WKU News

The Southern Kentucky (SOKY) Book Fest partners are hosting the annual SOKY Reads! program, a community-wide reading project in Bowling Green and the surrounding region. Thirteen Reasons Why -- Jay Asher’s debut novel -- is this year’s choice. Thanks to a grant from Graves Gilbert Clinic, copies of the book will be distributed to high schools in the area, along with book clubs who participate through the Warren County Public Library (WCPL).

The popular young adult novel has been adapted into a Netflix original series executive produced by Selena Gomez. Penguin Random House released the series companion of the book in June 2017. A review from The New York Times says the book is, “A stealthy hit with staying power…thriller-like pacing.” Since its release, Thirteen Reasons Why has been regularly listed on the New York Times bestseller list, selling over 2.5 million copies in the U.S. alone.  

Free copies of Thirteen Reasons Why will be distributed at WCPL branches on Sept. 8 (State Street Branch) and Sept. 9 (Bob Kirby Branch) and on Sept. 23 starting at 8 a.m. at the Community Farmer’s Market. Join a panel of mental health experts to discuss the book and topics from it at 6 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Bob Kirby branch of WCPL and at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 in the Russell Miller Theater on WKU’s campus. All events are free and open to the public.

Asher will be reading from Thirteen Reasons Why, discussing his work and signing books at the Young Adult Southern (YAS) Book Con at 9 a.m. Oct. 20 at SKyPAC (event is free and open to the public). He will also sign books in downtown Bowling Green on Oct. 21 at Yellowberri and additional locations TBA. YAS Book Con is a book festival for readers of young adult and middle grade literature, featuring over 30 authors plus Joel Pett, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist from Lexington. Copies of Asher’s books, plus titles from all authors attending YAS Book Con, will be available for purchase Oct. 20-21 through partnership with Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Spencer’s Coffee.

Program guides for SOKY Reads! are available online at sokybookfest.org/programs/soky-reads/. More information about YAS Book Con is available at www.yasbookcon.org. These programs are made possible through the generosity of Jim Johnson Nissan, Graves Gilbert Clinic, SKyPAC, Friends of WKU Libraries, and Friends of the Warren County Public Library. SOKY Book Fest is a partnership of Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Warren County Public Library, and WKU Libraries. For information, contact Sara Volpi at sara.volpi@wku.edu.

Contact: Jennifer Wilson, (270) 745-6977 or jennifer.wilson@wku.edu