Description

Penguins Fly – PRE-ORDER

Book Subtitle: Poems, A Queer Tale

Book Description:

In Penguins Fly, Teren Hazzard’s sweet, witty, narrative poetry collection, we meet Canadian University Bill as he fights against the “cis-tem” working against him.

Bill never thought that being transgender would interfere with his plans to become a penguin-ologist (or is it flightless ornithologist?). He studies hard in school, is the perfect employee at the aquarium gift shop, and was even offered a reference letter for the aquarium’s highly selective summer internship. Things were going great—especially when he started falling for the cute artist working at the local Timmies.

But coming out to the world comes with unforeseen consequences. When his professor revokes his reference letter, Bill must decide if being authentic to himself is worth losing his internship.

All Bill wants is to study penguins and be himself. Penguins Fly shares how he fights for both.

 

Penguins Fly is a witty, heartfelt poetry collection about a transgender student fighting the “cis-tem” to chase his dream of studying penguins—and live authentically.

 

“Penguins Fly manages to weave whimsy, heartbreak, humour and queer angst within a ornithological student’s quasi confessional. An unapologetically fun romp, unafraid of being real that struck me as just the type of book we need right now.”

– Arienette Zak, St. Albert’s Fourth Poet Laureate

“Penguins Fly navigates a careful tightrope, finding the right amounts of humour, wit, sincerity, and loss. Scientific, extinct, and personal names weigh heavy on Bill, our favourite penguin-ologist, but this debut collection ensures there is always the counterbalance of chocolate, sunshine, and love, reminding readers that this penguin can fly.”

– Skylar Kay, author of There’s Magic Here Too: A Trans Woman’s Guide to Being Monstrous

“Teren Hazzard’s Penguins Fly is an earnest and evocative coming-of-age tale about a certain “penguin-ologist” who will swiftly win your affection. Inviting readers to experience alongside him the intimacy and complexity of queer relationships, the heterogeneity of experiences in academia, and the joy and vulnerability of transition.”

– Joy Love, author of the poem “The Garden”

“Hazzard perfectly captures both the innocence and the complexities of navigating the world, new love, and self and queer identity as a young adult. Penguins Fly is a pure joy to read.”

– Meaghan Archer, writer and editor

 

Author: Teren Hazzard

Publisher: Wild Skies Press

Format: Paperback & Ebook

Paperback ISBN: 978-1-997770-11-4 | Print Price: $24

E-Book ISBN: 978-1-997770-12-1 | E-Book Price: $9.99

Publication: April 28, 2026 | Book details: Soft Cover, 5.5 x 8.5 inches, 120 pages