Supporting Community Through Reading
Virginia Yerxa Community Read
Published in 1979, Kindred remains a powerful exploration of history, race, power, and survival. The novel follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976, who is repeatedly pulled back in time to a Maryland plantation in the early 19th century, where she confronts the brutal realities of slavery and her own family’s past.
"That's history. It happened whether it offends you or not."
The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens, From Brontë to Butler: Women Writers on the Page
The special exhibition explored the powerful influence of women authors across generations, highlighting the literary voices that have shaped storytelling and imagination.
The exhibition featured materials from Butler’s papers, now housed at the Huntington, and placed her work in conversation with earlier writers such as Charlotte Brontë. Explore the exhibition and learn more through the Huntington’s website.
Colusa County Free Library, Story Time
738 Market Street, Colusa
The Year We Learned to Fly by Jacqueline Woodson
Thursday, April 23, 5:30-6:30 pm
Colusa County Arts Council, Quilt-Along
151 5th Street, Colusa
Participants designed their own fabric square for a community quilt that celebrates our interconnected stories.
Saturday, April 4, 10:00-noon
25 April 2026
VIRGINIA READ DAY
Sacramento Valley Museum, 1491 E Street, Williams
10:00 am, Keynote with Dr. Jasmine H. Wade
Our Virginia Read Day keynote speaker explored the historical significance of Kindred by Octavia E. Butler, examining how this seminal work reshaped modern speculative fiction. The talk delved into the ethics of time travel and how Butler uses Kindred to challenge us not only to revisit history, but to confront it honestly and consider how its legacy shapes who we are today.
As Assistant Professor Ethnic Studies and Pan African Studies at CSU, Sacramento, Dr. Wade is a scholar of Black and Indigenous futurisms and a speculative fiction storyteller.
Noon-2:00pm
Families were invited to a day of hands-on, engaging activities inspired by Kindred. Participants unleashed their creativity with a themed art project, planted an herb garden alongside the Garden Club of Colusa County, and built a time capsule inspired by Dana’s time-traveling adventures.
A self-guided tour of the local history museum rounded out the experience, connecting hands-on fun with the stories of the past.
This event offered a mix of learning, crafting, and exploration for all ages.
VIRGINIA READ DAY EVENTS
COMMUNITY EVENTS
24 April 2026
KINDRED SPIRITS, Book Club with a Twist
Sacramento Valley Museum, 1491 E Street, Williams
6:30-8:00 pm
The fifth annual Book Club with a Twist gathered a small group of readers for a speed dating style discussion of Kindred. Participants rotated through quick conversations exploring themes of power, survival, and history’s lasting impact. Though intimate in size, the evening sparked thoughtful dialogue and meaningful connection.