The bookworms of Lincoln have spoken, with Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) announcing “The Berry Pickers” by Amanda Peters as the winner of the 2024 One Book One Lincoln Community Reading Program.
“The Berry Pickers” tells the story of a four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl who disappears from a blueberry field in Maine, sparking a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family, and remain unsolved for nearly fifty years. Peters’ debut novel is an Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction winner, 2023 Barnes & Noble Discover Prize winner, and named a best book of the year by numerous publications.
LCL also announced Peters will visit Lincoln October 14. The free event will be at 7 p.m. in the Lincoln High School auditorium, 2229 “J” St. Jennifer Jackson, One Book One Lincoln Facilitator, will interview Peters, and the author will answer questions from attendees and sign books.
“It’s a page turner,” said LCL Director Ryan Wieber of the 2024 winner. “This year’s chosen book continues a proud tradition of bringing Lincoln residents together through literature for the past 23 years… I encourage folks, if they haven’t read it, to stop by any library branch because we’ve got lots of copies.”
“’The Berry Pickers’ by Amanda Peters is a poignant exploration of resilience, identity, and the enduring ties that bind families together,” said Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird. “This year’s selection invites our community to reflect on the stories that connect us all and the importance of shared experiences in fostering empathy and unity.”
The runners-up for the 2024 program were “A Little Devil in America” by Hanif Abdurraqib and “North Woods” by Daniel Mason. The book selection process began in February when a 17-member selection committee of community readers narrowed the 133 nominations down to the top three.
The book is available from LCL in print and large type as well as downloadable audio and ebook formats. Find out more about One Book One Lincoln events at lincolnlibraries.org.