image courtesy H Dwight Beers

Thanks to a Pennsylvania Humanities Council grant, this year's Suquehanna County Reads one book/one county program is getting underway. The book, chosen by a poll of participants, is Harper Lee's classic of small-town courage, To Kill a Mockingbird.

You can register and pick up your book at any library (Forest City, Hallstead-Great Bend, Montrose, the independent Pratt Library in New Milford, or Susquehanna). Four major events are planned in the program. The kick-off is a Family Fun Day: 10am-2pm on Saturday, September 13th, during the Apple Festival on the Green in Montrose. Next is a screening of the 1962 movie starring Gregory Peck. There will be two showings on the big screen at the Montrose Theater, Wednesday, September 17th, at 2:30pm and 7pm. Other screenings will take place at the branch libraries. A panel book discussion will be held in New Milford at St. Mark's Hall on Thursday, October 9th, at 7pm. The culmination of the program will be a mock trial/moot court in the Susquehanna County Courthouse on October 17th at 7pm. District Attorney Jason Legg, who says that To Kill a Mockingbird inspired him to enter the legal profession, is involved with the planning. Refreshments will include Lane Cake, mentioned in the book. (We're looking for people to bake! Recipes are linked in our Resources area.

For your enjoyment, we have a To Kill a Mockingbird quiz, word search, and "did you know...?" list.

Lane Cake Recipes:
• All Recipes
• Very detailed directions!
• Lots of variants at cooks.com
• This one has a traditional Southern marshmallow frosting

Excellent topics for discussion at the HarperAcademic site

The Student Survival Guide annotates the novel with over 400 words and allusions defined and explained

The NEA's Big Read program has lots of great information here.

Have suggestions to add? Please email us (address at the bottom of every page)