More than 3,000 copies of this year’s Queen’s Reads novel have already been picked up by students as part of the university's common reading program. Now Queen’s and Kingston community members are invited to get their books signed and hear the author talk about her work and writing process.

Scarborough, by Toronto author Catherine Hernandez, tells the interconnected stories of members of a culturally diverse Scarborough neighbourhood, including recent immigrants, Indigenous Peoples, single parents, and children. 

Hernandez will read from Scarborough and discuss the book and her work with Professor Carolyn Smart of the Department of English Language and Literature at the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts on Friday Nov. 16 at 7 pm. The event is being run by the Student Experience Office in the Division of Student Affairs in partnership with Kingston WritersFest.

“Scarborough is a deeply moving book, and we are seeing a lot of interest and engagement with its themes and stories among students across campus,” says Corinna Fitzgerald, Assistant Dean, Student Life and Learning. “While we recommend reading this wonderful book, you don’t have to have read it in order to attend the author event or any our Queen’s Reads programming. Part of the initiative is about reading the book, and part of it is engaging the campus community in its topics and themes.”

Tickets are free for students, faculty and staff, but registration is required, and seats are limited.

Learn more about Queen’s Reads, where to pick up a free copy of the book, and other ways to get involved, including book clubs and reading nooks on campus.

Hernandez is also this fall’s Writer-in-Residence at the Department of English Language and Literature, focusing on creative writing.