Chapter 250: Reading America’s Story Together is a community book club that explores the American Revolution through shared reading, discussion, and film. The teen group, open to participants ages thirteen through nineteen will meet on Wednesday, January 28th at 5:00 p.m., at the McNabb Branch, with a virtual option available via Zoom. 

This month’s selection will be “Rebellion 1776” by Laurie Halse Anderson. The novel, set in Boston during the spring of 1776, follows thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper as she faces the chaos of revolution and the terror of a deadly smallpox outbreak. Immune from childhood illness, Elsbeth becomes a caretaker for a wealthy family awaiting inoculation, caught between loyalty, survival, and the fires of rebellion. 

Before the discussion, participants will view a 26-minute screening reel from the upcoming 2025 PBS documentary “American Revolution” by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. The preview offers an engaging overview of the era and includes an introduction by Ken Burns.
Copies of the book will be available at the McNabb Branch beginning in December. For more information, please contact the Library at 815-339-2038. To participate via Zoom, please register via Zoom: https://shorturl.at/Yojq6. 

Corporate funding for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by Bank of America. Major funding was provided by The Better Angels Society and its members Jeannie and Jonathan Lavine with the Crimson Lion Foundation, and the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Major funding was also provided by David M. Rubenstein; The Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Family Foundation; Lilly Endowment Inc.; and the following Better Angels Society members: Eric and Wendy Schmidt; Stephen A. Schwarzman; and Kenneth C. Griffin with Griffin Catalyst. Additional support for THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was provided by: The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations; The Pew Charitable Trusts; Gilbert S. Omenn and Martha A. Darling; Park Foundation; and the following Better Angels Society members: Gilchrist and Amy Berg; Perry and Donna Golkin; The Michelson Foundation; Jacqueline B. Mars; Kissick Family Foundation; Diane and Hal Brierley; John H. N. Fisher and Jennifer Caldwell; John and Catherine Debs; The Fullerton Family Charitable Fund; Philip I. Kent; Gail Elden; Deborah and Jon Dawson; David and Susan Kreisman; The McCloskey Family Charitable Trust; Becky and Jim Morgan; Carol and Ned Spieker; Mark A. Tracy; and Paul and Shelley Whyte. THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION was made possible, in part, with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.