A Stronger Home - by Katrina Chen & Elaine Su (Hardcover)

About the Book

A mother and son experiencing domestic violence have to flee their home, moving from place to place to find safe shelter, until finally they're able to go back home again and make it the strongest house yet.

Book Synopsis

The storm was inside the house.

A boy and his mother hide from the rattle of fists on a wall and the thunder of yelling. There is a storm inside their house. It's time to find a stronger home.

Their first new home is by the water. When they find a seashell and press it to their ears, they hear the sound of the waves. The boy's mother tells him that a seashell always carries its home, the sea, inside it, just like they will carry their home inside them--in their heartbeats. They travel from place to place to find stronger and stronger homes, relying on each other for support and finding joy and comfort, even when they're scared. But what about their old house? One day, the boy's mother says it's time to go back. They go home to find their family and friends waiting to welcome them and help make it the strongest house yet. Finally, the boy and his mother won't have to be afraid anymore.

Available in French as Une maison solide.

About the Author

Katrina Chen (陳葦蓁) moved to Canada from Taiwan on her own when she was 17 years old. After graduating from Simon Fraser University, she began her grassroots work in the community. After serving as a trustee on the Burnaby Board of Education in British Columbia, Katrina was elected as the Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Burnaby-Lougheed and served as Minister of State for Child Care. She was the first Taiwanese-born Canadian appointed to the BC Cabinet and its youngest member at the time. In December 2022, she publicly shared her struggles as a survivor of gender-based violence. Katrina is now a professional coach who has been a vocal advocate for childcare, public education, mental health and equity.

Elaine Su (苏依泠) is a teacher, librarian and storyteller. She loves to create in the rich intersection where culture, nature, community and imagination meet. Born in Shanghai, she now lives in Vancouver, BC, with her family as settlers on the unceded territory of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓-speaking peoples.

Delphie Côté-Lacroix is an illustrator working from Montreal, Quebec. Over the years she has published many books alongside writers she admires. Her work has received multiple awards, including a prestigious Governor General's Literary Award for best illustrated book. She is known for illustrating texts addressing sensitive subjects or important social issues. She believes it is the artist's responsibility to contribute to the collective narrative and to do so with nuance and complexity. Her style can be recognized by her limited color palette, her use of soft textures and simple compositions.