Big Questions, Short Stories: Exploring Identity and Belonging with “Today I Am”

Helping young readers explore ideas like identity, belonging, and empathy can be a powerful part of their learning journey—especially during the middle grade years, when so many are starting to ask big questions about who they are and where they fit in. In this Hooked on Books feature, we’re highlighting Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging, published by Scholastic Canada, a standout middle-grade collection edited by Canadian author and advocate, Jael Richardson. Recently nominated for the 2025 Red Maple Award for grades 7 - 8 fiction by the Forest of Reading, the anthology brings together ten diverse voices from across Canada to explore the many meanings of “home.” With short stories that range from funny and hopeful to deeply personal, this collection opens up thoughtful conversations in classrooms and homes alike—about identity, change, and connection. Don’t miss our thought-provoking interview with author and editor, Jael Richardson.

At Teachers on Call, our in-person and online tutoring team believes in the power of books to support not only academic learning, but emotional growth as well. Tutors, parents and educators, see every day how stories can help kids feel seen, understood, and inspired. That’s why we’re proud to spotlight Forest of Reading nominated titles which give young readers the chance to find their voice and reflect on their own experiences—while also building compassion for others. Keep reading for our interview with author, editor, and curator Jael Richardson, where we explore Today I Am and how stories can shape identity, spark reflection, and empower young readers.

Forest of Reading: Celebrating Canadian Stories, One Vote at a Time

The Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program, created by the Ontario Library Association to get kids excited about Canadian books. With ten award categories for all ages—from picture books to teen novels—there’s something for every kind of reader, in both English and French. What makes it really special is that young readers get to vote for their favourites, making them active participants in the celebration of homegrown stories. From April 1st to 30th, students across the country cast their votes for their favourite titles, with the results announced at the Forest of Reading Festival downtown Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), where students, authors, and educators come together to cheer on the nominated books and share in their love of reading. Our tutoring community appreciates how the program introduces children to the concept of voting through book selection—an idea that aligns with our passion for teaching civics education, as highlighted in our recent blog on Empowering Future Voters.

About the Editor: Jael Richardson

Jael Richardson is an award-winning author, editor, and literary advocate whose work explores identity, belonging, and the power of storytelling. She is the curator, editor, and a contributing author of Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging. A graduate of the University of Guelph’s MFA program in Creative Writing (50 Stone Rd E, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1), Richardson is also the author of The Stone Thrower and its picture book adaptation, drawing from her own family history to inspire young readers. She lives in Brampton, Ontario, where she continues to write, edit, and champion diverse voices in Canadian literature. Through Today I Am, she hopes to offer students from all backgrounds a mirror and a window: a chance to see themselves reflected and to build empathy for others. Whether she’s revising a story with care or collaborating with fellow authors, Richardson remains dedicated to helping young readers—and emerging writers—find courage, confidence, and connection in their stories.

About the Contributors

Today I Am is a collection of stories written by ten talented Canadian authors from coast to coast—many of whom have already been featured in our Hooked on Books series. The collaborators include Vancouver-based Mahtab Narsimhan, Danny Ramadan, and Brandon Win; Edmonton-based Marty Chan; Toronto Ontario’s Rosena Fung and Angela Misri; Michael Hutchinson from the Misipawistik Cree Nation in the Treaty 5 territory north of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Timmins, Ontario’s Liselle Sambury; Brampton's contributor and editor, Jael Richardson; and Halifax, Nova Scotia’s Chad Lucas.

A Conversation with Jael Richardson: On Belonging, Books, and Finding Home

Today I Am: 10 Stories of Belonging brings together ten unique voices to explore what it means to belong and what we call home. What inspired you to centre this collection on these themes, and why do you think they resonate so strongly with young readers?

I gave the contributors the theme of “home” because for BIPOC folks in particular it’s a complicated term. I was born in Canada and my parents are Americans, but as a Black woman, neither country was assumed to be my home – or the place I’m “from”. For me, the concept of home has been a shifting journey, and I know that for very different reasons, many of our contributors see home in different ways. And I think it resonates with young readers because regardless of their background, middle grade kids are at a significant crossroads. They’re trying to figure out if home is their new school or their new set of friends. They’re evaluating whether they feel at home in their own body. They’re looking at home and the family they’ve grown up with in new ways. Home and belonging are always touch points, but middle grade is when that first deep awareness tends to begin.

As the curator, editor, and one of the contributors to this collection, what was it like to bring together nine other acclaimed authors from across Canada — including fellow Forest of Reading nominees — to create a powerful anthology that speaks to the themes of belonging and home?

It’s such an honour to be in a collection with these authors. It’s so meaningful to be able to collaborate and learn from other writers through projects like this. This was my first time editing and curating a lineup for a collection, and they made it so easy.

The stories in Today I Am range from humorous and hopeful to emotional and reflective. Was there a particular piece or moment during the editing process that deeply stood out for you?

This is my first middle grade work, and Danny Ramadan and I were in a similar position in this regard. We both had adult novels and children’s books, but this was our first middle grade short story. Danny would submit these incredible stories that I loved, and I was working on my own story, but he and I both had the same issue. We kept writing about the adults. I really didn’t understand how to make it all about the kids in the story. It took me so many attempts. But I’m happy with the result and Danny’s story is just so special to me for that reason. He managed to craft this beautiful, unique story about a young boy that’s such a joy to read.

Many readers know your earlier work, including the picture book adaptation of your memoir The Stone Thrower: A Daughter’s Lessons, a Father’s Life. How did the experience of telling a personal story about your own family and upbringing shape your approach to editing and contributing to Today I Am?

Writing a picture book and writing a short story for middle grade readers present very similar challenges for me – you’ve got to understand the story so well that you can tell it clearly to a young reader with a set number of words. It’s an exercise in editing, and I enjoy that kind of precision and revision. Sometimes a novel feels so massive that I lose the precision, but I love that in Today I Am, I could keep reworking the sentences until they were just the way I wanted them.

Today I Am offers a wide range of entry points for discussions around identity, empathy, and inclusion. How do you hope teachers, tutors, and library professionals will use this collection in classrooms, libraries, and learning communities?

I hope teachers just share it with their students and that they feel comfortable enough letting their students lead the conversations a bit. I think there’s so much to pull from – so many types of stories and characters to work with. I can see some students wanting to talk about form and others wanting to talk about genre. I can see others digging into the themes and characters. I just hope they can find a way to make room for all of that.

One of the strengths of this collection is how it gives young readers a chance to see themselves — or someone they know — reflected in literature. What impact do you hope Today I Am has on students navigating their own sense of belonging?

I didn’t read a book by a Black author until I was in university. Same with queer authors. There are some cultures and communities I didn’t discover until adulthood. Reading had a profound impact on my self-confidence, and I just hope that reading books about different kinds of kids by a range of incredible authors helps kids begin that journey of self-acceptance and belonging earlier than it happened for me. I hope they see what reading can do and that they read more. And I hope that some of them even feel inspired to start writing.

What advice do you have for young people — especially those from underrepresented communities — who feel unsure about telling their own stories?

It’s normal to be unsure. It’s normal to worry and self-edit even before the words are on the page. One trick someone told me is to write your work with a pseudonym or an alter-ego, so that you don’t feel so exposed and so that if someone finds your writing, they don’t know it’s you. I don’t know if that works. I don’t even know if that’s a good idea, but I would mostly just say write. Do whatever you need to do to write your story.

Do you have a particular writing spot or creative nook that helps you get inspired?

First thing in the morning, after a workout or after I’ve slept in (I have to be really awake) is the best time for me. I can really do a lot between breakfast and lunch. Afternoons are when things fall apart. But I can also write pretty much anywhere so long as it’s either quiet or I have headphones where I can drown out the noise with instrumental music.

What’s next for you — whether in your writing, editing, or literary advocacy work?

I have so much on the go right now. This will surprise no one, but I actually have more big projects than usual on the go – a few novels and a new business project. It’s exciting for sure.

~

Today I Am is more than just a collection of short stories—it’s a meaningful tool for opening up dialogue, encouraging self-reflection, and building empathy among young readers. Whether used in the classroom, during tutoring sessions, or as a shared read at home, this anthology offers countless opportunities for kids to connect with characters who may reflect their own experiences—or help them understand someone else's. As Jael Richardson so beautifully shared in our interview, the journey to feeling like you belong often starts with seeing yourself in the pages of a book.

If you enjoyed this feature, we invite you to explore more of our Hooked on Books series, where we spotlight Forest of Reading nominees and celebrate the impact of Canadian children's literature. Check out our recent blogs featuring authors from Today I Am, including Dragon on the Loose by Marty Chan and Salma Joins the Team by Danny Ramadan. There’s always something new to discover—and more ways for young readers to feel seen and inspired—when they’re hooked on books.