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Letters from Johnny
Winner of BEST CRIME NOVELLA at The Crime Writers of Canada Awards of Excellence 2022
A charming coming of age story wrapped around a murder, a betrayal and a national crisis.
Dripping with nostalgia and awash with humour, Letters From Johnny is set in 1970’s Toronto through the eyes of mischievous Johnny Wong, a lonely boy who tries to stickhandle a neighbourhood of immigrants and draft dodgers. Johnny’s world unravels after a murder, a betrayal, and the unexpected emergence of a family member, all this as he tries to make sense of the FLQ crisis. His only solace are letters to a penpal, then to Dave Keon, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
A charming coming of age story wrapped around a murder, a betrayal and a national crisis.
Dripping with nostalgia and awash with humour, Letters From Johnny is set in 1970’s Toronto through the eyes of mischievous Johnny Wong, a lonely boy who tries to stickhandle a neighbourhood of immigrants and draft dodgers. Johnny’s world unravels after a murder, a betrayal, and the unexpected emergence of a family member, all this as he tries to make sense of the FLQ crisis. His only solace are letters to a penpal, then to Dave Keon, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2021
5 people are currently reading
350 people want to read
About the author
Wayne Ng
4 books32 followersWayne Ng was born in Anishinaabe land in what is commonly known as downtown Toronto to Chinese immigrants who fed him a steady diet of bitter melon and kung fu movies. Ng is a social worker who lives to write, travel, eat, and play, preferably all at the same time.
He is an award-winning author and traveller who continues to push his boundaries from the Arctic to the Antarctic. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and goldfish.
Ng is the author of LETTERS FROM JOHNNY (winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Crime Novella and Ottawa Book Award finalist); JOHNNY DELIVERS (recommended by The Globe and Mail and CBC Books); and THE FAMILY CODE (Ottawa Book Award and Guernica Prize finalist).
Connect with Ng on social media and at waynengwrites.com
He is an award-winning author and traveller who continues to push his boundaries from the Arctic to the Antarctic. He lives in Ottawa with his wife and goldfish.
Ng is the author of LETTERS FROM JOHNNY (winner of the Crime Writers of Canada Award for Best Crime Novella and Ottawa Book Award finalist); JOHNNY DELIVERS (recommended by The Globe and Mail and CBC Books); and THE FAMILY CODE (Ottawa Book Award and Guernica Prize finalist).
Connect with Ng on social media and at waynengwrites.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
August 16, 2023
A beautiful story with a very unique voice. I absolutely loved it!
May 5, 2021
LETTERS FROM JOHNNY is a sweet book about an 11yo Chinese-Canadian boy named Johnny Wong, who first pens letters to an unnamed penpal in Maine, USA, as part of a class project; later to his hockey idol, Dave Keon, captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs hockey team. While the story has both harrowing and heartwarming moments, the main theme of the book is about a Chinese-Canadian boy's struggle to understand the overwhelming events happening all around him, both on personal level and national level. This epistolary novel is only 130 pages long and thus, easy to get into and quick to finish in one sitting. While I loved the way the story unfolded and eventually ended, there were two things that stumped me up.
First was the multiple spelling errors, which I understand are intentional because a) Johnny is a young boy, and b) English is not his first language and thus, his spelling and grammar aren't as good as his peers. However, I could not get over the fact that his voice, while he's 11, sounds more like it belongs to a 6yo or a 7yo child. Too much naïvety and innocence compared to how a real life 11yo acts like, tbh. Too many things in his life he cannot understand and grapple with, and his voice made me think, at first, that he's a 6-7yo child. Until I learned he's in grade 5 and the standard age for grade 5 student in Canada is 10-11 years.
The second thing that bothered me is how the author ended some of the letters, with cliffhangers as if his protagonist isn't writing letters to someone, rather penning an epistolary novel. You don't end personal letters, or any letters, with cliffhangers. You finish writing and describing the things and events you want to talk about and not leave the reader hanging. Even if Johnny didn't wholly saw his letters as letters, rather like journals or diaries, this still applies to journal and letter writing. Letters/journals/diaries are not chapters of a book. The author could've made things much more believable with the voice and the writing.
If you can overlook these two flaws, this book is a beautiful treat and will give you great insight into how the life of Chinese immigrants in Canada was like back in the '70s. Racism, anti-Asian hate, microaggressions from neighbors to social service workers to teachers and cops, child abuse and negligence, alcoholism, foster care abuse and negligence, bullying, parental negligence and absence, murder, and lots more, but everything was handled with much care and thoughts.
Thank you, NetGalley and Guernica Editions, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
First was the multiple spelling errors, which I understand are intentional because a) Johnny is a young boy, and b) English is not his first language and thus, his spelling and grammar aren't as good as his peers. However, I could not get over the fact that his voice, while he's 11, sounds more like it belongs to a 6yo or a 7yo child. Too much naïvety and innocence compared to how a real life 11yo acts like, tbh. Too many things in his life he cannot understand and grapple with, and his voice made me think, at first, that he's a 6-7yo child. Until I learned he's in grade 5 and the standard age for grade 5 student in Canada is 10-11 years.
The second thing that bothered me is how the author ended some of the letters, with cliffhangers as if his protagonist isn't writing letters to someone, rather penning an epistolary novel. You don't end personal letters, or any letters, with cliffhangers. You finish writing and describing the things and events you want to talk about and not leave the reader hanging. Even if Johnny didn't wholly saw his letters as letters, rather like journals or diaries, this still applies to journal and letter writing. Letters/journals/diaries are not chapters of a book. The author could've made things much more believable with the voice and the writing.
If you can overlook these two flaws, this book is a beautiful treat and will give you great insight into how the life of Chinese immigrants in Canada was like back in the '70s. Racism, anti-Asian hate, microaggressions from neighbors to social service workers to teachers and cops, child abuse and negligence, alcoholism, foster care abuse and negligence, bullying, parental negligence and absence, murder, and lots more, but everything was handled with much care and thoughts.
Thank you, NetGalley and Guernica Editions, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
June 30, 2021
As a teacher, I loved the young boys attempt to spell words in his letters. It made me smile. His honest story telling to his pen pal and the Canadian history made it so relatable. I think this would be a great book for youths to read in school.
February 25, 2023
“Poignant, insightful, and tinged with menace. Letters from Johnny deftly captures the confusion and hurt of eleven-year-old Johnny Wong as he grapples with loyalty, friendship, and murder close to home.” --Barbara Fradkin, Arthur Ellis Award finalist, author of Inspector Green, Amanda Doucette and Cedric O'Toole murder series
“By far one of the best short novels from a Canadian small press in the last year, Letters from Johnny by Ottawa’s Wayne Ng takes the reader on a nostalgic journey combining family dynamics, national politics and the vibe of Toronto’s emerging multicultural scene.”—Ian Thomas Shaw, The Ottawa Review of Books
“Highly Recommended” —Ann Ketcheson, Canadian Review of Materials
“This book has such a beautiful vision of that time period in the 1970s, growing up in a first-generation Canadian household. It’s about Johnny Wong, who writes letters to the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs — Dave Keon at the time — and tells him all these stories about his community, including a murder. It’s like a garden of beautiful anecdotes and information and nostalgia about Toronto — Ng does just a beautiful job of this story that happens to also be a mystery about a murder.”—Angela Misri, CBC Books, The Next Chapter, Mystery Panelist
“I love this book a lot. Its voice--Johnny Wong, Grade 5, 1970--is one we've never heard before, expressed, eventually, in letters to Leaf captain Dave Keon. There's sports here, but don't let that give you pause. Letters From Johnny is as much about growing up as a first-generation Canadian as it is Toronto in the 70s with its team, its Chinatown, its new cultures trying to be heard above the Protestant din.”--Dave Bidini, musician, Rheostatics; publisher West End Phoenix; author Keon and Me
“Letters From Johnny: endearing book filled with humour…loved the book!”–Eva Levesque, The Review
“Wayne Ng has the uncanny knack of being able to project himself into a child's head to tell readers the child's story--not an easy feat. Johnny is an engaging character going through a rough patch in life and Wayne brings that to life with a voice that is both accurate and convincing."--Rick Blechta, award-winning author of the Pratt and Ellis series
“Who knew that a Chinese-Canadian kid's heartwarming letters to his hockey hero could so perfectly capture Canada in 1970? Letters From Johnny takes us from the FLQ crisis and a shocking neighborhood crime, to the simple heartbreak of being a Maple Leafs fan. Wayne Ng brings us the world of Johnny Wong, as the 11-year-old pours out his fears, hopes, and dreams to his new pen pal, Leafs legend Dave Keon.” --Wayne Turmel, author of Acre's Bastard and Acre's Orphans
“Letters From Johnny makes for an intriguing read, whether you are a young adult or your youth is in the rearview mirror. It is what I like to call an honest book, written from knowledge of what it was really like to grow up in a city on the cusp of uncomfortable change. Best of all, through his letters, Johnny makes an honest guide as he searches for his identity and wrestles with his need to belong.”–Kate Barlow, Oakville News
“Told entirely in Johnny’s voice, with phonetic spellings (“diplowmat”), incorrect punctuation, and strike-outs, the letters are riveting. They take us deep into Johnny’s humorous, feisty, always questioning 11-year-old head. The details of time and place nicely evoke the early Seventies and the Chinese immigrant culture. The simple cover, Johnny’s age, the tone of his letters, and the low page count suggest the genre as mid-grade to YA. But the tragic family saga, the murder, and resolution, coupled with Johnny’s often wise insights, make this an unusual cross-over that will appeal to anyone from eleven to adult.”–Editors’ Choice, Historical Novels Review
“While this voice and format will appeal to younger readers, the universal themes of a search for identity and a need to belong will resonate with anyone who never quite felt understood or that they belonged. Moreover, the novel will also draw in legions of Toronto Maple Leaf diehard fans, Canadian history buffs and lovers of off-beat immigrant stories. In essence, this is an adult fiction/YA crossover.“–The Ottawa Review Of Books
“The book also doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable situations among its characters: Johnny’s mother’s alcoholism, his father’s extramarital relationship, his principal’s smoldering bigotry and his attempts to find his place in a Canada that sends mixed messages about belonging. Apprehended while slumbering in an Eaton’s store, Johnny is offered a Kit Kat bar by one of the employees: “[He] said it is no egg roll or chop suey but its good eh. I think he was trying to be nice and funny but it was not.” What we get from Johnny is a confusing jumble of complexities for a boy coming of age without the safety and guidance we all wish for our children. In other words, a real life.” —Mark David Smith, YAdudebooks
“By far one of the best short novels from a Canadian small press in the last year, Letters from Johnny by Ottawa’s Wayne Ng takes the reader on a nostalgic journey combining family dynamics, national politics and the vibe of Toronto’s emerging multicultural scene.”—Ian Thomas Shaw, The Ottawa Review of Books
“Highly Recommended” —Ann Ketcheson, Canadian Review of Materials
“This book has such a beautiful vision of that time period in the 1970s, growing up in a first-generation Canadian household. It’s about Johnny Wong, who writes letters to the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs — Dave Keon at the time — and tells him all these stories about his community, including a murder. It’s like a garden of beautiful anecdotes and information and nostalgia about Toronto — Ng does just a beautiful job of this story that happens to also be a mystery about a murder.”—Angela Misri, CBC Books, The Next Chapter, Mystery Panelist
“I love this book a lot. Its voice--Johnny Wong, Grade 5, 1970--is one we've never heard before, expressed, eventually, in letters to Leaf captain Dave Keon. There's sports here, but don't let that give you pause. Letters From Johnny is as much about growing up as a first-generation Canadian as it is Toronto in the 70s with its team, its Chinatown, its new cultures trying to be heard above the Protestant din.”--Dave Bidini, musician, Rheostatics; publisher West End Phoenix; author Keon and Me
“Letters From Johnny: endearing book filled with humour…loved the book!”–Eva Levesque, The Review
“Wayne Ng has the uncanny knack of being able to project himself into a child's head to tell readers the child's story--not an easy feat. Johnny is an engaging character going through a rough patch in life and Wayne brings that to life with a voice that is both accurate and convincing."--Rick Blechta, award-winning author of the Pratt and Ellis series
“Who knew that a Chinese-Canadian kid's heartwarming letters to his hockey hero could so perfectly capture Canada in 1970? Letters From Johnny takes us from the FLQ crisis and a shocking neighborhood crime, to the simple heartbreak of being a Maple Leafs fan. Wayne Ng brings us the world of Johnny Wong, as the 11-year-old pours out his fears, hopes, and dreams to his new pen pal, Leafs legend Dave Keon.” --Wayne Turmel, author of Acre's Bastard and Acre's Orphans
“Letters From Johnny makes for an intriguing read, whether you are a young adult or your youth is in the rearview mirror. It is what I like to call an honest book, written from knowledge of what it was really like to grow up in a city on the cusp of uncomfortable change. Best of all, through his letters, Johnny makes an honest guide as he searches for his identity and wrestles with his need to belong.”–Kate Barlow, Oakville News
“Told entirely in Johnny’s voice, with phonetic spellings (“diplowmat”), incorrect punctuation, and strike-outs, the letters are riveting. They take us deep into Johnny’s humorous, feisty, always questioning 11-year-old head. The details of time and place nicely evoke the early Seventies and the Chinese immigrant culture. The simple cover, Johnny’s age, the tone of his letters, and the low page count suggest the genre as mid-grade to YA. But the tragic family saga, the murder, and resolution, coupled with Johnny’s often wise insights, make this an unusual cross-over that will appeal to anyone from eleven to adult.”–Editors’ Choice, Historical Novels Review
“While this voice and format will appeal to younger readers, the universal themes of a search for identity and a need to belong will resonate with anyone who never quite felt understood or that they belonged. Moreover, the novel will also draw in legions of Toronto Maple Leaf diehard fans, Canadian history buffs and lovers of off-beat immigrant stories. In essence, this is an adult fiction/YA crossover.“–The Ottawa Review Of Books
“The book also doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable situations among its characters: Johnny’s mother’s alcoholism, his father’s extramarital relationship, his principal’s smoldering bigotry and his attempts to find his place in a Canada that sends mixed messages about belonging. Apprehended while slumbering in an Eaton’s store, Johnny is offered a Kit Kat bar by one of the employees: “[He] said it is no egg roll or chop suey but its good eh. I think he was trying to be nice and funny but it was not.” What we get from Johnny is a confusing jumble of complexities for a boy coming of age without the safety and guidance we all wish for our children. In other words, a real life.” —Mark David Smith, YAdudebooks
Want to read
December 8, 2022 Interesting, and good author, good to read in free time, entertaining and well written, I recommend it right now!!
June 14, 2021
An absolute delight to read! It appeals to any age. As an former homeschool teacher, we used to call this type of book a "living history" novel. It is fiction, based on real facts. A wonderful way to learn history. A story about a young boy who's parents are Chinese immigrants living in Toronto. It is written as a series of letters to his favourite hockey player. This story is engaging and is based on accurate political events of the FLQ. A wonderful read for any age but I definitely would recommend for teachers and students. A must for libraries everywhere!
September 9, 2021
Letters to Johnny is a charming, funny, and enlightening look into the life of a young Chinese boy living in Toronto in the 70s. From Johnny's perspective, we, as adult readers, are given a rare glimpse into the mind of a child--and not just any child. Johnny is a child who is experiencing racism, bullying, social injustice, and family trauma.
For me, the way in which Johnny interprets the world and the people around him lends this book it's so much of its appeal. He is a child that you root for, you hope for, and, in his equally fraught and ecstatic childhood, so many of us will identify with as well.
As adult readers, it's clear to us what Johnny isn't quite understanding about his world, but it's also clear that he understands it better than many of the adults in his life.
My 11-year-old son started reading the book this morning, and I heard him laughing from his room. (He particularly loves it when Johnny relays verbatim what other people have said and includes--but apologizes for including--the bad words.)
Wayne Ng has created an enduring and delightful book that can be enjoyed by readers of many ages. Well done!
For me, the way in which Johnny interprets the world and the people around him lends this book it's so much of its appeal. He is a child that you root for, you hope for, and, in his equally fraught and ecstatic childhood, so many of us will identify with as well.
As adult readers, it's clear to us what Johnny isn't quite understanding about his world, but it's also clear that he understands it better than many of the adults in his life.
My 11-year-old son started reading the book this morning, and I heard him laughing from his room. (He particularly loves it when Johnny relays verbatim what other people have said and includes--but apologizes for including--the bad words.)
Wayne Ng has created an enduring and delightful book that can be enjoyed by readers of many ages. Well done!
March 15, 2021
I'm not sure who the target audience this book is for in terms of age, but I found it very interesting since I'm an child of immigrants in Toronto and I also love the Leafs. I enjoyed the history lesson about the FLQ crisis and that I could recognize specific areas in Toronto. Definitely an interesting read.
April 4, 2021
11 year old Johnny is the perfect mix of innocence and mischief! Letters From Johnny shows a snapshot of both Johnny’s life and Canada’s turmoil during this tumultuous time in history. I really enjoyed reading about Johnny’s life and lived watching Johnny learn about the world through his eyes. This book is a quick but engrossing read with plenty of little creative tidbits along the way (the crossed out, misspelled words and the little maple leaf next to the dates are adorable!). I’m happy to have read this little gem and hope others enjoy it as much as I did.
June 27, 2021
I read Letters from Johnny with my 15 year old son. This book immediately drew us in. Loved reading a book set in Toronto that gives a rich historical and cultural perspective. It introduces the FLQ crisis which prompted us do delve into more side research on the subject. I am always interested books that give voice to cultural perspectives different from our own. Wayne immediately captures the reader’s attention and creates such an engaging read. I highly recommend this book. It is a must read for teens and adults. Looking forward to reading more from Wayne Ng.
March 6, 2021
I loved this book! Ng’s ability to capture a child’s perspective and voice, of that time, makes this book so compelling. It is a great read for anyone aged 13-99. It captures that historical time in our Canadian history while bringing into focus the lives of ordinary people mired in their own personal struggles and issues. The subtext of racism, classism and political turbulence plays out in this very poignant and touching story.
May 5, 2021
I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This book is well written and the characters are described well. This book is set in Canada. This book is very cute. I can't wait to read this to my niece when she gets older. This is a wonderful children's book. I highly recommend this book to anyone and everyone. It will be in stores on June 1, 2021 for $17.95 (USD).
March 21, 2021
Letters From Johnny brought me on a nostalgic trip to another time in Canada where an innocent boy navigates through some major social issues. As he copes in his own unique way, and builds resiliency, there are some tender moments of strong family ties and friendship. Thank you, Wayne Ng, for another engaging read.
February 28, 2021
Wonderful, nostalgic look at lost Toronto through the eyes of a bright and funny child. A terrific read for both kids interested in recent history and those who remember the days of the October Crisis. A wonderful starting point for conversations between kids and grandparents.
August 15, 2023
I read this a while ago, and it has stuck with me. The author brings young Johnny to life as he writes to his favourite hockey player, Dave Keon. A unique coming of age story from a young Asian boy growing up in Toronto in the 1970’s. Five stars.
June 20, 2022
I want to be Johnny
March 5, 2021
As a lover of history and YA stories, someone urged me to read Letters From Johnny. The cover led me to believe it was actually a children’s book. But it’s really a cleverly written historical fiction story about an 11 year old Chinese boy in Toronto trying to find answers during a national and neighbourhood crisis. Set during the FLQ crisis in 1970, Johnny is caught up in a murder next door. Once he finds out who the murderer is, he gets blackmailed by the killer. While this is going on, he gets bullied at school, he is a victim of subtle racism, the children’s aid society threatens him and his mother, and (spoiler alert) his father returns with a sister he didn’t know he had.
It seems like a lot for a boy to go through, but he manages by writing letters to his hero Dave Keon of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thus, Ng captures Johnny’s authentic voice and the vibe of the 70s.
As a YA story, it has the classic underdog, reluctant hero forced to grow up and come of age. However, it is also combined with Canadian historical elements that quite frankly I knew very little about. The mix is a heartwarming, but edgy immigrant story for readers of all ages. So I dare you to get lost in Johnny’s neighbourhood and see if you can read it without giggling.
It seems like a lot for a boy to go through, but he manages by writing letters to his hero Dave Keon of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Thus, Ng captures Johnny’s authentic voice and the vibe of the 70s.
As a YA story, it has the classic underdog, reluctant hero forced to grow up and come of age. However, it is also combined with Canadian historical elements that quite frankly I knew very little about. The mix is a heartwarming, but edgy immigrant story for readers of all ages. So I dare you to get lost in Johnny’s neighbourhood and see if you can read it without giggling.
June 24, 2021
After his historical fiction in "Finding the Way", I was intrigued to see Wayne Ng try his hand at a different genre and style. Writing an epistolary novel is tough for conveying plot, character and setting, but the author does an excellent job of all three. In "Letters from Johnny" he takes us to 1970s Toronto and into the mind of 11-year-old Johnny, whose teacher tasks him with writing to a pen pal. The story that emerges is more than his teacher bargained for. At the same time it's a cathartic experience for the young boy, as he shares a unique perspective on his neighbourhood and family as well as national news headlines about the FLQ. It's not the historical Chinese setting I enjoyed from this author before, but something more directly relevant to our times: shades of racism, "child warfare" (perfect malapropism from an 11-year-old), acts of terrorism and violence in our own backyard, and the importance of bridging differences to connect with one another over what all of us have in common, our need for family and belonging.
June 11, 2021
You don't have to remember the early 70s or be a hockey fan to appreciate the story that unfolds in Wayne Ng's latest novel. Despite its cover, Letters from Johnny isn't about hockey and cultural identity , the way Roch Carrier's The Hockey Sweater is. Rather, its an engaging account, told from the point of view of a 10 year old boy, about navigating the complex and bewildering adult world. The extra layers of the immigrant experience and a turbulent period in Canadian history add to the richness of the plot as it unfolds through a young boy's letters to his hockey idol.
Telling the story through the voice of a 10 year old is a challenge, one the author for the most part meets. The phonetic spelling , word usage and and overall style help the reader see the world with Johnny's eyes. There are occasions where you hear an adult, but not enough to diminish the impact of the story.
A very worthy read.
Telling the story through the voice of a 10 year old is a challenge, one the author for the most part meets. The phonetic spelling , word usage and and overall style help the reader see the world with Johnny's eyes. There are occasions where you hear an adult, but not enough to diminish the impact of the story.
A very worthy read.
August 15, 2022
What a lovely book. A story that can be enjoyed by young and old readers alike.
It is an epistolary novel (a novel told in letters) with Johnny, a young boy living in Chinatown in Toronto in the 70s, as the sender and Dave Keon, a Toronto Maple Leaf hockey player as the receiver.
He is living his story while the FLQ crisis plays out in the background.
It is not just a book for people who love hockey or who lived in Toronto during the 70s. It is a book about community and family and finding a place for yourself in all the chaos of life. An Irish police woman sums it up nicely, "sometimes a country is like a family. We don't always get along. Sometimes neighbours don't either."
Great and fast read. Grab a copy and let everyone in the family read it.
Wayne Ng
It is an epistolary novel (a novel told in letters) with Johnny, a young boy living in Chinatown in Toronto in the 70s, as the sender and Dave Keon, a Toronto Maple Leaf hockey player as the receiver.
He is living his story while the FLQ crisis plays out in the background.
It is not just a book for people who love hockey or who lived in Toronto during the 70s. It is a book about community and family and finding a place for yourself in all the chaos of life. An Irish police woman sums it up nicely, "sometimes a country is like a family. We don't always get along. Sometimes neighbours don't either."
Great and fast read. Grab a copy and let everyone in the family read it.
Wayne Ng
March 20, 2021
This is a fun, feel-good read, that had me laughing out loud. You wouldn't think a story about a child with murder and terrorism would work, but it did. Not old enough to remember the FLQ crisis or all the 70’s references, I still really enjoyed the setting. Normally I'd binge TV in the evenings but couldn't put this down as I cheered for 11-year-old Johnny as he tried to navigate the grown-up chaos in his life and the world around him. I hope the author will do another one as Johnny begins to grow-up - I'd buy it for sure.
July 31, 2021
This is the second book I have read by Wayne Ng. With "Letters from Johnny", this author proves his great talent again. This novel, written in epistolary form, is a nostalgic look back at Toronto in 1970, seen through the eyes of an eleven-year-old boy. This book is poignant and funny at the same time. The plot is well developed and offers a few surprises to the reader. The characters are likable and relatable. This is a delightful read, especially for someone raised in Toronto in that period of time.
August 14, 2022
I read Letters from Johnny with my mom and two teenage sons. It almost read as three different stories: for my mother, who lived in Montreal during the FLQ crisis, she identified with the immigrant experience, trying to navigate the political sensitivities of the time. For me, it was a nostalgic revisit to the time of my youth and interesting to relate to being protective with your child. The kids were enthralled with the intrigue and were drawn right into the plot twist. It was thoroughly enjoyable; highly recommend.
August 25, 2025
The story of a young boy, mostly growing up with a single mom, in the Toronto of the 70s.
The book is written as a one-sided conversation via letter to his penpal during elementary school. You learn about the silly everyday stuff (like hockey cards and school friends) and some really important stuff (like crime, family drama, and the Quebec separatist movement).
It was a quick read, and easy to get into. The simplistic telling by a child maybe it more approachable. I enjoyed it, but just okay.
Read as a paperback. Short, easy read (about 100 pages).
The book is written as a one-sided conversation via letter to his penpal during elementary school. You learn about the silly everyday stuff (like hockey cards and school friends) and some really important stuff (like crime, family drama, and the Quebec separatist movement).
It was a quick read, and easy to get into. The simplistic telling by a child maybe it more approachable. I enjoyed it, but just okay.
Read as a paperback. Short, easy read (about 100 pages).
May 4, 2022
I grew up in the area that Johnny did in the same time period. The letters he writes paints the neighbourhood as l remember it. Some of the scenes in the letters had me laughing because that was exactly how some people were on my street. It's a charming book, perfect for young (and older) readers.
April 16, 2023
Amazing quick read of a first generation Canadian-Chinese child living in Toronto during the FLQ crisis in 1970. It’s a series of letters that tell his story that make you feel like you are listening to him speak first hand about his observations, hijinxs and a neighbours death he is trying to solve. Highly recommend
March 13, 2021
A short, fun uplifting read - highly recommend!
It’s easy to say that Letters From Johnny is about 11-year-old Johnny, the son of Chinese immigrants who writes to his hockey hero, Dave Keon of the Toronto Maple Leafs for advice. But it’s so much more than that.
His world is downtown Toronto, but it's heavily infused with his need for heroes, whether they be the superheroes, television characters, Dave Keon or his absent father.
He is befriended by Rollie, a draft dodger, who unbeknownst to Johnny, is also courting Johnny’s mother and has a shady business going on.
One of the neighbourhood’s many colourful characters is murdered. Once Johnny realizes who the murderer is, he is blackmailed and forced to conspire with them. Numerous backdrops fall into place--bullying at school, subtle racism, his absent father, the threat of child welfare, the evil Catwoman, and the FLQ kidnappings. The latter results in the execution of a father, who had a son Jean, with whom Johnny identifies. Pretty heady stuff for a boy. His letters, which form the structure of the book, show innocence but also desperation as he seeks help while his life unravels.
It is a rare book that skillfully combines so many moving parts in such an intense, well-paced story that just flies. It accomplishes this without seeming saccharine, nor dismissive of the gravity of the themes. In fact, Johnny’s coming of age and search for belonging parallels that of just about every character, including Canada, as it too struggles with Quebec nationalism.
This novel will appeal to both adult and YA readers, historical fiction lovers, and sports fans as it successfully covers a wide area without being overly ambitious. Simply a delight to read.
It’s easy to say that Letters From Johnny is about 11-year-old Johnny, the son of Chinese immigrants who writes to his hockey hero, Dave Keon of the Toronto Maple Leafs for advice. But it’s so much more than that.
His world is downtown Toronto, but it's heavily infused with his need for heroes, whether they be the superheroes, television characters, Dave Keon or his absent father.
He is befriended by Rollie, a draft dodger, who unbeknownst to Johnny, is also courting Johnny’s mother and has a shady business going on.
One of the neighbourhood’s many colourful characters is murdered. Once Johnny realizes who the murderer is, he is blackmailed and forced to conspire with them. Numerous backdrops fall into place--bullying at school, subtle racism, his absent father, the threat of child welfare, the evil Catwoman, and the FLQ kidnappings. The latter results in the execution of a father, who had a son Jean, with whom Johnny identifies. Pretty heady stuff for a boy. His letters, which form the structure of the book, show innocence but also desperation as he seeks help while his life unravels.
It is a rare book that skillfully combines so many moving parts in such an intense, well-paced story that just flies. It accomplishes this without seeming saccharine, nor dismissive of the gravity of the themes. In fact, Johnny’s coming of age and search for belonging parallels that of just about every character, including Canada, as it too struggles with Quebec nationalism.
This novel will appeal to both adult and YA readers, historical fiction lovers, and sports fans as it successfully covers a wide area without being overly ambitious. Simply a delight to read.
July 18, 2021
A wonderful story of a young man coming of age. Johnny' story is told through a series of letters to his pen pal, a part of a school project. His unique narrative, clearly of a grade schooler, makes us feel what life is like for him in this Canadian neighborhood.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2025
Dear Johnny, I enjoyed your letters - it was like being a child in the 70's again! Like you, I was very afraid during the FLQ Crisis. Were you surprised that True Dough's son became Prime Minister? What a great country we live in, full of marvelous heroes to write to.
July 25, 2021
When I started reading this the device of crossing out misspellings bugged me.
I got over it.
The story itself is charming and I enjoyed it although it is a short story.
I got over it.
The story itself is charming and I enjoyed it although it is a short story.
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