Both children’s author Lana Button and award-winning young adult writer Eden Robinson presented selections from their most recent books – Button from her colourfully illustrated picture book My Teacher’s Not Here! and Robinson from her most recent novel Trickster Drift.
Button’s presentation drew laughs from the assembled festival goers, as it presented the student’s ultimate quandy: what to do when your teacher doesn’t show up for class and – gasp! – you have a substitute teacher.
The book, released in April of 2018, is her first after the successful Willow book series that saw the trio of picture books nominated for several prestigious children’s book awards.
Robinson brought a more serious, mystical tone to the panel, as Trickster Drift deals with the tale of a young man attempting to circumvent a troubled life while dealing with spirits, supernatural activity and magic surrounding his day-to-day activities.
The novel is the second in a planned trilogy, with the opening book, Son of a Trickster, having been shortlisted for the 2017 Giller Prize.
Those looking to check out future Festival sessions with the two can catch Button at 10:10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the library, while Robinson will take part in the Saturday feature at 4 p.m. at the Mae Wilson Theatre.
