Virtual Only

In the lead-up to America’s 250th anniversary, this book club explores history through both fiction and non-fiction that challenge familiar narratives and invite fresh perspectives on the American past. Each selection encourages readers to look beyond the textbook version of history and consider the people, choices, and hidden stories that shaped the nation.

June Selection: Kindred by Octavia Butler

In June’s selection, we turn to a powerful and thought-provoking novel that blends historical fiction with speculative elements to confront the realities of slavery in America. When a modern Black woman is repeatedly pulled back in time to a Maryland plantation, Kindred forces readers to reckon with the human impact of the nation’s founding era. Through its intimate, unflinching portrayal of survival, power, and ancestry, this selection deepens our understanding of the complex and often painful histories that underpin America’s story—an essential reflection as we approach the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding.