Toronto indie press Between the Lines is releasing an ebook that addresses social-justice issues and the climate crisis in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sick of the System: Why the COVID-19 Recovery Must be Revolutionary features a collection of 17 essays by BTL authors examining subjects such as restorative justice, violence against women in lockdown, and the need for basic income. Contributors include El Jones, Julie S. Lalonde, Robin Maynard, Kai Cheng Thom, Gina Starblanket, and Dallas Hunt.

The essays were written during the first weeks of the COVID-19 shutdown in Canada. According to BTL managing editor Amanda Crocker, the book began as a collective effort. Crocker reached out to a few authors who in turn recommended other authors working on pieces about the pandemic, and the book grew quickly from there.

“People are very keen to get the message out that returning to ‘normal’ after this would be a big mistake for so many reasons,” says Crocker, who praises the contributors for working so quickly and meeting the tight deadlines. “Our editorial committee members all helped by reviewing the chapters and providing feedback for the authors. And our fantastic copy editor, Tilman Lewis, was essential to us staying on track,” she says.

BTL plans to launch the book with author panels at Radical May, a new online book fair organized by the international Radical Publishers Alliance. Depending on its success, there are tentative plans for a second volume addressing issues such as migrant labour, education, and disability issues.

The PWYC book will be available on BTL’s website starting May 11.