Community reading project returns with focus on Kent State shootings
DOVER (WJER) (Sept. 12, 2022) – The Tuscarawas County Literacy Coalition’s 2022 One Book One Community reading project is getting underway.
Coalition Treasurer Jim Gill says activities based on this year’s selection – “Kent State” by Deborah Wiles – will be taking place throughout the county in the coming weeks.
“It’s everything from a panel discussion of people who were involved at May 4th in some way; to book discussion groups in libraries and coffee shops and churches; to planning the major event, which is when the author, Deborah Wiles, comes to Kent State Tuscarawas on November 7th.”
Hailed as a ‘masterful exploration of one of the darkest moments in our history,’ “Kent State” reexamines the tragedy that unfolded at the college campus on May 4, 1970. Gill says the story of what transpired that day still resonates with people in our area more than five decades later.
“Whether they were a student there or they knew somebody there or they knew someone who was shot that day or involved in the National Guard. It’s just amazing the number of people with tie-ins to that.”
The coalition has distributed more than a thousand copies of the book to area schools and libraries. Gill says there’s also an audio version you can check out or download.
“So if you don’t want to read it, you can listen to it. Both are very good and very solid. We just invite the community to be a part of it.”
The Tuscarawas County Writer’s Guild is holding a writing contest inspired by the book as part of this year’s One Book One Community reading project, and the Center for Arts is accepting submissions for a teen art competition. For details and a full list of One Book One Community activities, visit tuscliteracy.org.