To celebrate the Next Chapter Book Club’s 20th anniversary last year, we added over 70 new titles to the lending library housed at Nisonger Center. This infusion of new books has been a hit with long-time NCBC members who were ready for more options. With mysteries, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, adapted classics, historical fiction, and easy readers, our lending library offers something for everyone. And as NCBC Founder Tom Fish is fond of saying, “We take all comers!”
In particular, we wanted to include more books with diverse characters in our library. Focus groups have told us they want to read about characters they can relate to, characters with disabilities, characters going through real life. With this in mind, we sought books that are not only fun to read but include main characters from a variety of backgrounds.
In A Girl Like Her, an Autistic woman who would rather be alone decides to explore romance with her neighbor, an ex-military man. In Kira, Kira, a Japanese girl deals with her sister’s illness and finds a way to keep her family together. In Forged by Fire, an African American teenager protects his sister, stands up to an abusive stepfather, and finds belonging. In Something’s Brewing, six book club members with disabilities overcome heartbreak, face disappointments, renew friendships and celebrate victories. And this is just a sample!
But why do we read about diverse characters? We do this to learn about and connect with people who are different from us. Reading about people from different backgrounds can help us develop empathy and understanding. When we read about characters from similar backgrounds, we can explore and affirm our own identities. Reading books with diverse characters reminds us of the importance of each person in our community and promotes an inclusive environment. The importance of this can’t be overstated, as NCBC seeks to be a safe, supportive, and fun place for all people.
If you would like to join a Next Chapter Book Club in the Columbus, OH area, click HERE to submit the registration form.
If you would like to volunteer to co-facilitate a Next Chapter Book Club, click HERE to submit the application.