CBC Toronto has partnered with Literature for Life, a charity that facilitates reading circles in Toronto's priority neighbourhoods. The organization works with youths as well as teen mothers and their children to create a family culture of literacy and learning.
The Toronto TD Kids Book Club comprises youths in grades 5-7 from the Chalkfarm community in Toronto. Moderated by spoken word poet Jelani Nias (a.k.a. JWyze), the book club will meet and interact with Alma Fullerton, author of Burn.
On Monday, September 26, Matt Galloway, host of Metro Morning, interviewed Jo Altilia, the creator of Literature for Life, and caught up with the book club's progress. Listen to the clip below:
CBC also chatted with Alan Convery, National Manager of Community Relations with the TD Financial Group, sponsor of the TD Canadian Children's Literature Award. Burn is among the 2011 nominees. Listen to Alan describe the award in the audio player below:
The group met again at the CBC Culture Days Open House on Saturday, October 1. They discussed the book and how it related to their lives in front of an audience of book lovers.
Metro Morning recorded the event, and excerpts from the conversation aired ontheir show on October 3 and 4. You can listen to the entire conversation in the audio player below:
This interactive discussion was one of many activities during the CBC 75th Anniversary Open House, which was part of CBC Culture Days.
About the book:
Written in free verse, this powerful novel is about Casey, an eleven-year-old who struggles to keep her family together in the wake of her mother's abandonment. She has to care for her autistic sister, Ginny, and manage her stepfather's grief and alcoholism. In an effort to reach out to her mother, she begins to set fires in order to send smoke signals. But the ritual fires soon won't be able to contain the pressure she is under or her growing resentment.
About the author:
Alma Fullerton was born in Ottawa and grew up in a large military family. She has lived all over Canada and in Europe and now resides in Ontario with her husband and two daughters. Her previous novels include Libertad, Walking on Glass and In the Garage.
Metro Morning airs Monday to Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on CBC Radio One 99.1 FM in Toronto.
Listen to Alma Fullerton discuss Burn and read an excerpt at Teaching Books.
