Get ready for Canada Reads 2022 with the pre-show podcast
The great Canadian book debate takes place March 28-31
Get ready for Canada Reads 2022 with the special pre-show podcast!
Check out the six-episode series that features this year's authors, books and champions — bringing you everything you need to know about the great Canadian book debate.
Canada Reads 2022 will take place March 28-31. The debates will be hosted by Ali Hassan and will be broadcast on CBC Radio One, CBC TV, CBC Gem and on CBC Books.
You can listen to all the episodes below, on CBC Listen or by downloading the podcast on your favourite app.
Episode 1: Get to know Canada Reads
Canada Reads is the great Canadian book debate. Five prominent Canadians choose the one book all of Canada should read. Over four days of debate, they narrow this list of five books down to one. You can check out the past contenders here.
Episode 2: Christian Allaire champions Five Little Indians by Michelle Good
In Michelle Good's novel Five Little Indians, Kenny, Lucy, Clara, Howie and Maisie were taken from their families and sent to a residential school when they were young. Barely out of childhood, they are released without resources and left to establish adult lives in eastside Vancouver. Over the decades, the friends cross paths and struggle with the weight of their shared past.
Five Little Indians will be championed by Vogue fashion writer Christian Allaire.
Episode 3: Malia Baker champions Scarborough by Catherine Hernandez
Catherine Hernandez's novel Scarborough is the multi-voiced story of a neighbourhood that refuses to fall apart in the face of poverty and crime. Weaving together the stories of three children growing up in difficult circumstances with the stories of three adults who are doing their best to help them out, Scarborough is a vibrant and emotional debut.
Scarborough will be championed by actor and activist Malia Baker.
Episode 4: Tareq Hadhad champions What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad
What Strange Paradise by Omar El Akkad is a novel that tells the story of a global refugee crisis through the eyes of a child. Nine-year-old Amir is the only survivor from a ship full of refugees coming to a small island. He ends up with a teenage girl named Vanna, who lives on the island. Even though they don't share a common language or culture, Vanna becomes determined to keep Amir safe. What Strange Paradise tells both their stories and how they each reached this moment, while asking the questions, "How did we get here?" and "What are we going to do about it?"
What Strange Paradise will be championed by the CEO and founder of Peace by Chocolate Tareq Hadhad.
Episode 5: Mark Tewksbury champions Washington Black by Esi Edugyan
Esi Edugyan's Washington Black tells the story of 11-year-old Washington Black, who was born into slavery on a Barbados sugar plantation. His master is Christopher Wilde, a man obsessed with developing a machine that can fly. The two develop a bond, but when a man is killed, Wilde must choose between his family and saving Washington's life — and the choice results in an unforgettable adventure around the world.
Washington Black will be championed by Olympian Mark Tewksbury.
Episode 6: Suzanne Simard champions Life In the City of Dirty Water by Clayton Thomas-Müller
Life in the City of Dirty Water is a memoir by Cree activist Clayton Thomas-Müller. It covers his entire life: from playing with toy planes as a way to escape the intergenerational pain of Canada's residential school system to spending time in juvenile detention and later becoming an activist in the fight against colonial racism, environment degradation and violence. Along this rocky road, Thomas-Müller remains tied to his Cree heritage and spirituality.
Life in the City of Dirty Water will be championed by forest ecologist Suzanne Simard.
