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‘The Marrow Thieves’ author Cherie Dimaline to visit UGDSB schools as part of Upper Grand Reads

For Immediate Release
May 24, 2019

GUELPH, Ontario – Award-winning Métis author Cherie Dimaline will visit a number of Upper Grand District School Board schools during this year’s Upper Grand Reads program.   

UG Reads is a literacy initiative where students in the UGDSB are encouraged to read the same novel. This year’s book, The Marrow Thieves, tells the story of a dystopian future where people have lost the ability to dream, leading to widespread madness. Indigenous people, who are still able to dream, are hunted for their bone marrow to cure the dreamlessness.  

From May 27 to 30, Dimaline will visit students throughout the region, making stops at Guelph CVI, Norwell DSS, Orangeville DSS, Erin DHS, Centre Dufferin DHS, College Heights SS, John F. Ross CVI, and Centre Wellington  DHS. The visits will include author readings, question-and-answer sessions and book signings.

Now in its sixth year, the goal of UG Reads is to engage students in reading, get them talking about books and sharing ideas – all while improving their literacy skills.  The program culminates in a series of author visits across the district.

Past books have included Room and The Lotterys Plus One by Emma Donoghue, The Story of Owen: Dragon Slayer of Trondheim by E.K. Johnston, The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B by Teresa Toten, The Bear by Claire Cameron, and Fanatics by William Bell.

About The Marrow ThievesThe 2019 UG Reads book is The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline.

Shortlisted for 2018 CBC Canada Reads
Winner of 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award (Young People’s Literature – Text)
Winner of 2017 Kirkus Prize
Nominated for 2018 Forest of Reading – White Pine Awards
A Globe and Mail Best Book
Shortlisted for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award
Shortlisted for the Indigenous Literature Award
Longlisted for the Sunburst Award

“Humanity has nearly destroyed its world through global warming, but now an even greater evil lurks. The Indigenous people of North America are being hunted and harvested for their bone marrow, which carries the key to recovering something the rest of the population has lost: the ability to dream. In this dark world, Frenchie and his companions struggle to survive as they make their way up north to the old lands. For now, survival means staying hidden – but what they don’t know is that one of them holds the secret to defeating the marrow thieves.”

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