Red Deer Reads has announced its winning title. The winner is We’re All in This Together, a book by author Amy Jones.

“I think this book deals with some really interesting themes which I think the readers of Red Deer caught onto as they read the book,” said Briana Ehnes, manager of adult services at the Red Deer Public Library downtown branch and co-chair of the Red Deer Reads committee.

She said the book is an intimate portrait of family life. With some catastrophe in the book and interesting dynamics between members of the family, Ehnes said the book had a way of tugging at one’s heartstrings as they read as well.

The characters too, she said are interesting and come to life in the book which she added is something that also brought Red Deerians to choose it as the winning title and made them feel more attached to it.

In its third year, Red Deer Reads is a community-wide book club organized by Red Deer Public Library to get everyone reading and talking about the same book.

Red Deerians submitted their favourite titles by Canadian authors, which were then short-listed and voted upon.

Mayor Tara Veer, who was also in attendance at the recent announcement, said the winning book was announced from among over 70 titles, which she said is a strong demonstration of the momentum of the community engagement around the community book club.

“Although reading is often a solitary activity and an escape from the busyness of our everyday lives, in Red Deer books have become community builders.

“Engaging community around reading is one more way that we are building community by bringing Red Deerians together in this time through a shared reading experience,” she said.

As one who has a lifelong passion for reading, learning and books, Veer said she is so personally inspired by the library’s commitment to Red Deer Reads.

The book itself revolves around the Parker family of Thunder Bay, who has to redefine their family dynamics after a dramatic situation occurs, which was captured on a video that goes viral.

Meanwhile, Ehnes said at Red Deer Reads they want everyone in Red Deer reading and having discussions.

“In that sense we really hope to build a sense of community,” she said.

The author of We’re All in This Together will join Red Deerians on Oct. 26th at the Welikoklad Event Centre.

In the meantime staff, at the library will try and get the book into the hands of as many people in the community as they can.

They’ve also added 150 copies of the title to their collection to circulate at all three City branches, and have hundreds of free giveaways which they will share with the public all summer long.

The celebration will continue in the fall with their Annual Red Deer Reads Launch Party, which will take place Sept. 29th at 7 p.m. at the Dawe branch.

Tickets to the wrap-up event with the author will be available later this summer, and members of the community are encouraged to watch the web site for more details at www.rdpl.org.