The University of Toronto is pleased to invite you to join our Alumni Virtual Book Club. Join fellow alumni for lively discussion about books related to lifelong learning, social issues, psychology and more. 

Our next title is The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters, a graduate of the University of Toronto's School of Continuing Studies.

A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a tragic mystery that haunts the survivors, unravels a community, and remains unsolved for nearly fifty years.

July 1962. A Mi’kmaq family from Nova Scotia arrives in Maine to pick blueberries for the summer. Weeks later, four-year-old Ruthie, the family’s youngest child, vanishes. She is last seen by her six-year-old brother, Joe, sitting on a favorite rock at the edge of a berry field. Joe will remain distraught by his sister’s disappearance for years to come.

In Maine, a young girl named Norma grows up as the only child of an affluent family. Her father is emotionally distant, her mother frustratingly overprotective. Norma is often troubled by recurring dreams and visions that seem more like memories than imagination. As she grows older, Norma slowly comes to realize there is something her parents aren’t telling her. Unwilling to abandon her intuition, she will spend decades trying to uncover this family secret.

From October 10 - November 22, 2024 purchase the book from the U of T Bookstore, in store or online, and receive 20% off. Use Code: BERRY20 at checkout. 

About the Author

I am a woman, a daughter, a sister, an Auntie, a cat mom, a dog mom, a friend, a descendent of a revolutionary war sailor, of accused witches and Mi'kmaq ancestors. A Canadian, a traveler, a wine drinker, an admirer of stained glass, a listener of jazz and old country, a reader of books, and a teller of stories. 

Associate Professor in the Department of English and Theatre at Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.

How it Works

The U of T Alumni Virtual Book Club will connect through a private forum, powered by PBC Guru, where participants can discuss the current book and network with each other. Joining is free; you just have to get a copy of the book to enjoy. Please note that if you signed up for one of our previous sessions, then you're already registered - just sign into the U of T online portal.

To get started and access the book club, you will need to create an account via our book club portal:

• Click on the "Registration" button on the side bar to your right
• You'll be taken directly to the sign-up page
• Fill out the mandatory fields and then join
• You'll be sent a confirmation email and a link to join the group

Computer Literacy

You will need to have knowledge of the following skills to participate in this book club:

• Ability to use online communication tools, such as email (create, send, receive, reply, print, send/receive attachments), discussion boards (read, search, post, reply, follow threads), chats, and messengers.
• Understanding of basic computer hardware and software; ability to perform computer operations, such as:
  • Using software applications, such as email programs
  • Knowledge of copying and pasting, spell-checking
  • Internet skills (connecting, accessing, using browsers) and ability to perform online research using search engines