So rarely does a book written over thirty years ago fit so seamlessly into today’s world, but Nearly Roadkill does just that. “Pioneers in virtual fluid embodiment of postmodern gender theory”, Scratch and Winc are heroes to root for and to see yourself in. Nearly Roadkill explores gender and sexuality, transness and queer identity, all with openness and a refusal to conform. Oddly prescient, this book delves into the dangers of government surveillance, advertising algorithms, and the power of community and solidarity.

I have been thoroughly devastated by this book. I was captivated by the lush imagery, the thoughtfully witty references, and the tortoise’s emotional connection to the lives around her. I loved how deeply she cared for the people of “the residence”, as well as the other animals, both captive and free. Her desire to learn about herself, about music, about the lives around her endeared her to me from start to finish. This book is a little bit like Forrest Gump, highlighting bits and pieces of pop culture and twentieth/twenty-first century history artfully into the story, weaving them in thoughtfully through the lens of the tortoise.

If I had a nickel for every time I read a book by a Canadian author that featured a tortoise as a narrator I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot but I love that it has happened twice ❤️🐢