Book Club
October 2025
JAMES by Percival Everett
A novel that reimagines Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of Jim, the enslaved man. The story follows Jim as he escapes his enslavement after learning he will be sold, joining forces with Huck Finn, who is also on the run. Together, they navigate the Mississippi River, facing dangers, prejudice, and the complexities of freedom while Jim grapples with his desire to reunite with his family.
November 2025
THE QUIET LIBRARIAN by Allen Eskens
the story of Hana Babic, a seemingly ordinary librarian in Minnesota, who is forced to confront her hidden past as a Bosnian war refugee and fierce resistance fighter. When her best friend is murdered, Hana must protect her friend’s grandson while grappling with the return of her former identity as Nura Divjak, the legendary “Night Mora”. The novel explores themes of trauma, survival, and the long shadow of war, told through dual timelines.
January 2026
A WALK IN THE PARK by Kevin Fedarko
Two friends, zero preparation, one dream. A few years after quitting his job to pursue an ill-advised dream of becoming a whitewater guide on the Colorado River, Kevin Fedarko was approached by his best friend, National Geographic photographer Pete McBride, with a vision as bold as it was harebrained. Together, they would embark on an end-to-end traverse of the Grand Canyon—a journey that, McBride promised, would be “a walk in the park.” Against his better judgment, Fedarko agreed, unaware that the small cluster of experts who had actually completed the crossing billed it as “the toughest hike in the world.”
February 2026
THE FROZEN RIVER by Ariel Lawhon
The Frozen River is a historical mystery novel set in 1789 Maine, centered on midwife Martha Ballard, who investigates a murder and a separate alleged rape linked to the dead man found in a frozen river. The story draws from the real-life diary of Martha Ballard, documenting her community and secrets, and features Martha’s pursuit of justice in a sparsely regulated 18th-century justice system.
March 2026
YET HERE I AM by Jonathan Capehart
Pulitzer Prize winning writer, editor and TV host Jonathan Capehart recounts powerful stories from his life about embracing identity, picking battles, seizing opportunity and finding his voice. It was never easy bridging two worlds; whether being told he was too smart or not smart enough, too Black or not Black enough, Capehart struggled to find his place. Then, an internship at The Today Show altered the course of his life, bringing him one step closer to his dream. From there, Capehart embarks on a journey of self-discovery.
Yet Here I Am takes us along that journey, from his years at Carleton College, where he learns to embrace his identity as a gay Black man to his move to New York City, where time and again he stumbles and picks himself up as he blazes a path to become the familiar face in news we know today.
April 2026
THE BOXCAR LIBRARIAN by Brianna Labuskus
The Boxcar Librarian by Brianna Labuskes is a historical novel inspired by true events about a Depression-era Boxcar Library in Montana, which used a converted train car to bring books to isolated mining towns. The story follows three strong female characters—Millie Lang, a WPA editor uncovering a local mystery; Alice Monroe, the wealthy founder of the library; and Colette Durand, a miner’s daughter and the train’s librarian. Their stories intertwine to reveal secrets surrounding the powerful Copper Kings who controlled the region, the local union politics, and a mysterious sabotage.
