Carnival Curves

The glamour and excitement of Toronto’s Caribbean Carnival is the setting for a teen novel that examines body image and cultural norms in Black and brown communities, while at the same time celebrating the vibrancy of a beloved annual tradition.

The summer before they begin university, seventeen-year-old besties Karla and Nneka have their first experience with Toronto’s annual Caribbean carnival, balancing their excitement for the vibrant festivities with personal body image struggles. Karla and Nneka work with Karla’s aunt at the carnival costume warehouse—mas camp. As they learn about the cultural celebration, they uncover the parade’s roots in emancipation and resistance and gain an appreciation for the parade’s significance.

Excited yet nervous as they count down to parade day, they discover that the journey is more than just beautiful costumes and dancing to soca music in the street—it’s a special rite of passage that will challenge their friendship, shape their identities, and prepare them for the next stage of their dating lives, beyond their familiar high school world.