One Book, One Community 2025

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.