This year's MacEwan Book of the Year author, Souvankham Thammavongsa, will read from her Giller Prize-winning book, How to Pronounce Knife, at an online March 24 event, continuing the Book of the Year's 25-year history of celebrating a recent work of Canadian literature.

“It is a grand ambition to get campus reading a book together,” says Dr. Craig Monk, provost & vice-president, Academic. “There is a lot about which to be proud in a tradition that now stretches over a quarter of a century. These great works, and the authors who wrote them, have had a positive impact on MacEwan University.”

Since the Book of the Year began in 1997 with Thomas King's Medicine River, the program has grown from being taught only in first-year English courses to become an exploration of literature, design, art, culture and more in classrooms across the university. Students, staff and faculty members are encouraged to read the book and invited to campus-wide activities that have included everything from stage performances, panel discussions and writing workshops to film screenings, library displays and more.

One of the highlights of the Book of the Year activities each year is the author's visits to classrooms to discuss their work with students, answer questions and read and view the student projects that have been inspired by the featured book.

"I have had the unique opportunity of participating in the Book of the Year program since I joined MacEwan and have hosted several authors’ class visits not only as an active participant but also as a learner," says Dr. Rashmi Jyoti, assistant professor in the Department of English. "The students got the opportunity to make personal connections with the author and hear stories about their texts and writing processes. During the follow-up class discussions, students brainstormed the process of writing, research and the importance of developing their own unique voice. Interactions with a real person talking about their creative career have inspired many students to pursue their creative endeavours more confidently and engage with the course writing projects with a renewed energy and engagement."

Since 2013, students in the Bachelor of Design program have drawn inspiration from elements of the chosen book to create book jackets, packaging and marketing materials, postcards and more. And students from across the university are invited to submit their papers and creative works to the annual student Book of the Year contest.

"In an experiential learning approach, this project involves the author of the book at the start and end of the process, which boosts students’ confidence, accountability and professionalism, as they work with real content and for a real stakeholder," says Constanza Pacher, associate professor in the Bachelor of Design program.