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Everybody Reads 2009

What if 50,000 Oregonians read the same book for our state's 150th anniversary?

Oregon Reads 2009 features Stubborn Twig by Eugene author Lauren Kessler, and that's what we'll be reading this winter for Everybody Reads, Multnomah County Library's annual community reading project.

Stubborn Twig is the true story of three generations of a Japanese American family living in the Pacific Northwest. Their story was almost a story of the American dream. After decades of hard work, Masuo Yasui was the proud owner of thriving Hood River orchards and a general store. Fluent in English, he was a leader in his community, a parishioner at the Methodist church, and a member of the Rotary Club. He and his wife raised and educated children who also found success — in law, medicine and other fields.

But in 1941, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Masuo's family was scattered when all West Coast ethnic Japanese were forced from their homes and interned by the American government. Masuo himself was arrested as a spy and imprisoned.

Stubborn Twig explores the American identity through the real stories of people who lived through the shameful events of this period in our nation's history.

This winter, connect with your neighbors, friends and colleagues through book discussions about Stubborn Twig, as well as through performances, literary programs and film screenings on related topics. Copies of Stubborn Twig will be available at libraries in January.

 

Visit Everybody Reads Selections to find a complete list of Everybody Reads titles from previous years.