This winter, hundreds of readers in the north suburban Chicago area read the same book as they participate in the ninth annual “One Book, One Community” series hosted by Cook Memorial, Indian Trails and Vernon Area public library districts.

This year’s selection is The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff. Longlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2023, The New York Times Book Review called it “a radically feel-good story about the murder of no-good husbands by a cast of unsinkable women.”

The series kicks off with a book giveaway on Sunday, December 8. Visitors are invited to pick up a complimentary paperback copy at any of the participating libraries (while supplies last). Additional copies in hardcover, large print, audiobook and e-book format are available for checkout.

• One Book Kickoff at Vernon Area Library

In addition to inviting everyone to read the same book, the series provides opportunities for neighbors to consider and connect over the issues and themes in the story. 

In January and February, each participating library offers book discussions and other programs related to the book. Events include a murder mystery night at Indian Trails Public Library in Wheeling, a lecture about caste at Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, and an exploration of Indian cuisine at Cook Memorial Aspen Drive Library in Vernon Hills. 

The series culminates with an author presentation and book signing with author Parini Shroff on Sunday, February 16, 2025, at the Adlai E. Stevenson High School West Auditorium and on Zoom. 

All One Book, One Community events are free to attend and residency is not required. Find information and signup for all the events at 1book.org. 

“‘One Book’ programs are a way to create a common cultural touchpoint,” said Vernon Area Library spokesperson Catherine Savage. “When a community all reads the same book and considers the situations in it, it builds empathy both for the characters in the story and each other.”

The Library of Congress’ Center for the Book in Washington (where the “One Book, One Community” concept originated) calls this “building civic unity through the reading of literature.”

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Bandit Queens tells the story of Geeta, an entrepreneurial young woman in a rural village in India. When her no-good husband disappears, the rumor spreads that she killed him. Geeta soon learns that a dangerous reputation comes with some benefits: No one messes with her or tries to control her. It’s even been good for business; no one dares to not buy her jewelry.

Geeta convinces herself that she enjoys her freedom, even if its price is isolation — that is, until other disaffected wives ask her to help get rid of their no-good husbands, too. With her reputation becoming a double-edged sword, Geeta must find a way to protect the life she’s built while juggling the personalities of a complicated band of would-be widows.

The Bandit Queens is a razor-sharp tale of female friendship filled with clever criminals, second chances, and wry and witty women, along with an insightful exploration of social topics including caste, domestic abuse, and feminism.

ABOUT AUTHOR PARINI SHROFF

Parini Shroff holds an MFA from the University of Texas at Austin, where she studied under Elizabeth McCracken, Alexander Chee, and Cristina García. She is a practicing attorney, lives in the San Francisco Bay Area, and has family in Gujarat, India. The Bandit Queens is her debut novel.

ABOUT THE SERIES

The “One Book, One Community” concept originated with the Library of Congress’ Washington Center for the Book in 1998. Through a shared experience of reading and relating, The series provide opportunities for people of different ethnic backgrounds, economic levels or ages to sit down together and discuss ideas that are important to them. 

There are now statewide, citywide, countywide, and even country-wide reading programs all over the world. “One Book, One Chicago” is among the largest locally. “States Read One Book” are statewide programs hosted by Arkansas, Virginia, Michigan, Florida, Mississippi, New York, and Texas.

The One Book, One Community initiative of the Vernon Area, Indian Trails and Cook Memorial public library districts is funded in part by the Foundation for the Vernon Area Public Library District and the Friends of the Cook Memorial Public Library.

ABOUT THE LIBRARIES

Cook Memorial Public Library District operates two locations that serve 61,000 residents in the communities of Libertyville, Vernon Hills, Green Oaks and Mundelein, Illinois. Indian Trails Public Library District operates two locations that serve 67,000 residents in Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Prospect Heights and Arlington Heights, Illinois. Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire directly serves 44,000 residents and businesses in and around Lincolnshire, Buffalo Grove, Long Grove and Vernon Hills, Illinois.

Brighten the holiday for a local child in need by donating to Toys for Tots at the library between November 22 and December 8, 2024. 

Toys for Tots provides gifts to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. Donors can drop off new, unwrapped toys and books in the donation boxes located in the library lobby. Toys for Tots does not accept used toys, food, clothes or realistic-looking weapons.

In Lake County, Illinois, families can request toys for children ages 0 through 12 through the Family First Center in Waukegan. The deadline to apply is December 4. 

The 2024 holiday season marks the 77th anniversary of the Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. Vernon Area Public Library has served as a Toys for Tots collection site since 2006. Other collection points in the Vernon Township area include the Buffalo Grove Police Department (46 Raupp Boulevard, Buffalo Grove) and Lincolnshire Village Hall (1 Olde Half Day Road, Lincolnshire).

The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation (the fundraising, funding, and support organization for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program) is an IRS-recognized 501(C)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Since its inception in 1947, Toys for Tots has distributed more than 600 million toys to more than 281 million children in need. More information can be found at ToysForTots.org.

Prospective candidates for the Vernon Area Library Board of Trustees may file nominating papers at the library beginning at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, and no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 18, 2024.

Nominating papers received by the library prior to the first day of the filing period will be returned to the sender. Nominating papers received after the end of the filing period will not be accepted, regardless of postmark.

The order of names on the ballot will follow the order of the date and time of their filing. If there are simultaneous filers, their order will be determined through a public lottery that will take place on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. in the library lobby. 

The Consolidated Election will take place on April 1, 2025. Winners will take office on May 19, 2025.

Helpful information about becoming a candidate for elected office may be found on the Lake County Clerk’s website at LakeCandidatePower.info.

About the Vernon Area Public Library District Board of Trustees

The Vernon Area Public Library District Board of Trustees is composed of seven elected trustees who serve as nonpartisan community representatives. They determine the library’s policies, set its budget and advocate on its behalf. The library board meets monthly at the Vernon Area Public Library in Lincolnshire, typically on the third Monday, from 7 to 9 p.m.

Ben Isabel was appointed to the Vernon Area Public Library Board of Trustees at their regular meeting on Monday, October 21, 2024. Isabel is filling a vacancy created in September when library trustee Laura Caplin resigned. 

​Isabel is employed as chief of staff for State Senator Laura Fine (IL-9). He lives in Buffalo Grove with his wife and 11-month-old daughter.

“A public library is an important staple of any locality, and we are incredibly lucky to have the Vernon Area Public Library,” said Isabel. “Our library is a place that provides essential services, a place that provides access to vital information, and a place that provides a sense of community.”

While Caplin’s term was slated to end in 2029, Illinois law requires that the remainder of the unexpired term be filled by vote during the next Consolidated Election, which will take place on April 1, 2025. The four-year seat will appear on the ballot as a separate race from the three full-term (six-year) seats up for election.

Isabel intends to be among the candidates on that ballot. Incumbents George I. Goldstein and Jonathan Passman have also indicated their intent to run. Prospective candidates must file nominating paperwork at the library between Tuesday, November 12, and Monday, November 18, 2024.

The appointment of Isabel is the second such appointment made by the Vernon Area Public Library Board of Trustees in recent months. In June, Vernon Hills resident Edward Kogan was appointed to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of trustee Victoria Thompson. Kogan previously served on the library board from 2012–2021.