Summer is the perfect time to discover a new favourite author. Whether you're looking to escape into a novel, learn something new, or share a story with the kids, these books by Trent alumni—featured in the Treat Alumni Reads collection—and faculty authors belong on your summer reading list.  

Find your next page-turner below: 

For the literary fiction lover:  
Son of Nobody — Yann Martel, Philosophy, ’81 (Peter Robinson College) 
From the author of the international bestseller Life of Pi, a brilliant retelling of the Trojan War from two commoners: an ancient soldier and modern scholar. 

For mystery fans:  
A Place of Secrets — Shane Peacock, English Literature & History, ’75 (Champlain College) 
A chilling Northern Ontario mystery in which a century-old death and long-buried secrets collide in a gripping investigation. 

For reflective evenings:  
Framed by Our Houses — William R. Marshall, ’67 (Peter Robinson College) 
A warm and nostalgic memoir reflecting on family, community, and the places that shape who we become, one home at a time.  

For bite-sized summer reading:  
Avalanche — Jessica Westhead, English, ’93 (Lady Eaton College) 
A witty and compassionate collection of short stories exploring privilege, bias, guilt, and the unexpected moments that shape everyday lives.  

For outdoor adventurers:  
River Magic — Mark Angelo, honorary Doctor of Science, ’19
Paddle alongside one of the world's leading river conservationists as he shares unforgettable stories, remarkable landscapes, and lessons learned from a lifetime exploring more than 1,000 rivers.  

Books by Trent Faculty  

A School for Tomorrow: The Story of Canada World Youth, Mark Dickinson
A School for Tomorrow chronicles Canada World Youth, an ambitious international education program that brought young people from different cultures together, showing how shared experience can foster empathy, understanding, and peace. 

Lake Burntshore, Aaron Kreuter
At a Jewish sleepaway camp in 2013, 21-year-old Ruby expects a familiar summer. But when Israeli soldiers join the staff, the committed anti-Zionist finds her beliefs tested, especially when she falls for Etai, one of them. 

Students By Day, Jackson Pind
A recovery of a suppressed history and a testament to survival, Students by Day is an essential work of truth-telling, one that honours lived experience while affirming Indigenous activism in the face of educational injustice. 

 
Explore the full Trent Alumni Reads collection online and new Trent Magazine featuring these works of writing.