This September – November, One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern (The One Book Project) is encouraging the entire community to share experiences related to a single book’s themes through discussions, educational programming, and entertainment. The read is meant to pull a community together, cross cultural divides, and enhance understanding of our diversity, all while supporting literacy.
Are you a part of a BOOK CLUB or CLASSROOM reading this year’s titles?
Submit your book group to the One Book Project to be included in the total count of readers. Open book groups can also choose to share meeting details and be listed online for potential newcomers (optional).
Are you interested in submitting an event to be a part of this year’s EVENTS LINEUP?
Learn more about event submission.
Events Calendar Printable Events Brochure
Primary Title Broad Band: The Untold Story of the Women Who Made the Internet by Claire L. Evans
Checkout Book | Purchase Russo’s B&N
The history of technology you probably know is one of men and machines, garages and riches, alpha nerds and brogrammers. But female visionaries have always been at the vanguard of technology and innovation – they’ve just been erased from the story. Until now. Join the ranks of the pioneers who defied convention and the longest odds to become database poets, information-wranglers, hypertext dreamers, and glass-ceiling shattering dot com-era entrepreneurs.
Picture Book Little Engineers by Haig Norian
Checkout [Will Be Available Soon] | Purchase Russo’s B&N
Two sisters, Kata and Meli, set off to make the perfect birthday present for their mother. Together, the little engineers walk through a full product development flow: brainstorming, prototyping, design for manufacturability, and production.
Children’s Fiction Song for a Whale by Lynne Kelly
Checkout Book eBook | Purchase Russo’s B&N
Twelve-year old Iris and her grandmother, both deaf, drive from Texas to Alaska armed with Iris’ plan to help Blue-55, a whale unable to communicate with other whales.
Children’s Non-Fiction Women Win the Vote by N. Kennedy and K. Dockrill
Checkout [Will Be Available Soon] | Purchase Russo’s B&N
A bold collection of trailblazing individuals who fought for women’s suffrage and honoring the Nineteenth Amendment’s centennial anniversary.
Young Adult Non-Fiction Women Who Launch by M. Wagman-Geller
Checkout [Will Be Available Soon] | Purchase Russo’s B&N
Filled with inspiring true stories of women activists, artists, and entrepreneurs who launched some of the most famous companies, brands, and organizations and changed the world. It is at once a collection of biographies and a testament of female empowerment.
Young Adult Fiction Slay by Brittney Morris
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By day, 17-year old Kiera Johnson is an honors student, a math tutor, and one of the only black kids at Jefferson Academy. But at home, she joins hundreds of thousands of black gamers who duel worldwide as Nubian personas in the secret multiplayer online role-playing card game Slay. No one knows Kiera is the game developer, not her friends, her family, not even her boyfriend. When a tragedy happens over a dispute in the Slay world, Kiera questions if she can protect her game without losing herself in the process.
Graphic Novel Femme Magnifique: 50 Magnificent Women Who Changed the World by Shelly Bond
Checkout Book eComic | Purchase Russo’s B&N
A comic book anthology salute to 50 magnificent women who take names, crack ceilings, and change the game in pop, politics, art, and science.
Author Visit & Book Signing with Claire L. Evans
October 28, 2020 at 7pm at the CSUB Icardo Center
History of the One Book Project
The program began in 2001 through the grassroots efforts of Jillian Fritch, an elementary school teacher who had read a story in the Los Angeles Times regarding One Book, One Community initiatives; at the time Seattle Reads and One Book Chicago were pioneers, and Los Angeles had decided to do a One Book project. Jillian was inspired to begin a project in Bakersfield. The first book was “To Kill a Mockingbird.” An array of community partners jumped on board, including education, nonprofits, local government, businesses, and media outlets. The Kern County Library became the lead organization in 2003. Now, the One Book Project continues to reach out to our diverse Kern County community both in book choice and related programming. In 2010, the One Book Project began a partnership with California State University, Bakersfield’s “Runner Reader Program” (or First-Year Experience Program), which involves students reading a common book. Through this partnership, the community has benefited extended programming, including author visits and talks at CSUB at the culmination of the read. In November 2011, more than 1,400 people turned out to hear author Wes Moore speak about his book, “The Other Wes Moore.” One Book, One Bakersfield, One Kern remains a grassroots project that relies on community partners and donations to provide related programming and copies of the book throughout the county.
