This coming week we celebrate the culmination of Fox Cities Read 2018 with a visit from Ruta Sepetys, author of Salt to the Sea, to the Fox Valley.

During the winter months, including April, hundreds of copies of this novel have been circulated in and out of public libraries in Kaukauna, Little Chute, Kimberly, Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah. The Reader’s Loft in Green Bay and Lyons Fine Books in Neenah have been selling copies the past six weeks and if you want your own copied to be signed by Ruta Sepetys they will be selling them at the events on Thursday evening, 6:30 p.m. at Appleton North High School and at the Appleton Library on Friday morning at 10 a.m.  If you finished reading Salt to the Sea you may want to get another copy to gift or keep on your own bookshelf. It is the kind of book you’ll keep talking about for years to come. Salt to the Sea has generated many interesting conversations in our community.

This one book has been the focus of eight book club discussion groups, for miles up and down the Fox River. It is a novel that captivates your heart and your head whether you are 12- or 20- or 82-years-old. Even if you haven’t already finished reading the novel, please join us as we welcome author, Ruta Sepetys to the Fox Cities.

On Thursday, April 12, Ruta Sepetys meets with Kaukauna High School students and the public is welcome to the presentation at 12:45 p.m. Friday, however, Ruta Sepetys will have a closed session with students in Neenah where they will learn more about historical methods.

Students have been instrumental in planning for Ruta Sepetys’ visit to Neenah High School. They assisted with the design and creation of promotional posters and quick-draw movies to encourage staff and students to read Salt to the Sea. Next Friday, a slide show presentation depicting the historical backdrop will be streamed as students and staff enter the fieldhouse, and a few drama students will even perform a theatrical read-aloud as an attention grabber before Ruta’s introduction. Students spearheaded a school-wide T-shirt and cookie sale (cookies donated by Manderfield’s) raising money for World Relief Fox Valley to support area refugees. A busload of students from Shattuck Middle School will also be in attendance for her visit with high school students.

“Fox Cities Reads has truly brought us together as a community of readers,” said Neenah teacher Polly Kelly.

Please join us in our celebration of community conversations around one common book. We look forward to seeing you soon!