Read Brave Saint Paul

Read Brave 2024

Read Brave is Saint Paul's annual citywide book club hosted by Mayor Carter and Saint Paul Public Library. Read Brave taps into the power of books to bring residents together to read and talk bravely across generations about an issue critical to Saint Paul and its future.

Read Brave 2024’s theme is Celebrating Identities.

Using themes in this year’s book selection, we invite Saint Paul residents to dig into complexities of who we are, how we relate each other, and what it means to create a city where all identities belong through a series of programming taking place March 18 – March 24, 2024.

Read.

Read Brave 2024's Book Title: Man O' War by Cory McCarthy

This year’s Read Brave book pick is the young adult novel Man o’ War by Cory McCarthy. A Stonewall Honor Book, Man o' War is a candid and emotional coming-of-age story that follows the journey of an Irish Lebanese American trans teen navigating the challenges and joys of self-discovery and love amid the confines of a small, midwestern town. Educators and parents should know that this book is best for older teens through adults.  

Grab a copy of the book

Getting a copy of this year’s Read Brave book selection is simple. Stop by any Saint Paul Public Library location to grab a copy of Man o’ War to add to your home library. Don’t forget to join us for the Read Brave Talk Brave event on March 21 to dive deeper into the book!

Print, e-books, and audiobooks are also available for check-out at Saint Paul Public Library.

Pick up a book club kit

Is your book club interested in participating in Read Brave this year? The Library is offering a limited supply of book club kits for you to keep at all library locations. It includes copies of the book, book discussion questions, Read Brave swag, and a tote bag. As an extra bonus, you can enter your book club for a chance to host Mayor Carter at your book club discussion of Man o’ War. Sign-up closes on March 18 and a name will be drawn at Read Brave Talk Brave on March 21 for hosting by April 30, 2024.

Talk.

Talk about the books and the theme of Celebrating Identities with your neighbors, friends, and family. This free online toolkit is for anyone looking for resources on how to facilitate a safe and meaningful Read Brave experience. From library-curated discussions questions and activities to a “how-to” guide for hosting brave conversations, the toolkit is designed to give you resources to make the most of Read Brave in your book club, classroom, or with friends and family.

Act.

It is our hope that community members are inspired by the book and mobilize for change in our Saint Paul community. Get started by coming together with fellow Saint Paul residents for Read Brave events and activities.

Read Brave Storytime with Mayor Carter

This year, Mayor Carter will be reading Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal for the Read Brave storytime. It is a heartwarming picture book that tells the story of a little girl named Alma who learns about her heritage and identity by exploring the significance of each of her long names, passed down from various relatives. Through this journey, Alma discovers the rich tapestry of her family history and the meaningful connections embedded in her name.

Shop Read Brave Merch

Don’t miss out on this year’s Read Brave merchandise available through The Friends Shop. A portion of each sale goes to support The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, which helps to raise funds to sustain programs like Read Brave!

Read Brave Saint Paul is brought to you by the Saint Paul Public Library, The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, and the City of Saint Paul.

This program is funded with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund with special support from a Saint Paul Public School’s Community Partnership ARP Grant.

Subscribe to the Read Brave newsletter to receive event reminders and more details about this year's program.

Questions about Read Brave?

Get in touch with the Read Brave Team using the form below with any questions you have about Read Brave books, events, or partnerships.

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