How to Read Catherine Hernandez’s Books
Catherine Hernandez is an award-winning Canadian author, playwright, and screenwriter whose work centers on marginalized voices, systemic inequalities, and the strength of community. Because all of her novels are standalone works set in different contexts or realities, there is no strict chronological narrative connecting them. You can read them in any order you choose.
However, the most rewarding path is to read her novels in publication order. This allows you to experience her evolution as a storyteller—from the raw, multi-voiced community portrait of her debut to the dystopian urgency of her second novel, the intimate caregiving narrative of her third, and the dark, true-crime-infused reflections of her fourth.
The Recommended Starting Point
If you are new to Catherine Hernandez’s writing, the absolute best place to start is her debut novel, Scarborough (2017). This book established her as a major voice in contemporary Canadian literature. It offers a perfect introduction to her signature style: unflinching honesty, deep empathy, structural experimentation, and a focus on characters who are often overlooked by mainstream society. Starting here gives you a baseline for her deep connection to Scarborough, Ontario, which serves as a recurring geographical and emotional touchstone in her work.
Catherine Hernandez’s Novels in Publication Order
Here is the complete list of Catherine Hernandez’s novels in the order they were published, along with what you need to know about each work:
1. Scarborough (2017)
Set in a low-income neighborhood in Toronto, Scarborough is a multi-voiced novel that paints a raw, heartfelt portrait of a diverse community. The story follows several characters, including Bing, a gay Filipino boy; Sylvie, an Indigenous girl; and the dedicated community workers and daycare providers who support them despite systemic neglect. Hernandez structured the novel as a mosaic of voices, letters, and emails to capture the collective spirit of the neighborhood. The novel won the Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award and was adapted into an acclaimed 2021 film for which Hernandez wrote the screenplay.
2. Crosshairs (2020)
Shifting from contemporary realism to near-future speculative fiction, Crosshairs is a dystopian novel of resistance. Set in a near-future Canada devastated by environmental disasters, a totalitarian regime called "The Alliance" takes control, forcing racialized, queer, and disabled people into work camps. The story follows Kay, a queer Black drag queen, who joins an underground resistance movement alongside an ally named Bahadur. This novel is a tense, cinematic call to action that examines allyship, fascism, and the price of survival.
3. The Story of Us (2023)
Returning to a contemporary, intimate setting, The Story of Us focuses on the life of Marie, a Filipina caregiver who moves to Canada to support her family. The novel depicts the deep, complex bond that forms between Marie and her client, Liz, a woman living with early-onset Alzheimer's. Narrated by the spirit of Marie's late partner, the book is a love letter to the immigrant caregiver community, exploring themes of displacement, grief, chosen family, and the profound nature of human connection.
4. Behind You (2024)
Published in May 2024, Behind You is a psychological drama that addresses the long-lasting effects of rape culture and gendered violence. The novel follows Alma, a Filipina woman working as a film editor for a sensational true-crime TV series. When her show begins editing an episode about the "Scarborough Stalker"—a fictionalized version of the real-life serial predator who terrorized her neighborhood when she was a teenager in the late 1980s—Alma is forced to confront her repressed childhood traumas while navigating her worries about her teenage son's behavior. The book is a dark, gripping examination of media ethics, parenting, and survival.
Children’s Picture Books
In addition to her adult fiction, Catherine Hernandez has authored several children's picture books that introduce young readers to themes of identity, emotional literacy, and diverse families:
- M Is for Mustache: A Pride ABC Book (2015): A colorful alphabet book celebrating Pride Day, self-expression, and queer families.
- I Promise (2019): Illustrated by Syrus Marcus Ware, this book depicts various LGBTQ2S+ family structures, emphasizing that all families are united by a promise to love and nurture their children.
- Where Do Your Feelings Live? (2022): Illustrated by Myriam Chery, this picture book helps children build emotional awareness by encouraging them to locate and visualize their emotions within their bodies.
Plays and Theater Works
Hernandez began her storytelling career in theater, and her plays lay the groundwork for the character-driven, community-oriented style found in her novels:
- Singkil (2009): A play centered on Mimi, a Filipino-Canadian woman navigating family secrets and her mother's legacy, using the traditional Filipino dance of the same name as a metaphor.
- Kilt Pins (2012): A drama focusing on a group of young women at a Catholic school in Scarborough as they navigate faith, sexuality, and friendship.
- The Femme Playlist (2018): A solo performance piece that explores queer brown femme identity, body image, and motherhood with humor and vulnerability.
What to Know Before You Start
Hernandez's novels are emotionally demanding. She does not shy away from heavy themes, including systemic racism, poverty, physical and sexual violence, homophobic oppression, and terminal illness. If you are sensitive to these topics, you may want to check content warnings before diving in. Despite the heavy subject matter, her writing is consistently warmed by a belief in the power of community, mutual care, and the resilience of marginalized people.