Eric Walters’ “Finding Harmony”: A Powerful Middle-Grade Novel for Young Readers

Some stories stay with readers because they reflect real challenges with honesty and heart. In Finding Harmony, Canadian author Eric Walters of Guelph delivers one such story, offering young readers a thoughtful and deeply personal look at resilience, belonging, and what it means to grow up in the face of uncertainty.  A prequel to the award-winning The King of Jam Sandwiches, this compelling novel draws from the author’s own lived experiences, bringing an added layer of authenticity to the journey of its protagonist, Harmony. A Member of the Order of Canada and former elementary school teacher, Walters has long been dedicated to connecting with young readers through stories that both engage and inspire. Nominated for the 2026 Red Maple Award, this Grades 7–8 fiction title from Orca Book Publishers also marks our second consecutive year connecting with this celebrated Canadian writer about his Forest of Reading-nominated work, highlighting the lasting impact of his storytelling. Keep reading for an exclusive interview with Eric Walters.

Parents and educators will discover Finding Harmony as especially meaningful for the young readers in their lives, particularly those navigating questions of identity, stability, and trust. Harmony’s story opens the door to important conversations about resilience, foster care, and the realities some children face behind the scenes. The in-person and online tutoring team at Teachers on Call recommends this book as a powerful tool for building empathy and supporting social-emotional learning. Having previously featured Eric Walters and with co-author, Wali Shah, in our Hooked on Books series for Call Me Al—another Red Maple Award nominee in the Forest of Reading program—  we’ve seen firsthand how his stories resonate with students, especially those who may be reluctant readers but are drawn to authentic, relatable characters.

Why the Forest of Reading Continues to Spark a Love of Books Across Canada

The Forest of Reading stands as Canada’s largest recreational reading program, inspiring children and teens nationwide to engage with outstanding Canadian literature each year. Led by the Ontario Library Association, the program includes ten award categories in both English and French, celebrating a diverse range of voices and stories. What sets it apart is its interactive nature: students across Canada read the nominated books and cast their votes to decide the winners. The program culminates in the Forest of Reading Festival at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, ON M5J 2G8), where young readers gather to celebrate books, meet authors, and share their enthusiasm for reading. At Teachers on Call, our tutoring team values programs like this that empower students and make literacy an engaging, community-driven experience.

About the Author: Eric Walters

Eric Walters is a celebrated Canadian author and former educator who has written more than 130 books for children and young adults. Born in Toronto and now living in Guelph, Ontario, Eric began writing to engage the students in his Grade 5 classroom at Vista Heights Public School in Mississauga (89 Vista Blvd, Mississauga, ON L5M 1V8), where many of his students were reluctant readers. His storytelling has since earned him over 100 awards, including multiple Red Maple and Silver Birch honours, as well as the Governor General’s Award for Literature for The King of Jam Sandwiches. His background as both a teacher and social worker continues to shape the authenticity and compassion found in his work.

About the Book

Finding Harmony follows a young girl determined to take control of her life despite overwhelming challenges. After time in foster care, Harmony returns to live with her mother, only to find herself carrying responsibilities far beyond her years. As she navigates instability at home and seeks support in unexpected places, Harmony must decide who she can trust and what it truly means to find stability. This novel serves as a prequel to the award-winning The King of Jam Sandwiches, offering deeper insight into a character readers wanted to know more about.

Read our Exclusive Interview with Eric Walters, Award-Winning Canadian Author of YA Novels and Picture Books

Last time we caught up for Hooked on Books, we were talking about Call Me Al and its exploration of identity and self-understanding. This year, Finding Harmony introduces readers to another young person navigating incredibly difficult circumstances. What drew you to Harmony’s story?

In my book, King of Jam Sandwiches, Harmony is the secondary character. Readers kept asking for more information about Harmony's backstory, so I wrote it. This is me going back to the place I was born.

Harmony feels like she always has to be the grown-up, even while dealing with challenges no child should have to manage alone. What do you hope young readers learn about resilience, trust, and asking for support through her experiences?

She is near and dear to my heart. Life is not fair, that’s just a fact. Some people are able to move beyond, keep working and not only survive but thrive.

Finding Harmony offers such an honest look at foster care, family instability, and survival. How did you approach writing about these serious realities in a way that feels authentic and accessible for young readers?

It's pretty easy to write about these factors as this is the world I grew up in and then when I was a social worker, was on the other side of the equation. If they say write what you know, well this is my world.

Since Finding Harmony is a prequel to The King of Jam Sandwiches, did writing this story change or deepen your own understanding of the world and characters from the original novel?

The King of Jam Sandwiches is based on my real life. I think I already had a pretty solid grasp of this world. The question I had in publishing this story was whether I wanted to share it.

Your books often connect strongly with reluctant readers. As someone who began writing to inspire your own students, what do you think makes stories like Harmony’s especially powerful for engaging young readers?

Diversity is important. Economic diversity and the trauma associated with poverty is important for educators to understand. We all need to see ourselves in stories, even if those stories are painful.

After writing more than 130 books for children and teens, what still inspires you to keep telling stories for young readers?

I love writing. It is an essential part of my daily life. I still have stories to tell, worlds I want to explore and to help students become not just more literate but more aware and caring.

You have visited schools all over the world, but is there a favourite place close to home where you like to write, reflect, or find inspiration for your next story?

Inspiration comes from everywhere. I write everywhere whenever I have time. Today, between presentations at a school, I wrote 4 pages!

Educators are always looking for books that support social-emotional learning. How might Finding Harmony help students build empathy and better understand experiences that may be very different from their own?

It is important for people to see themselves in stories. It is important for us also to see others. We gain understanding and empathy by seeing the individuals behind the stories.

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In Finding Harmony, Eric Walters delivers a story that lingers well beyond the final chapter, inviting readers to reflect on resilience, empathy, and the realities many young people face every day. Harmony’s journey is not an easy one, but it is an important one, offering both a mirror for some readers and a window for others. As a 2026 Red Maple Award nominee, this novel stands as a powerful example of how Canadian literature can spark meaningful conversations in classrooms and at home. At Teachers on Call, we believe books like this do more than engage readers, they help shape compassionate, thoughtful individuals who are better equipped to understand the world around them. Looking for more Forest of Reading inspiration for the middle-grade readers in your life?  Check out Songs for Ghosts by Vancouver-local Clara Kumagai, or Toronto-based debut novelist and scientist Emily Deibert’s Bea Mullins Takes a Shot.