By Emily R. Zarevich, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
It’s the age-old story of Canada’s growth as a country. Hopeful families from abroad pack up their belongings, say goodbye to their loved ones, board a plane, and arrive on Canadian soil to begin a prosperous new life in a country that has thrived on the arrival of hardworking newcomers. This is the parents’ decision, made with the very best intentions of providing their children with new opportunities to grow and learn in a different environment. But how do the children feel about being uprooted from the only home they’ve ever known? How do they feel at being taken away from the place where they are comfortable, where they know the smells, the feeling of the roads under their bare feet, the taste of the local produce, and the call of the birds? Most importantly, are they ready to say goodbye to the past and hello to the present?
Children’s book author Wendy J. Whittingham, a writer and illustrator based in Burlington, tells a tale inspired by her own childhood story of feeling nervous about immigrating in her debut publication, The Last Last, brought out by Groundwood Books on September 2, 2025. In this fresh and friendly new book, illustrated with eye-popping colours by Caribbean artist Brianna McCarthy, Whittingham introduces her young readers to her bright and sensitive protagonist.
The young protagonist feels uneasy about her family’s inevitable move from Jamaica to Toronto. “No one asked me if I wanted to leave. And now our last day is here,” she laments sorrowfully. Knowing that she is powerless to prevent her family from departing from her beloved island, the girl embarks on one final tour of her familiar surroundings in order to imprint the sensory sensations in her memory. It’s her last everything Jamaican before she officially becomes a Jamaican Canadian.
The young protagonist is relatable to both young and adult readers. She is experiencing realistic feelings about changing locations. She is grappling with the uncertainty that comes with major life transitions such as moving and changing schools. She doesn’t want to fully forget her old home but rather hold on to the sense of safety and tenderness she feels about the island she grew up on. Like most adventurous and thoughtful children, she has a strong connection with the natural world, and wonders whether or not she will lose that connection when she arrives in a busy city in Canada. She is especially drawn to the native birds on her home island and feels they, above all other creatures, understand her plight. She even imagines them communicating with her:
“I hear the tzee-tzee of the blackbird…
step
Into the ocean, sergeant majors circle.
‘Last lick! Last swim, last last!” they seem
to say.’”
McCarthy does an outstanding job painting the characters’ expressions. The girl, her Mum, and her Grannie are vibrant and full of life. McCarthy also represents nature with all of the dynamic colours of a child’s imagination. One particular illustration stands out: McCarthy’s beautiful rendition of a North American blue jay, which the young girl encounters when she arrives at her new home in Toronto. Meeting this new bird and bonding with it is the indication that she is going to be okay. The Last Last is a testament to the pains and joys of embracing change that will resonate with all families.
The Last Last is available for purchase at major outlets as well as via House of Anansi Press and Groundwood Books. Wendy J. Whittingham will be at Burlington’s A Different Drummer Books (513 Locust St.) on Sat., Sept. 20, at 2 p.m., and will also read from The Last Last at this year’s Telling Tales Festival, on Oct. 4 from 3:45 p.m. to 4 p.m. The Telling Tales Festival will be at the Royal Botanical Gardens on Oct. 4 and 5, 2025.
Correction notice: this review has been corrected to reflect that the protagonist in The Last Last was inspired by the author’s childhood, rather than being a direct representation of herself.
