“GLOUCESTER READS – Exploring books by Black authors that reflect Black experiences” by

July 24, 2023 / Uncategorized

The Gloucester Racial Justice Team (GRJT), the Sawyer Free Library and the Gloucester Health Department are sponsoring the first Community Book Read this summer, 2023, exploring books by Black authors that reflect Black experiences.

All information about GLOUCESTER READS is available on the library website: https://www.sawyerfreelibrary.org/

In partnership with 8 other community organizations, Gloucester Reads will hold facilitated discussion groups during the first two weeks in August to reflect on the book “Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid. In addition, Ms. Reid will appear via Zoom for an author talk with local panelists at the Gloucester Stage Company on August 15, 6:30-8pm.

Dawn Pratson, of The Gloucester Racial Justice Team recommends the book, stating, “As someone who reads a lot of non-fiction around the issues of race and social justice, I found reading the novel ‘Such a Fun Age’ to be strikingly enlightening, or enlighteningly striking. Issues of white fragility and microaggressions were made so much clearer to me through reading this novel. It was very engaging and read quickly.”

In addition to “Such a Fun Age,” the tween/teen graphic novel “Aint Burned All The Bright” by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin, and the children’s book “Black is a Rainbow Color” by Angela Joy are on the Gloucester Reads list. There will be discussion groups on these books as well.

Books and e-books are available at the Sawyer Free Library, The Bookstore, and Suzie’s Stories in Rockport.

Sign up for one of 8 discussion groups, sign out an e-book or audio-book, and register for the August 15 author’s talk on the Sawyer Free Library website under Gloucester Reads. For more information about the GRJT, email gloucesterracialjusticeteam@gmail.com or join our Facebook Group, Gloucester Racial Justice Team.