This year, the Books and Backroads program is back for its fourth season, expanding its reach across the Maritimes. In addition to New Brunswick, libraries in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island are now part of this literary journey. Teaming up with rural public libraries, CBC aims to bring readers closer to home through curated reading lists, book club discussions on local CBC Radio programs, and interactive community events during the summer.
Seven rural communities are participating in book clubs that feature a diverse collection of books this year. These include “Mirai: Montre et raconte/Show and Tell” by Monique Pereira at Cap-Pelé Public Library in New Brunswick, “My Two Grandmothers” by Diane Carmel Léger at the same library, “The Luckiest Ones: A Memoir of Fishing, Family, and Facing Cancer” by Vicki Reddin-Gauthier at Alberton Public Library in Prince Edward Island, “The Spoon Stealer” by Lesley Crewe in Louisbourg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, “Secret Me” by Angel Jendrick at Kensington Heritage Library in Prince Edward Island, “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters at Sheet Harbour Public Library in Nova Scotia, and “Run, Hide, Repeat” by Pauline Dakin at Perth-Andover Public Library in New Brunswick.
Throughout the summer, listeners can tune in to local CBC Radio One shows for author interviews, book discussions, and recordings from the participating libraries. Moreover, there are upcoming free book club events at select libraries, where attendees can meet authors, engage in conversations, and have the chance to win CBC prizes. Additionally, there is an opportunity to win the complete 2026 Books and Backroads collection by participating in a contest during the designated week. “Books and Backroads” is part of the CBC Collab partnership program with public libraries.