Napa County Reads And Lincoln Theater Present REFUGEE: A Conversation With Author Alan Gratz

The Napa County Reads program and Lincoln Theater invite the community to a special evening with author Alan Gratz. Gratz will be discussing his action-packed novel Refugee, which tackles topics both timely and timeless: the quest for refuge and survival, and the courage required to succeed. The event will also feature the Napa High Choir performing traditional music inspired by the book, and a refugee and long-time Napa resident will join the author and moderator to share his own story. An author reception in the lobby before the event will feature food, information, art and book signings.

Refugee explores the stories of three different kids with one mission in common: escape. Josef is a Jewish boy in 1930s Nazi Germany. With the threat of concentration camps looming, he and his family board a ship bound for the other side of the world. Isabel is a Cuban girl in 1994. With riots and unrest plaguing her country, she and her family set out on a raft, hoping to find safety and freedom in America. Mahmoud is a Syrian boy in 2015. With his homeland torn apart by violence and destruction, he and his family begin a long trek toward Europe. All three young people go on harrowing journeys in search of refuge. Refugee spent more than half a year on the New York Times bestseller list, and has received numerous awards. For more information on the author visit https://www.alangratz.com/.

According to Barbara Nemko, Napa County Superintendent of Schools, "The issue of immigration and refugees has been in the news a great deal in the last few years, yet it is an issue as old as time. People have always moved around to try to build a better life for themselves and their families. We chose Refugee for Napa County Reads because it tells of different families from three different periods of time and place; Through their stories, and the dangers they faced in fleeing their home countries, readers will see how much they have in common with the refugees of today, who are still trying to escape poverty and oppression."

Napa County Reads is a coalition of educators and community members dedicated to improving the reading experiences of students throughout Napa County with an emphasis on middle schools. Students around Napa County have been reading Refugee throughout the fall in preparation for this event. Book sets were provided to teachers through generous donations from Community Projects, Inc. and the Napa Center for Thought and Culture. The community is invited to join local students in reading the book as a community-wide "Book Club". A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Napa County Reads program.

www.lincolntheater.org

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