Precious Cargo

• Meet the Canada Reads 2018 contenders
• Canada Reads 2018 Day Two: Watch the replay
• Greg Johnson on Precious Cargo's message of understanding
• Why school bus driver Dylynn Kempton related to Craig Davidson's Precious Cargo

Precious Cargo by Craig Davidson was defended by Greg Johnson on Canada Reads 2018.Forgiveness by Mark Sakamoto, defended by Jeanne Beker, was the winner of Canada Reads 2018.

One morning in 2008, desperate and impoverished while trying unsuccessfully to write, Craig Davidson plucked a flyer out of his mailbox that read, "Bus Drivers Wanted." That was the first step towards an unlikely new career: driving a school bus full of special-needs kids for a year. Davidsonshows us how his evolving relationship with the kids on that bus, each of them struggling physically as well as emotionally and socially, slowly but surely changed his life along with the lives of the "precious cargo" in his care. This is the extraordinary story of that year and those relationships. It is also a moving, important and universal story about how we see and treat people with special needs in our society. (From KnopfCanada)

• Why Craig Davidson doesn't let criticism get to him
• How Greg Johnson is preparing for the Canada Reads debates
• Craig Davidson's best writing advice? Find a routine and stick to it
• Why Greg Johnson thinks Precious Cargo should win Canada Reads
• 4 things to read, watch, and listen after you've read Precious Cargo

Watch the book trailer

Precious Cargo Trailer

7 years ago

Duration 0:43

Canada Reads trailer for Craig Davidson's Precious Cargo.

From the book

Panellistinterviews

Watch the 2018 Canada Reads panellists & authors in conversation with Gill Deacon

7 years ago

Duration 1:07:45

The Canada Reads defenders and authors took the stage in Toronto to discuss the five books that will be championed on CBC's battle of the books from March 26-29, 2018. Here and Now's Gill Deacon hosted the event in the Glenn Gould Studio.

CBC Books7:50Craig Davidson on Mainstreet Cape Breton with Wendy Bergfeldt

Novelist Craig Davidson reflects on the experience that inspired his Canada Reads shortlisted memoir, Precious Cargo.

The Next Chapter13:15Craig Davidson on "Precious Cargo"

Craig Davidson on his memoir about being a bus driver for special needs kids.

Author interviews

The Canada Reads 2018 contenders

• Mozhdah Jamalzadah, defendingThe Boat PeoplebySharon Bala
• Tahmoh Penikett, defendingAmerican WarbyOmar El Akkad
• Greg Johnson, defendingPrecious CargobyCraig Davidson
• Jeanne Beker, defendingForgivenessbyMark Sakamoto
• Jully Black, defendingThe Marrow ThievesbyCherie Dimaline