Simcoe Reads
6 Libraries. 6 Books. 1 Winner.
Select Simcoe County libraries have squared off again this summer for a host of great reads. Barrie, Essa, Innisfil, Midland, New Tecumseth, and Ramara are all joining in on the fun!
Simcoe Reads runs until October 24th, when the Grand Finale will be hosted by Ramara Public Library at Udney Community Centre.
Click on the drop-down menus below for more information on the books, their champions and the amazing events we have lined up this year!
Simcoe Reads 2024
Champions and Books
Simcoe Reads 2024 is once again upon us. With 6 amazing Simcoe County Libraries participating this year, the selection of books and champion representation is second to none!
For more information on each library's champions and the books they will be representing, see below:
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Amy Courser
Book: Mindful of Murder
Author: Susan Juby
About Amy:
Amy is a City of Barrie Councillor and member of the Barrie Public Library Board of Directors.
About the Book:
Mindful of Murder takes us on a journey with 3 butlers, 4 guests and a week to remember as family descend on the Yatra Institute, a spiritual retreat on Sutil Island. The goal? To fulfill the last wishes of its owner and determine who is the most suitable heir. But did the owner die of natural causes or is there something more sinister at play?
Essa Public Library
Champion: Stephanie Cryer
Book: And Then She Fell
Author: Alicia Elliot
About Stephanie:
Stephanie is a teacher-librarian in New Tecumseth.
About the Book:
And Then She Fell follows Alice, a young Haudenosaunee mother who goes through a kind of looking glass, as she deals with postpartum depression and married life away from her family and traditions. It’s a story of difficult truths, told with humour, horror and a bit of surrealism.
Innisfil ideaLab & Library
Champion: Barbara Love
Book: The Berry Pickers
Author: Amanda Peters
About Barbara:
Barbara Love is a proud Innisfilian, mother of three and grandmother of five. She is a retired nurse, a retired Professor from McMaster University in the School of Nursing, and recently served on the RVH Board of Directors for ten years. She has published and given national and international presentations in the areas of paediatric oncology, standards of care, resilience, hope, and competency.
About the Book:
The Berry Pickers is a captivating novel about a young Mi’kmaq girl’s disappearance and the trauma, search for truth, and unwavering love that results from this mysterious circumstance.
Midland Public Library
Champion: Kevin Cascagnette
Book: Moon of the Turning Leaves
Author: Waubgeshig Rice
About Kevin:
Kevin is a versatile professional in the creative industry, hailing from Midland, Ontario. With expertise in graphic design, art direction, and photography, Kevin brings a fresh perspective to his projects. He has a successful photography business and is dedicated to community service. As a proud Indigenous individual, Kevin adds a unique viewpoint as he represents Moon of The Turning Leaves by Waubgeshig Rice.
About the Book:
In Moon of the Turning Leaves we are reunited with Evan Whitesky and his community in northern Canada, who he has led off the reservation following a mysterious permanent blackout and subsequent anarchy. As the community revives their Anishinaabe traditions, this is a story of endurance, strength, Indigenous identity, and rebirth.
New Tecumseh Public Library
Champion: Cass Sigler
Book: Into the Bright Open
Author: Cherie Dimaline
About Cass:
Cass Sigler is a non-binary and queer hairstylist who has lived, worked and volunteered in Alliston since 2012, and been a small business owner since September 2019. Cass is passionate about creating safer spaces and providing more accessible hair services to marginalized communities, specifically the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. In their free time, you can find them reading, gaming or creating.
About the Book:
Into the Bright Open by Cherie Dimaline, is a queer reimagining of The Secret Garden, where an orphaned girl is sent to live in the Georgian Bay wilds and discovers family secrets both wonderful and horrifying.
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Sherry Lawson
Book: The Strangers
Author: Katherena Vermette
About Sherry:
Sherry never meant to ever be an author. Turning fifty convinced her to leave a record for her children and grandchildren. Sherry’s stories take us through a chaotic childhood and instances as a young adult of outright racism. There are tears and laughter, just like in real life.
About the Book:
The Strangers is a staggering intergenerational saga that explores how connected we are, even when we’re no longer together—even when we’re forced apart.
Upcoming Events
Visit our Event Calendar throughout the summer to access links to these Simcoe Reads programs
Date | Time | Location | Event |
August 27 | 6:30-7:30pm | Online - Register here | Author Talk - Katherena Vermette - Book: The Strangers |
September 19 | 6:00pm | In-Person - Register here | Author Talk - Waubgeshig Rice - Book: Moon of the Turning Leaves |
September 24 | 7:00-8:30pm | Online - Register here | Simcoe Reads Virtual Open Book Club: Into the Bright Open, A Secret Garden Remix |
September 26 | 7:00-8:00pm | Online - Register here | Author Talk - Susan Juby - Book: Mindful of Murder |
October 24 | 6:30-8:30pm | Udney Community Centre (in-person only) - Register here | Simcoe Reads Grand Finale |
Simcoe Reads 2023
Champions and Books
Innisfil IdeaLab & Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2023
Champion: Raj Grover
Book: On the Ravine
By: Vincent Lam
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Shakir Barmare
Book: How to Calm Your Mind - Finding Presence and Productivity in Anxious Times
By: Chris Bailey
Bradford West-Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Jen Turner
Book: Scarborough
By: Catherine Hernandez
Essa Public Library
Champion: Amy Kiezebrink
Book: The Maid
By: Nita Prose
Midland Public Library
Champion: Roberta Douglas
Book: Breast Cancer: After the Diagnosis
By: Jane Pritchard
New Tecumseh Public Library
Champion: Melissa Medaglia
Book: Women Talking
By: Miriam Toews
Ramara Public library
Champion: Jane Ste. Marie
Book: A World of Curiosities
By: Louise Penny
Simcoe Reads 2022
Champions and Books
Essa Public Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2022
Champion: Krista White
Book: Washington Black
By: Esi Edugyan
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Claudine Cousins
Book: Can You Hear Me Now?
By: Celina Caesar-Chavannes
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Meade Helman
Book: Hench
By: Natalie Zina Walschots
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library
Champion: Jeanette Luchese
Book: Not on My Watch
By: Alexandra Morton
Midland Public Library
Champion: Susanne Marchand
Book: The Last High
By: Daniel Kalla
New Tecumseth Public Library
Champion: Shira Harrison
Book: What Strange Paradise
By: Omar El Akkad
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Dorothy MacDonald
Book: The Forgotten Home Child
By: Genevieve Graham
Simcoe Reads 2022 - Grand Finale Video (click picture to watch)
Simcoe Reads 2021
Champions and Books
Essa Public Library - Winner of Simcoe Reads 2021
Champion: Grace Baker
Book: Gutter Child
By: Jael Richardson
Barrie Public Library
Champion: Carolina Belmares
Book: A Mind Spread Out On the Ground
By: Alicia Elliott
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Emily Dahlgren
Book: Ayesha at Last
By: Uzma Jalaluddin
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library
Champion: Anne Smith
Book: The Company We Keep
By: Frances Itani
Midland Public Library
Champion: Cady McLaughlin
Book: The Centaur’s Wife
By: Amanda Leduc
New Tecumseth Public Library
Champion: Judy Penz Sheluk
Book: Greenwood
By: Michael Christie
Ramara Public Library
Champion: Linda Lyons
Book: Indians on Vacation
By: Thomas King
Simcoe Reads 2021 - Grand Finale Video (click picture to watch)
Simcoe Reads 2020
Champions and Books
Barrie Public Library - Winner of Judge's Choice Award
Champion: Lisa Morgan
Book: An Ocean of Minutes
By: Thea Lim
Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library
Champion: Noora Akhavan
Book: Empire of Wild
By: Cherie Dimaline
Essa Public Library - Winner of Community Choice Award
Champion: Emily Wood
Book: The Saturday Night Ghost Club
By: Craig Davidson
Innisfil ideaLAB & Library
Champion: Lynn Dollin
Book: Moon of the Crusted Snow
By: Waubgeshig Rice
Midland Public Library
Champion: Kristi Presse
Book: From the Ashes
By: Jesse Thistle