Canada Reads 2018: Jeanne Beker, Jully Black join CBC's battle of the books

CBC Books unveiled early on Tuesday the five titles selected for this year's themeOne Book to Open Your Eyes as well as the respective panellists set to defend each one.

• CBCBOOKS | Meet the 2018 contenders forCBC'sbattle of the books

This year's contenders are:

• Fashion journalist JeanneBeker, defendingForgivenessby Alberta-born, Toronto-based writer Mark Sakamoto.
• Storm-chaser Greg Johnson, defending Precious Cargoby Toronto writer Craig Davidson.
• ActorTahmohPenikett, defendingAmerican Warby Egyptian-Canadian journalist Omar El Akkad.
• TV personality and singer Mozhdah Jamalzadah, defending The Boat People by St. John's writer Sharon Bala.
• Singer-songwriter Jully Black, defending The Marrow Thievesby Toronto writer and editor Cherie Dimaline, a member of the Georgian Bay Mtis community.

"People might make assumptions in the beginning about who might do the best, but it comes down to the book, it comes down to the debate and things change over the course of the debate," Peniketttold CBC News.

"You never know what's going to happen. I'm looking forward to it."

The debates will be livestreamed on CBC Books and broadcast on CBC Radio and CBC-TV.

A popular competition that has even spawned imitators abroad, Canada Reads sparks vigorousliterary debate each year and has also inspired a namesakephenomenon dubbed "the Canada Reads effect," in which all five books in contention see a spike in sales, with the biggestbumpgoing to the eventual winner.

Past Canada Reads champions have includedRuby Kim Thuy,The Book of Negroesby Lawrence Hill,Februaryby Lisa MooreandThe Best Laid Plansby Terry Fallis.

Notable Canadians who have participated in Canada Readsover the yearsincludeJustin Trudeau, Donovan Bailey,SamanthaBee, Stephen Lewis, Measha Brueggergosman, JayBaruchelandRoch Carrier.