LCM Book Club

For April 11th – James is a 2024 novel by Percival Everett that retells Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the enslaved man, Jim, who is called “James” in the book. The novel follows James as he escapes slavery to avoid being sold, eventually joining forces with a young Huck Finn on a journey down the Mississippi River, but with a focus on James’s own story, agency, and quest for freedom and family. It has received widespread acclaim, winning the 2025 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the 2024 National Book Award, and is being developed into a film by Steven Spielberg.

For May 9th – The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – A must-read for all parents: the generation-defining investigation into the collapse of youth mental health in the era of smartphones, social media, and big tech—and a plan for a healthier, freer childhood. Art will lead the discussion.

June 13th – Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future by Jason Stenley is a 2024 book that exposes how authoritarian movements attack education and manipulate history to undermine democracy and consolidate power, using tactics like book bans, curriculum censorship, and criminalizing educators. Stanley argues that controlling the past is crucial for fascists to create a single, monolithic narrative, suppress dissent, and roll back civil rights gains, making the fight for honest history a frontline in the struggle for democracy.

For those who are unable to attend in person, you can join us via Zoom using the link below:

We look forward to seeing all of you, whether in person or on Zoom.