Book Club
Germantown Community Coalition's book club, Freedom to Read 'em, was created in early 2022 as a response to the rise in coordinated attempts to ban or restrict books in schools and libraries across the country.
Book bans and challenges doubled from 2020 to 2021, according to the American Library Association. A majority of the books that have been targeted focus on sexual orientation, gender identity, race and racism. For a community to be welcoming to all, REPRESENTATION MATTERS!
The Freedom to Read 'em book club meets monthly for discussion on the featured book. Many of the books we read have been banned or challenged. Others involve topics related to GCC's message of kindness, equity, inclusion, and respect. We read a variety of genres and formats--including graphic novels, children's books, historical fiction, and non-fiction. See our selections below.
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2026 Book Club Selections
This year’s selections challenge us to dive deeper into complex topics, explore urgent social justice issues, and reflect on the systems that shape our lives. From housing discrimination and food safety to grief, mental health, and climate displacement, each book offers a fresh lens and a powerful story. And as always, we’ll approach these conversations with our core values front and center: kindness, inclusion, equity, and respect.
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Whether you’re a longtime member or a book club newbie, there’s a seat at the table for you. Join us! Here's what we'll be reading and discussing in 2026.
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January: Evicted by Matthew Desmond
Nonfiction | Housing Discrimination, Poverty, Exploitation & Profit
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February: The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Fiction | Black & Jewish Communities, Race, Xenophobia
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March: Looking for Alaska by John Green
Young Adult Fiction | Coming of Age, Grief, Frequently Banned Book
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April: Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Nonfiction | Memoir, Grief, Family, Cultural Identity
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May: While You Were Out by Meg Kissinger
Nonfiction | Mental Health, Local Author
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September: The Poison Squad by Deborah Blum
Nonfiction | Food Safety, FDA Origins, Corporate Greed
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October: We Will Not Be Silent by Russell Freedman
Children’s Literature | Resistance, Nazis, WWII
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January 2027: The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger
Fiction | Climate Change, Race, Class, Natural Disasters
Previous Book Club Selections
