Oxford Reads Shortlist Open

Oxford County Library and Woodstock Public Library have opened public voting for the 2026 Oxford Reads book, with ballots due by noon on May 1. (oxfordcounty.ca) The 2026 shortlist has five Canadian books: *Gin, Turpentine, Pennyroyal, Rue* by Christine Higdon; *Horsefly* by Mireille Gagné, translated by Pablo Strauss; *How to Survive a Bear Attack* by Claire Cameron; *In the Upper Country* by Kai Thomas; and *Vanished Beyond the Map* by Adam Shoalts. Oxford County said the list was chosen from 35 nominations submitted by staff and members of the public. (oxfordcounty.ca) Readers can review the shortlist, place holds through Oxford County Library or Woodstock Public Library, and vote through the Oxford Reads website. The winning title will be announced in May, and the selected author will be invited to the Oxford Reads Gala in the fall. (oxfordcounty.ca) Oxford Reads is a countywide reading program run by Oxford County Library and Woodstock Public Library. Organizers say the selected book becomes the center of summer and fall programming built around one shared title. (oxfordcounty.ca) The 2026 vote is the ninth year of the program. In 2025, Oxford County described Oxford Reads as being in its eighth year, with voting open from April 7 to May 23 before a June winner announcement. (oxfordcounty.ca) The program has recently paired the winning book with live events featuring the author. In 2025, Ted Nolan’s memoir *Life in Two Worlds* led to workshops, community skating events and a free November 7 gala in Woodstock with Nolan answering audience questions. (oxfordcounty.ca) The year before, Oxford Reads chose Emily Austin’s *Everyone in This Room Will Someday Be Dead* through the same community voting model. Oxford County said that 2024 selection anchored library programming through the summer and fall before a gala with Austin. (oxfordcounty.ca) This year’s shortlist spans historical fiction, memoir, literary fiction and travel writing. The Oxford Reads site says eligible books must be written by a Canadian author, published within the last five years, appeal to a broad audience and offer strong potential for discussion and community programming. (oxfordreads.ca) For now, the decision sits with readers in Oxford County: five books, one ballot, and a May result that will set the county’s shared reading calendar for the rest of 2026. (oxfordcounty.ca)