Meet the Canada Reads 2021 contenders

What is the one book all of Canada should read? It's time forCanada Reads2021.

The year 2020 was a year like no other. As we start 2021 and look forward to the 20th edition ofCanada Reads, we are reminded that books can be a safe place to go when times are tough. Whether you're reading to escape your daily cares, to explore new perspectives or simply to lift your spirits, these stories of perseverance, discovery and resilience will transport you across Canada, around the world and to worlds beyond.

Over four days, the five championswill bring their diverse perspectives to this year's theme:One Book to Transport Us.

The champions and their chosen books are:

• Olympian and broadcaster Rosey Edeh championsThe Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk
• Singer-songwriter Scott Helman championsTwo Trees Make a Forest by Jessica J. Lee
• Actor and filmmaker Devery Jacobs champions Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead
• Actor Paul Sun-Hyung Lee championsHench by Natalie Zina Walschots
• Chef, recording artist and TV host Roger Mooking championsButter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

The debates will take place March 8-11, 2021.

They will be hosted byAli Hassanandwill be broadcast onCBC Listen,CBC TV,CBC Gemand onCBC Books.

Hassan is an actor, comedian andhost ofCBCRadio'sLaugh Out Loudand a frequent guest host ofAs it Happensandq. He can also be seen in his recurring TV roles onDesignated Survivor,Odd SquadandCardinal.

Hassan has hostedCanada Readssince 2017.

"In 20 years of debating which books matter most to Canadians, there has never been a more poignant time in Canada Reads history to be reminded of the transportive quality of a great book to take us on a journey and explore new perspectives," Hassan said. "This season, I'm looking forward to hosting conversations around stories that reflect perseverance, resilienceand hope, each in their own unique way."

• Ali Hassan shares 5 reads that have shaped his life

The five panellists were on CBC Radio's q to reveal the books the books they will be championing in the debates:

Moking was excited by the level of competition. "Everybody's highly confident coming from different fields and aspects, but all very versed in the majesty of storytelling. So I expect a war," he told q guest host Talia Schlanger.

Sun-Hyung Lee said he was nervous, but excited to celebrate reading.

"The one thing that I'm most excited about is really promoting reading.I think reading, bringing the joy of reading books to the public, is a wonderful thing," he said.And all these books have won just by being here."

The panel also discussed the importance of Canada Reads, and books, during the pandemic and this time of uncertainty.

"I think it's more important now than ever for us to lean on art," Jacobs said. "It's through reading that you're actually able to be transported and it requires all of your focus to be transported into another world."

"This is just absolutely perfect timing," Edeh added."We're talking about literature. We're talking about art. We're talking about escape. And we need that. We need to keep our minds active."

Helman was looking forward to learning and growing from reading each of the books."The ability to grow through literature and to learn things about yourself in the world that you wouldn't normally be able tois so invaluable," he said. "That's why, for me, at this time, reading has been so useful and so important."

If you'd like theCanada Readsbooks in an accessible format,you can find them here.

CBC Bookshas launched a Facebook group for those who want to readtheCanada Reads2021books together.You can join the conversation here.

Canada Readspremiered in 2002. The first winning book wasIn the Skin of a Lionby Michael Ondaatje, whichwas championed by musician Steven Page.

OtherpastCanada Readswinnersinclude Lawrence Hill'sThe Illegal, championedby Olympian Clara Hughes,Kim Thy'sRu, championedby TIFF artistic director Cameron Bailey and Lisa Moore'sFebruary, championedby comedian Trent McClellan.

Last year's winner was actor Amanda Brugel, championingthe memoirWe Have Always Been Hereby Samra Habib.You can rewatch the 2020 debates here.

You can see a complete list of past winners and contenders here.

You can learn more about theCanada Reads2021 contenders below.

Rosey Edeh champions The Midnight Bargain by C.L. Polk

In the fantasy novelThe Midnight Bargain,Beatrice is makingher debut at "bargaining season" an annual event where wealthy young men and women gather from all over the world to make advantageous marriages. But she harbours secret plans that will upend society. Rather than get married, Beatrice plans to bind a greater spirit and become a full magician. Performing the secret ritual goes against the rules of her world, which prohibits women from practicing magic while they can still bear children. With the help of the wealthy Lavan siblings, fiery Ysbeta and her handsome brother Ianthe, Beatrice searches for a way to change old patriarchal traditions.

The Midnight Bargain is a fantastic journey filled with magic, love and self-determination. It's abiding, beautifully paced social commentary- Rosey Edeh

"The Midnight Bargain is a fantastic journey filled with magic, love and self-determination. It's abiding, beautifully paced social commentary," Edeh said in the Canada Reads reveal on q.

The richly undulating odyssey in a world filled with oppressive customs, designed to shacklewomen's powers and confine them to a lackluster life during childbearing years, will take hold of the imagination and compel the reader to side with the outlier and measure their own mental fortitude to that of the protagonist."

• Read an excerpt from The Midnight Bargain

Rosey Edeh is a three-time Canadian Olympian, representing Canada at the1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.She has sincespent two decades in broadcasting, working atET Canada,CNN, MSNBC and Global News. She is currently the co-anchor on CTV Morning Live Ottawa and is a member of Athletics Canada's board of directors.

C.L. Polkis a fantasy writer from Calgary. Their other books include Witchmark and Stormsong. Witchmark, their debut novel, won the 2019 World Fantasy Award for best novel. It was also nominated for a Nebula Award, Locus Award, Aurora Award and a Lambda Literary Award.

• The best Canadian fiction of 2020

Scott Helman championsTwo Trees Make a Forest by Jessica J. Lee

Two Trees Make a Forestis anonfiction book that exploreshow geographical forces are interlaced with our family stories. A chance discovery of letters written by her immigrant grandfather leads Jessica J. Lee to her ancestral homeland, Taiwan. There, she traces his story while growing closer to the land he knew. Throughout her adventures, Lee uncovers surprising parallels between nature and human stories that shaped her family and their beloved island. In the memoir, she also turns a critical eye onto colonialist explorers who mapped the land and named plants, and both relied on and often erased the labour and knowledge of local communities.

Two Trees Make a Forestwon the 2020Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction.

This book is told through anenvironmental lens and dissects the painful crossroads that an individual must face within the place of a diaspora and a family.- Scott Helman

"This book's importance is twofold. For one, understanding one's placein the world is a universal struggle but within a multicultural landscape of Canada, it is even more so.More importantly, this book is told through anenvironmental lens and dissects the painful crossroads that an individual must face within the place of a diaspora and a family. The merging of nature and humanity has never been of higher importance in this moment in history," Helman said on the Canada Reads reveal on q.

• Read an excerpt from Two Trees Make a Forest

Scott Helman is a singer-songwriter who has been nominated for a Juno Award four times.He alsowon Spotify Canada's Emerge program. His debut single, Bungalow, is certified platinum. His other hit singles includeEverything Sucks,Ripple Effect,PDA and, most recently,Evergreen. His latest album,NonSuch Park, remembershis grandfather's life.

• Watch Scott Helman host the 4th Junos 365 Songwriters' Circle

Jessica J. Lee is a British Canadian Taiwanese author andenvironmental historian. She won theRBC Taylor Prize Emerging Author Award in 2019. Her first book,Turning, was longlisted for the Frank Hegyi Award for Emerging Authors. Lee has a PhD inenvironmental history and aesthetics, and currently lives in London.

• In Taiwan's lush landscape, Jessica J. Lee found a deeper understanding of her family's turbulent history

Devery Jacobs championsJonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead

JonnyAppleseedis a novel about a two-spirit Indigiqueer young manwho leaves the reserve and becomes a cybersex worker in the big city to make ends meet. But hemust reckon with his past when he returns home to attend his stepfather's funeral.

Jonny Appleseedwonthe Lambda Literary Award for gay fictionand was shortlisted for thetheGovernor General's Literary Award for fiction and theAmazon Canada First Novel Award. It was alsolonglisted for the 2018 Scotiabank Giller Prize.

This novel needs to be read. It's a love letter to Indigiqueer, two-spirit people and the women of our communities.- Devery Jacobs

"This novel needs to be read. It's a love letter to Indigiqueer, two-spirit people and the women of our communities. It finds the cracks of light in darkness, which is exactly what we need in 2021, to find those cracks of light," Jacobs said on the Canada Reads reveal on q.

• Read an excerpt from Jonny Appleseed

Devery Jacobsis a Mohawkactor and filmmaker fromKahnaw:ke Mohawk territory. She can be seen in the filmRhymes for Young Ghoulsand the television shows The Order on Netflix,Cardinal on CTV andAmerican Gods onAmazon Prime Video/STARZ. Her next major role will be in Taika Waititi's new FX series Reservation Dogs. Herfeature film as a co-writer, This Place, is set to be released in 2021.

• Kawennahere Devery Jacobs is on the rise

Joshua Whitehead is a two-spirit, Oji-nhiyaw member of Peguis First Nation, currently pursuing his PhD. He is also the author of the poetry collectionfull-metalindigiqueerand is the editor of the anthologyLove Afterthe End.JonnyAppleseedis his first novel.

• Why Joshua Whitehead wroteJonny Appleseed

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee championsHench by Natalie Zina Walschots

Henchis a novel about Anna, a woman who pays the bills by doing administrative work for villains. But when an incidentinvolving the world's most popular superhero leaves her injured and gets her fired,Annarealizeswhat happened to her isn't unique and she might have the means to take down the so-called hero who hurt her. How? With every office worker's secret weapon: data.

Henchis a novel that reminded me of why I started reading for fun in the first place.- Paul Sun-Hyung Lee

"Hench is a novel that reminded me of why I started reading for fun in the first place. It's fantastic storytelling, with relatable and complex characters, razor sharp wit and smart dialog, and with themes that run deep and resonate long after the book is done," Sun-Hyung Lee said on the Canada Reads reveal on q.

"The way Walschots spins her tale, weaving in the reality of office politics, personal struggles and dealing with the injustices of life with the world of superheroes is utterly believable and infinitely readable."

• Read an excerpt from Hench

Paul Sun-Hyung Lee is an award-winning actor, writer and comedian. He can be seen in CBC'sKim's Convenience andDisney'sThe Mandalorian.He won theCanadian Screen Awardfor best actor in a continuing leading comedic role for his performance as Appa onKim's Convenience.His other credits includeShoot the Messenger, End of Days Inc, Robocop andTrain 48. He alsohosted the CBC programCanada's Smartest Person Jr.

• How Kim's Convenience star Paul Sun-Hyung Lee arrived in The Mandalorian

Natalie Zina Walschotsis a writer and journalist from Toronto.She is also the author of the poetry collectionsDOOM: Love Poems for SupervillainsandThumbscrews.Henchis her first novel.

Roger Mooking championsButter Honey Pig Bread by Francesca Ekwuyasi

Butter Honey Pig Breadis a novel about twin sisters, Kehinde and Taiye, and their mother, Kambirinachi. Kambirinachi believes she was a spirit who was supposed to die as a small child. By staying alive, she is cursing her family a fear that appears to come true when Kehinde experiences something that tears the family apart, and divides the twins for years. But when the three women connect years later, they must confront their past and find forgiveness.

Butter Honey Pig Breadwason the Scotiabank Giller Prize longlist.

She will solidify our place in the pantheon of great Canadian writers off this book alone.- Roger Mooking

"Butter Honey Pig Bread is Francesca Ekwuyasi's majestic debut novel. She will solidify our place in the pantheon of great Canadian writers off this book alone. It treads verses, continents, time,the bonds of family. It explores Nigerian culture, folklore. It takes place in Halifax, Montreal, London and various parts of Nigeria. There is repetitive familial traumas...and it challenges the notion of kin," Mooking said on the Canada Reads reveal on q."Everybody has challenges in their life and this one really frames it in a very interesting way.

• Read an excerpt from Butter Honey Pig Bread

Roger Mooking is achef, restaurateur, television host, author and award-winning recording artist. He has hosted Man Fire Food on theFood Network Canada and Cooking Channel,Greatest of America on Travel Channel andEveryday Exotic on Cooking Channel and co-hostedHeat Seekers on Food Network alongside chef Aarn Sanchez.

• Roger Mooking sees food and music as artistic expression

Francesca Ekwuyasiis a writer, filmmaker and visual artist. Her writing has appeared in the Malahat Review, Guts and Brittle Paper, and she waslonglisted for the 2019 Journey Prize.Butter Honey Pig Breadis her first book. She was born inLagos, Nigeria, and currently lives in Halifax.

• Francesca Ekwuyasi explored food and forgiveness in her first book