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2015 Community Read Book: Hole in my Life by Jack Gantos

If you happen to see people reading this book in waiting rooms, parks and libraries all over the area, don’t be surprised. The Manchester District Library announced last week that the 2015 Community Read for the 5 Healthy Towns of Manchester, Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, and Stockbridge is Hole in My Life by Jack Gantos. Over 2,000 free copies of Hole in My Life will be distributed throughout the five communities during this year Read.

The book recounts a summer of the author life when, as an aspiring writer looking for money and adventure, he helped sail a yacht loaded with hashish from the Virgin Islands to New York City, where he and his partners sold the drug until caught by federal agents. His story contains an important and inspiring message of not letting your mistakes define you or keep you from your goals. Hole in My Life won both the Michael L. Printz and Robert F. Sibert honors. Click to read more about the book including an excerpt.

To get a free copy of Hole in My Life, you can stop by the Manchester District Library or click  to find other locations as well as more information about the program. Participants are invited to share their free copy with others in the community after reading.

The goal of the 5H Community Read is to bring the 5 Healthy Towns together in a dialogue on the importance of wellness and staying active while exploring the magic of reading. The Read is supported by a grant from the Chelsea-Area Wellness Foundation. Each year Community Read focuses on one of the Foundation four health initiatives. This year initiative, explored through Gantos’ book, is “Avoiding Unhealthy Substances.”

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.