Silicon Valley Reads will focus on kindness, resilience and hope for 2022
The program brings the community together in unique ways
By Staff Report
The 19th Annual Silicon Valley Reads program returns in 2022 with three inspirational memoirs and related events scheduled throughout February and March. Last year’s theme of “Connecting” deeply resonated in the community, as readers of all ages found new ways to build connections through food, nature, animals, music, books and with each other. Through meaningful stories and a combination of virtual and in-person events focused on motivating the community even more, the Silicon Valley Reads 2022 theme is the Power of Kindness, Resilience & Hope.
“This year’s theme will allow us to engage in conversation about the transformative power of kindness, highlight our remarkable capacity for resilience, and build hopefulness for our future,” said Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, Santa Clara County Superintendent of Schools, who serves as Silicon Valley Reads co-chair along with Jill Bourne, City of San José Library Director and Jennifer Weeks, Santa Clara County Librarian.
The featured nonfiction books have been selected to highlight the 2022 theme:
- See No Stranger by Valarie Kaur: A synthesis of wisdom and a chronicle of personal and communal history, See No Stranger is part memoir, part practical guide to changing the world with some adult content. Author Valarie Kaur, renowned Sikh activist, filmmaker and civil rights lawyer ignited the hearts of millions around the globe by sharing her compelling story and declaring Revolutionary Love as the call of our times: a radical, joyful practice that extends to others, to ourselves and to our opponents.
Enough about Me by Richard Lui: Richard Lui made the difficult decision to leave his dream job as an NBC News/MSNBC anchor to help care for his ailing father in San Francisco. It was a difficult time, and through the challenge he realized that doing this selfless act had a positive overall impact on his well-being. He decided to dig deep into exploring acts of compassion from the lens of a reporter. Part scientific, part emotional, his journey is one that many will travel and the element of “anti-self” self-help can benefit our community as a whole.- A Dream Called Home by Reyna Grande: A beautifully written immigrant story that quickly engages the reader. Reyna crosses the border at nine years old and perseveres through many difficulties to find her way to the University of California, Santa Cruz. With a passion for writing and the resilience to push forward, her story enlightens us to the challenges so many confront in making a home in America.
“The diversity of our authors and their personal stories reflect the experiences of our community members,” said Jill Bourne, director of San José Public Library. “People will identify with these memoirs, and if they can’t relate personally, they can learn from them.”
Silicon Valley Reads will announce the selection of companion books for children and teens on siliconvalleyreads.org shortly.
Three highly-reviewed fiction titles which embody the theme of the Power of Kindness, Resilience & Hope were selected as recommended titles to appeal to fiction readers: The Girl With the Louding Voice by Abi Daré, The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley, and The Story of Arthur Truluv by Elizabeth Berg.
“Silicon Valley Reads brings the community together in unique ways,” County Librarian Jennifer Weeks said. “The books and planned events will provide opportunities for participants to gain a deeper understanding into other people’s experiences and their perseverance to carry on. These tales will truly encourage empathy and kindness.”
During February and March of 2022, Silicon Valley Reads will offer free virtual and in-person public programs for all ages including author talks, panel discussions, educational events, demonstrations, performances, activities for students, story times and an art exhibit. The complete schedule will be published on the SiliconValleyReads.org website in early January.
The Silicon Valley Reads community engagement program is presented annually by Santa Clara County Library District, Santa Clara County Office of Education, and San José Public Library in conjunction with other public libraries, community colleges and universities, and community organizations.
More information about Silicon Valley Reads and plans for 2022 can be found at SiliconValleyReads.org.