We are thrilled to announce that on Monday, September 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM ET via Zoom, we will be hosting a special virtual event featuring award-winning journalist and author Kevin Sack.
Join us via Zoom for an insightful discussion on his acclaimed book, Mother Emanuel: Two Centuries of Race, Resistance, and Forgiveness in One Charleston Church.
Mother Emanuel is a sweeping history of one of the nation’s most important African American churches. From its daring founding in 1817 to its critical role in the Civil Rights Movement and beyond, Sack traces the long arc of Black life in Charleston—the city where nearly half of all enslaved Africans first disembarked in North America.
Through the microcosm of one congregation, Sack explores the depth of the desecration committed during the 2015 massacre, while revealing how African Methodism was cultivated from the harshest American soil. At its core, this is an epic tale of perseverance—the story of a people who withstood centuries of violence with unbending faith and transformed suffering into a profound practice of forgiveness.
The New York Times calls it “a masterpiece . . . a dense, rich, captivating narrative, featuring vivid prose . . . expansive, inspiring and hugely important.”
Accolades include:
2026 Pulitzer Prize Finalist for General Nonfiction
The New York Times Top Ten Books of the Year
Winner of the Willie Morris Award for Southern Writing
About the Author
Kevin Sack is a veteran journalist whose career spans four decades. A three-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Sack spent 30 years as a senior writer at The New York Times, where he produced landmark long-form investigative projects on topics ranging from national politics to climate change. He has also served as a bureau chief and covered race and domestic affairs for the Los Angeles Times and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. In the spring of 2026, he served as a visiting lecturer and Ferris Professor of Journalism at Princeton University. He is currently a board member of the Mother Emanuel Memorial Foundation and resides in Charleston, South Carolina.
We look forward to seeing you there for what promises to be a deeply moving and informative conversation.
Write brief book reviews or library program reviews and enter to win. One entry per title/event. Enter as many times as you would like! Prize drawings throughout the summer! Pick up entry forms at the circulation desk or fill out online. Submit from 6/1 – 8/31. There will be an end-of-the-summer grand prize drawing for a Kindle. All books count, including print books, e-books, and audiobooks. Programs may be in-person or virtual. Participants must have a Pennington Public Library card to be eligible for prize drawings. Don’t have a card?Get one today!
Click the images below to view larger versions in your browser. The following titles are suggestions only! Please enjoy choosing your own titles for summer reading.
Building on the tremendous success of our past community-wide reading initiatives, the Pennington Public Library is thrilled to present Beyond the Page, spanning March and April 2026. This program is designed to bring our community together around one powerful book, sparking conversation and thoughtful discussion.
Supported by local schools, dedicated community partners, and volunteers, Beyond the Page aims to broaden our imaginations and understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book.
Free copies of the book may be picked up at the Pennington Public Library.
Book Summary
Photo by Alan Berner
Exhalation: Stories is the highly celebrated collection from Ted Chiang, one of the most respected authors working in speculative fiction today. Chiang’s stories use imaginative, high-concept scenarios as thought experiments to explore deep philosophical and human questions.
This collection of nine thought-provoking stories includes “The Lifecycle of Software Objects,” which delves into the ethical and emotional complexities of raising sentient digital beings, forcing the reader to confront what defines life, ownership, and parental responsibility. Another key story imagines a mechanical species grappling with the nature of consciousness and inevitable entropy.
Chiang’s narratives are deeply empathetic, focusing on the human experience while tackling massive themes like free will, determinism, artificial intelligence, parallel universes, environmentalism, and the terrifying beauty of the cosmos. Readers are invited to reflect on the relationship between humanity and the technology we create, and to consider the profound future implications of our present-day advancements.
The collection is an ideal choice to spark innovative programming and a truly meaningful community conversation that goes beyond the page of the book itself.
Programs & Events
Community Art Exhibition
Friday, March 27 – April 30, 2026“What If?” Art Show 2026 Inspired by Ted Chiang’s Exhalation, artists of all ages imagine the future.
In partnership with the Hopewell Valley Arts Council. Location: The Global Neurosciences Institute, Pennington Admission: Free and open to the community Details and Gallery Hours
Past Programs & Events with Recordings
In Conversation with Dr. Cal Newport Originally on Thursday, March 19 @ 7:00 PM via Zoom New York Times bestselling author known for books like Deep Work and Digital Minimalism Recording Available
The Great Silence of Lichens: Biology, Ecology, and Listening Originally on Tuesday, March 24 @ 7:00 PM via Zoom
An educational lecture about lichens – complex, symbiotic organisms that reveal the health of our environment – with Dennis Waters
In partnership with The Sourland Conservancy Recording Available
The Art of Storytelling: Rewriting the Pop Culture Script with Dr. Grace Gipson Originally on Tuesday, April 7 @ 7:00 PM via Zoom
Explore the multi-faceted identity of Afrofuturism and its blossoming relationship with speculative fiction across literature, film, and music.
In partnership with The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum Recording Available
Closing Keynote:Virtual Conversation with Author Ted Chiang Originally on Thursday, April 16 @ 7:00 pm via Zoom
In partnership with the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Recording Available Upon Request
Past Programs & Events
Sunday, March 1 @ 3:00 pm at The Pennington School Kickoff: “Bounded Freedom: Human Expression in the Age of AI” with Dr. Nathan C. Walker, Rutgers AI Ethics Lab
Wednesday, March 4 @ 7:00-8:30 PM via Zoom Demystifying Artificial Intelligence
with Eddi Khaytman, MBA, Web Developer and AI consultant
Thursday, March 5, 2026, 2:00 PM via Zoom Book Discussion: Exhalation: Stories by Ted Chiang
Pennington Library Adult Book Club
Tuesday, March 10, 2026, 7:30 PM, Pennington Public Library Novella Discussion: The Lifecycle of Software Objects By Ted Chiang
Too Busy for Books Book Club
Saturday, March 7 @ 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM at HVCHS Media Center A Morning of AI Exploration at HVRSD | A Community-Wide Event
Featuring workshops on Artificial Intelligence education for all levels (parents, novices, and advanced users)
Presented by the Hopewell Valley Regional School District Educational Technology team
Sunday, March 8, 2026, 3:00 PM, Pennington Public Library
Exhalation Themed Film Screening & Discussion: Robot & Frank
Tuesday, March 10 @ 7:00 PM via Zoom Relating with Kids & Tech: Building Bridges in a Digital World
With Dr. Jill Richards, Director Comprehensive Mental Health Services
In partnership with the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance, Digital Wellness Initiative and Hopewell Valley Regional School District.
Saturday, March 14 @ 1:00 PM at Pennington Public Library Robotics Workshop
A hands-on experience for families. Recommended for ages 8+
Featuring student leaders from the Hopewell Valley CHS Robotics Team
Sunday, March 15, 2026, 3:00 PM, Hopewell Valley Central High School
Exhalation Themed Film Screening & Discussion: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Wednesday, March 18 @ 7:00-8:30 PM via Zoom Guided Autobiography WorkshopExploring Identity and Memory Reflect on how your most significant memories evolve over time with Julie Feibush
Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 2:00 PM (HVRSD School Half Day), Pennington Public Library
Family Film Screening & Craft: Wall-E
Friday, March 20, 2026 Tech Night In
An evening for families to explore and share technology together. This initiative provides resources and prompts for interactive, tech-based family activities that spark creativity and connection.
In partnership with the Hopewell Valley Municipal Alliance, Digital Wellness Initiative and Hopewell Valley Regional School District.
Sunday, March 29, 2026, 3:00 PM, Pennington Public Library
Exhalation Themed Screening & Discussion: The Twilight Zone: The Lonely and Star Trek: The Next Generation: TheMeasure of a Man
Wednesday, April 8, 2026, 2:00 PM, Hopewell Community Room
Hopewell Branch, Mercer County Library Discussion of short stories by Ted Chiang: The Merchant and the Alchemist’s Gate Exhalation Dacey’s Patent Automatic Nanny
The Short of It Discussion Group
Saturday, April 11 @ 11:00 AM at The Watershed Institute Clever Corvids: Understanding the World’s Smartest Birds.
An interactive program for adults and families with children.
In partnership with The Watershed Institute
Sunday, April 19 @ 1:00 – 2:30 PM at Pennington Public Library Worlds from Thin Air: An Intro to Speculative Improv
For all ages. Try your hand at Improv Theater!
Author Mariah Fredericks discusses her novels The Lindbergh Nanny and The Wharton Plot with the Pennington Public Library.
Thursday, August 28, 2025 @ 7 pm via Zoom
Join us as we delve into two of author Mariah Fredericks’ captivating works: The Lindbergh Nanny and The Wharton Plot. In The Lindbergh Nanny, Mariah transports us to the tumultuous 1930s, offering a gripping, intimate look at one of America’s most infamous crimes through the eyes of the woman closest to the Lindbergh family. Then, with The Wharton Plot, she whisks us away to the glittering, yet often restrictive, world of turn-of-the-century New York society, where a fascinating mystery unfolds around the iconic Edith Wharton. Join us as Mariah discusses her meticulous research, her unique approach to historical narrative, and the inspiration behind these two compelling novels that explore the complexities of human nature and societal pressures across different eras.
Sponsored by the Friends of the Pennington Public Library
About Our Presenter: Mariah Fredericks was born, raised, and still lives in New York City. She graduated from Vassar College with a degree in history. She is the author of the Jane Prescott mystery series, which has twice been nominated for the Mary Higgins Clark Award. The Lindbergh Nanny, her first standalone novel, was nominated for the Agatha and Anthony Awards. The Wharton Plot was named one of Library Journal’s Best Crime Novels of the Year. Her new novel, The Girl in the Green Dress, featuring New Yorker writer Morris Markey and Zelda Fitzgerald, will be published September 2, 2025.
Free! An online “peek” and Virtual Talk aboutWashington Crossing State Park’s New Museum and Visitors CenterPresented by Clay Craighead and Mark Sirak, Lead Historians at WCSP Thursday, June 12, 2025 from 3:00-4:00 pm
Discover the exciting future of Washington Crossing State Park! Join Park Historians Clay Craighead and Mark Sirak for an engaging hour-long Zoom chat about the $28 million in improvements transforming this nationally-known Hopewell Township landmark. This is your chance to get answers directly from the experts! We invite you to submit your questions in advance regarding:
The NEW Visitor Museum
The immersive “Experience the Crossing” feature
The remarkable artifacts from the Swan Foundation
Updates on the Park’s 13 miles of trails
The restoration of the Park’s 1932 Arboretum
The exciting preparations for 2026’s 250th Birthday Celebration
The return of the Harding Mural
Mark and Clay will share insights and answer your questions during this free program, a collaboration between the Washington Crossing Park Association and the Pennington Public Library. Please submit your questions in advance upon registration. A recording of this webinar will be made available for those unable to attend live.
About Our Presenters: Mark Sirak and Clay Craighead are “Resource Interpretive Specialists” at the NJ Department of Environmental Protection, with a combined 60 years of service at Washington Crossing State Park. They administer the Visitor Museum and its extensive collection of Revolutionary War artifacts, give tours to school children and other visitors, run lectures and programs, and offer weekly musket firings to the delight of all.
Weaving is a pastime of the main character of our Big Read title Circe by Madeline Miller. We welcome you to join us with your own weaving!
God’s eyes, also known as Ojos de Dios, were first made by the Huichol Indians in Mexico so that their gods would protect and watch over them. The God’s eye is a symbol of the all-seeing power and understanding unseen things.
This event is part of the 2024 NEA Big Read – an initiative designed to broaden our imaginations and understanding of our world, our neighbors, and ourselves through the joy of sharing a good book. The featured book Circe by Madeline Miller retells a Greek story from the eponymous heroine’s point of view, giving voice to a lesser goddess Homer’s The Odyssey. We have curated a list of age-appropriate companion titles for our community’s young readers that explore traditional stories from cultures around the globe, ranging from the Greek mythology of Circe to Vietnamese legends. Please visit PenningtonLibrary.org/2024BigRead for a full calendar of events and more information.
NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest.
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