The United We Read program offered by the libraries of Zionsville, Lebanon and Thorntown has chosen “The Other Wes Moore” as its discussion book.
Monday at 6:30 p.m., a discussion about the book will convene in the Lora Hussey Room of the Hussey-Mayfield Public Library. Librarians Ellen Leffler and Barbara Litkowski will lead the discussion. Registration is urged, and it may be done at www.zionsville.lib.in.us.
“The Other Wes Moore” is the story of two kids with the same name, living in the same city. One grew up to be a Rhodes Scholar, decorated combat veteran, White House Fellow, and business leader. The other is serving a life sentence in prison for felony murder.
In 2000, The Baltimore Sun ran a small piece about Wes Moore, a local student who had received a Rhodes Scholarship. The paper also ran a series of articles about four young men who had allegedly killed a police officer in a botched armed robbery. The police were still hunting for two of the suspects, a pair of brothers, one named Wes Moore.
Wes Moore read the articles and couldn’t shake the unsettling coincidence of sharing a name with the other Wes, now serving a life sentence without parole. He wrote a letter to the other Wes, and the letter led to a friendship and the discovery that they had led similar lives, with drastically different outcomes. The choices each had made during moments of hardship and decision affected their destinies.
“The Other Wes Moore” explores opportunity, fate and the choices we make as individuals and a society. All Boone County residents are welcome to enjoy book talks and programs throughout October at any of the three Boone County libraries.
For more information about Zionsville library events, visit www.zionsville.lib.in.us.
Other events scheduled for the Zionsville library include:
Choice & Accountability: Influencing the Future. Oct. 2, 7 p.m. Lora Hussey Room.
Dr. Greg Keller, senior lecturer in the Department of Philosophy at IUPUI, talks about how our daily choices and behaviors affect our futures. Part of the United We Read series. Registration urged.
Humanity: Commonalities Among Us All. Oct. 9, 7 p.m. Lora Hussey Room. Dr. Marvin Scott, professor of sociology at Butler, talks about racism and society’s role in the success and failure of young adult minorities. Registration urged.
Mentorship: Bridging the Opportunity Gap. Oct. 16, 7 p.m. Lora Hussey Room. Bill Stanczykiewicz, president and CEO of the Indiana Youth Institute, talks about mentorship, what it is, who does it, and how it is important to the success of at-risk youth. Registration urged.
Products of Our Expectations. Oct. 23, 7 p.m. Lora Hussey Room. Dr. Tamara Leech, assistant professor of sociology at IUPUI, talks about the role of family and community upon an individual’s success in life. Registration urged.