Canada Reads - Craig Davidson's Precious Cargo.

Canada Reads is like the Stanley Cup for book lovers. Every March, CBC Radio picks five books which are defended by five well-known Canadians in an epic battle for the title of the one book everyone in Canada should read.

This year’s theme is One Book to Open Your Eyes. Craig Davidson, the author of Precious Cargo: My Year Driving the Kids on School Bus 3077,

Having read quite a few poorly written memoirs, I was blown away by the quality of writing in Precious Cargo. The detailed descriptions and literary prose draw the reader into life on the bus route, and into the lives of the students Davidson came to know.

Each student on school bus 3077 faced incredible obstacles in their young lives -- some physical, some psychological, and some both. As a writer faced with his own obstacles at the time, Davidson found both creative and personal inspiration on the bus. Precious Cargo is sprinkled with excerpts from a science fiction book Davidson was writing around the same time.

They seemed out of place to me at first, but when I reached the last one they made perfect sense.

A note on Canada Reads: Over four days, the five defenders will bring their diverse perspectives to this year's theme: One Book to Open Your Eyes.

The contenders and their chosen books are: 

• Mozhdah Jamalzadah, defending The Boat People by Sharon Bala
• Tahmoh Penikett, defending American War by Omar El Akkad
• Greg Johnson, defending Precious Cargo by Craig Davidson
• Jeanne Beker, defending Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto
• Jully Black, defending The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline

The debates take place March 26-29, 2018.