Millis Reads about the Immigrant Experience
Started in 2013 as a joint venture of the Millis Public Library and Millis Public Schools, Millis Reads is an effort to strengthen ties throughout the Millis community by encouraging everyone in town to read and discuss the same book. The goal of Millis Reads is to promote literacy for all ages, to foster community dialog, and to broaden understanding and tolerance of differing points of view.
The books chosen for Millis Reads 2019 explore personal stories of immigration. The library will host a variety programs and events that will give you the chance to dive deeper into the themes of the books as well as explore your own immigration stories. All events will be held at the library unless otherwise noted. Books are at the library in print as well as in other formats, if available (large print, ebook, audiobook). Millis Reads is generously sponsored by the Friends of the Millis Public Library.
Book Titles
Click on the covers to see the book in our catalog and reserve a copy.
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- “The Line Becomes a River” by Francisco Cantú (Nonfiction for Adults) A former Border Patrol agent’s haunting experience of an unnatural divide and the lives caught on either side, struggling to cross or to defend it.
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- “The Sun is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon (Fiction for Adults and Teens)The romantic coming-of-age story delves into questions of God, love, and fate, as Jamaican-American Natasha meets and falls in love with Korean-American Daniel on the day she is due to be deported.
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- “Same Sun Here” by Silas House and Neela Vaswani (Fiction for Upper Elementary through Middle School Kids)In this extraordinary novel in letters, an Indian immigrant girl in New York City and a Kentucky coal miner’s son find strength and perspective by sharing their true selves across the miles.
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- “Islandborn” by Junot Díaz (Picture Book for Elementary-Aged Kids) Lola was just a baby when her family left the Island, so when she has to draw it for a school assignment, she asks her family, friends, and neighbors about their memories of her homeland … and in the process, comes up with a new way of understanding her own heritage.
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- “Someone New” by Anne Sibley O’Brien (Picture Book for Preschool through Early Elementary Kids)When three children, Jesse, Jason, and Emma, are confronted with new classmates from different ethnic backgrounds, they strive to overcome their initial reactions, and to understand, accept, and welcome Maria, Jin, and Fatima.
Schedule of Events
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- Wednesday, February 13 at 6:00 pm Reframing the Immigration Narrative Presented by The Immigrant Learning Center With all the heated rhetoric about immigration, how do you get to the truth? Join The Immigrant Learning Center to learn the facts about immigrants in the United States today, why immigration is so hard to talk about, and how to make a difference in day-to-day conversations.
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- Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 pm An Immigration Story Millis resident and immigration lawyer, Antonio Viana, will share his personal immigration story as well as some information about immigration policy and law in Massachusetts.
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- Friday, February 22, 7 pm *Family Film Night* “An American Tail” (1986) G, 80 minutes A Russian mouse lands in New York in the 1880s, only to be separated from his family. He must now learn to live on the streets and evade the mean cats.
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- Friday, March 1 at 7:00 pm “The Visitor” (2008) PG13, 104 minutes A heartfelt, humanistic drama that deftly explores identity, immigration, and other major post-9/11 issues
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- Friday, March 8 at 7 pm “Dheepan” (2015) R, 100 Minutes Offers a timely, powerful look at the modern immigrant experience in Europe. To escape the civil war in Sri Lanka, a former soldier, a young woman and a little girl pose as a family.
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- Friday, March 15 at 7 pm “Sin Nombre” (2009) R, 96 minutes Part harrowing immigration tale, part gangster story. Sayra is a beautiful young Honduran woman who joins her father and uncle on an odyssey to cross the gauntlet of the Latin American countryside en route to the United States.
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- Friday, March 29 at 7 pm “Avalon” (1990) PG, 126 minutes The story of several generations of a family, from the arrival of immigrant Sam Krichinsky in the suburb of Baltimore called Avalon, down through his children and grandchildren.
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- Building Bridges: Portraits of Immigrants and Refugees A touring photo-text display created by the award-winning Family Diversity Projects of Amherst, Massachusetts is scheduled to be featured at the MIllis Public Library from February 12 through March 25
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- “What’s Your Country?” Art ShowClick the picture to find out how to participate! This exhibit will feature original art from students in Millis and will be on display in the Young Adult room during the month of March.
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- Tuesday, February 26 at 6:30 pm; Tuesday, March 5 at 1:00 pm; Tuesday, March 12 at 3:00 pm More dates can be added by request! “The Line Becomes a River” Book Chat Join us to discuss our nonfiction Millis Reads title, “The Line Becomes a River” by Francisco Cantú. All are welcome! Copies of the book are available at the library.
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- Wednesday, February 20 at 7:00 pm; Thursday, March 7 at 3:00 pm; Wednesday, March 13 at 11:00 am More dates can be added by request! “The Sun is Also a Star” Book Chat Join us to discuss our fiction Millis Reads title, “The Sun is Also a Star” by Nicola Yoon . All are welcome! Copies of the book are available at the library.
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- Tuesday, February 26 at 2:30 pm *At Millis Middle School Library* Middle School Book Group The Middle School Book group will chat about two of the Millis Reads selections “Same Sun Here” and “The Sun is Also a Star.” Any Middle Schooler who would be interested in joining in the discussion is welcome to do so. The group will be meeting at the School Library. Books are available both at the School Library and at the Millis Public Library.
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- Wednesday, February 6 at 4:00 pm Big Kid Storytime This week BKST will spotlight our Millis Reads topic immigration. We are excited to share picture books we love about immigration, to talk about our own immigration stories whether they be newer or older, and to make art inspired by the countries our families immigrated from. We encourage parents to sit in on this week’s story time.
Ellis Island, the Gateway to America, occupies a permanent place in America’s history and more than half of the immigrants entering the US between 1892 and 1924 passed through its gates.
The 9-11 monument memorializes all those who died in the 9-11 terrorist attacks by listing their names on fountains placed where the original towers stood.
Tour Begins: 6:30 am the luxury Silver Fox tour bus leaves the library.
–Coffee/Breakfast stop
-Arrive at Battery Park, boarding a ferry that will take the group to both the Statue and Ellis Island.
–Lunch at cafeterias in either location.
-Return to Battery park, visit the 9/11 memorial.
-Return to the library! ETA 10:30pm
Payment of $40 by cash or check when you sign up. Children 12 and up are welcome with an accompanying adult. Food and beverage not included in ticket price.
Contact Esther with any questions at EDavis@minlib.net or 508.376.8282