The Importance of Community: How Norwell Cares Continues Community Book Discussion is Connecting Peo

On Thursday, March 23, Norwell High School hosted its fifth annual Norwell Cares Continues Community Book Discussion Program, formerly known as Norwell Reads. The program is essentially a large book club that is open to middle and high school students, as well as members of the Norwell Public Library and the Norwell Council on Aging. Each year, a book is chosen for participants to read, and then a date is scheduled for a discussion and luncheon. The discussion is organized and run by Norwell High School’s librarian, Mrs. Pratt, and the Norwell Public Library, who set up the event, create questions, and promote connection and inclusivity when talking about a difficult topic. In the past, books with hard to discuss topics, such as Just Mercy and I’ll Always Write Back, have been chosen in order to create discussions where people from different generations can share their own point of view, as well as learn from other’s perspectives. This year’s book was Still Alice by Lisa Genova, which follows a woman with early on-set Alzheimers, and the middle school participants read The Space Between Lost and Found by Sandy Stark-McGinnis, which looked at Alzheimers from a child’s point of view. The books, along with the premade, open-ended questions, led to an intergenerational discussion that connected participants and gave them space to share and listen. Despite being a difficult topic, the event was enjoyed by both students and adults because it created an environment for people of all ages to connect in. The Norwell Cares Continues Community Book Discussion Program encourages differences in opinions and ideas in order to promote the importance of community and listening to others from different ages and backgrounds. The event is a fantastic opportunity for people to connect and learn from one another, and demonstrates how difficult topics can bring people together.