To heal, find hope and make peace, they embark on an ocean journey to the Galapagos Islands.

The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang

The Song Poet by Kao Kalia Yang

Kao Kalia Yang powerful memoir draws from her family’s story – including the persecution of the Hmong people in Laos after the Vietnam War, and the Yang family’s flight to safety. Documenting her father’s talent for turning these life stories into songs, Yang’s story is a celebration of a father’s love and sacrifices for his children.

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