After a selection process that began with 76 suggested titles, the book Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah was chosen for the inaugural One Book, One Northbrook community reading initiative.
Like other "One Book, One City" programs around the country, this initiative encourages community members to read the same book at the same time and then take part in a specially curated series of programs at the library throughout the summer.
Starting with the One Book One Northbrook Kickoff event on June 30, there are more than 10 supporting programs lined up through July, including music, films, guest speakers, and live performances that explore the book’s themes and promote discussion.
How the Book Was Chosen
Last fall, library staff met with members of the Village's Community Relations Commission and other members of the community who were interested in bringing a "One Book" initiative to Northbrook to discuss the type of book to choose. Other community groups involved include Racial Awareness in the Northshore (RAIN), The Book Bin, and Glenbrook North and South high schools.
Debbie De Palma, a longtime Northbrook resident who has sat on the Community Relations Commission was involved in the book selection process.
"A collaborative effort was made to pick a book that tackled the tough but important issues of race, identity and diversity," said De Palma. “Our goal was to pick something that focused on characters who grew up in different cultures and circumstances.”
Carol Konvalinka, another community member who was involved with the One Book planning, said creating a community takes an “intentional effort to know and engage our neighbors so that Northbrook becomes a more inclusive, diverse, and respectful place. “The idea that we, as a village, are making the effort to doing something important together is exciting to me,” she said.
“I’m so glad the library is doing this,” De Palma said. “It’s a great opportunity to bring people together around topics people don’t really talk about in public spaces,” she said, “and it gives us more insight about what happens in other places and about other people’s histories.”
About the Book
Born a Crime is a comedic autobiographical work that chronicles Trevor Noah’s 1980s childhood growing up under apartheid in South Africa. As the child of a black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss father, he was literally "born a crime," since at the time, having a bi-racial child could result in a five year prison sentence. Noah’s memoir discusses the idea of segregation and its long lasting effects on society, and his use of humor is an entry point for many to learn about difficult issues of identity and apartheid.
After its release in 2016, Born a Crime was named as one of the best books of the year by the New York Times. There is also an adaptation of the book for middle school readers, titled It's Trevor Noah: Born a Crime.
About the One Book, One Northbrook Kickoff Event
We invite you to the One Book, One Northbrook Kickoff Event on Sunday, June 30, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm to learn more about the initiative and enjoy some light refreshments. We will also be handing out free copies of the book–while supplies last–to adult attendees at the Kickoff event.
Also on June 30, from 3:00pm to 4:00pm, we invite you to enjoy a South African-themed concert featuring a mix of rock, jazz, and blues in the auditorium, performed by the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians (AACM) Quartet. Reserve a spot.
How You Can Get Involved
Just read or listen to the book. We have many copies available for you to check out at the library, or you can visit The Book Bin to purchase a copy. We will also give away a limited number of copies to attendees at the June 30 Kickoff Event. You may also find a copy in one of the library's Little Free Libraries at the YMCA or in Wood Oaks Green park, near the playground. Then, we invite you to reserve a spot to attend the many One Book, One Northbrook programs throughout the summer.
