Asbestos and Poudreuse in the running for the Literary Prize for middle school students

With his first novel AsbestosMontreal author and poet Sébastien Dulude is one of the five finalists for the 22nd College Literary Prize, alongside Mélikah Abdelmoumen, Jean-Philippe Pleau, Jean-Michel Fortier, as well as Sophie Lalonde-Roux and her novel Powdery.

Asbestoswhich plunges us into the author’s childhood memories against a backdrop of workers’ crisis in the mining sector of Thetford Mines, will be measured in particular against Small Townby Mélikah Abdelmoumen. The writer recounts the investigation into the death of a famous journalist in a fictional city riddled with injustice, exclusion and inequalities.

Another first novel is in the running, namely Powdery, by Sophie-Lalonde Roux. The book tells the story of Loup-Antoine, a young Montrealer struggling with addiction problems who goes into exile in the Gaspé after being kicked out by his mother.

The book won over the jury with the humanity and light with which the harsh themes of homelessness and dependence were treated by the authorexplains in a press release the Intercollegiate Network of Sociocultural Activities of Quebec (RIASQ), which awards the Literary Prize for college students.

The list of five finalist books is completed by Rue Duplessisin which the author, host and philosopher Jean-Philippe Pleau addresses the notion of class defector, as well as by Everything comes back to me now, by Jean-Michel Fortier, which features Colin Bourque, a 16-year-old teenager who listens to Celine Dion and secretly likes boys.

The College Literary Prize will be awarded on April 11, 2025 during the Quebec Book Fair.