15 Years of Stories: Celebrating the Senior Read Too Book Club

Senior Read Too Book Club

Celebrating 15 Years of Reading, Conversation & Community

Fifteen years ago, a group of readers at the West Philadelphia Senior Center and the Free Library Of Philadephia started something that has lasted far longer than anyone may have expected.

They started reading together.

Since 2011, the Senior Read Too Book Club has brought members together to talk about books, authors, characters, history, relationships, mystery, family, and life. Some books were favorites. Some sparked disagreements. Some surprised us. And some stayed with us long after the meeting was over.

Through it all, the club kept going.

As we celebrate 15 years, we thought it would be fun to look back at the books that have been part of the journey.

Looking Back: Our Reading Journey

2011

• May — Aretha: From These Roots — Aretha Franklin & David Ritz
• June — The Help — Kathryn Stockett
• July — A Million Little Pieces — James Frey
• August — Money Can't Buy Love — Connie Briscoe
• December — Killing Willis — Todd Bridges

2012

• January — Dreams from My Father — Barack Obama
• January — Silver Sparrow — Tayari Jones
• January — The Debt — Randall Robinson
• February — Sisters and Lovers — Connie Briscoe
• February — Shaq Uncut — Shaquille O'Neal
• March — The Shack — William Young
• May — The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo — Stieg Larsson
• September — Nothing Lasts Forever — Sidney Sheldon
• October — Gone Fishing — Walter Mosley
• October — Cross Fire — James Patterson
• November — The Trace — Patricia Cornwell

2013

• January — The Dante Club — Matthew Pearl
• February — I, Michael Bennett — James Patterson
• March — Fifth Born — Zelda Lockhart
• April — The First Lady — Carl Weber
• May — Satin Doll — Karen E. Quinones Miller

2014

• February — The Price of a Child — Lorene Cary
• March — A Fool's Paradise — Nancy Flowers Wilson
• April — Mom & Me & Mom — Maya Angelou
• May — Cross My Heart — James Patterson
• June — The Justus Girls — Slim Lambright
• October — The Warmth of Other Suns — Isabel Wilkerson
• November — Daddy's Gone A Hunting — Mary Higgins Clark

2015

• January — Orphan Train — Christina Baker Kline
• March — Cause of Death — Patricia Cornwell
• April — Jam on the Vine — LaShonda Katrice Barnett
• May — Gone Girl — Gillian Flynn
• November — Hope to Die — James Patterson

2016

• February — We Are Who We Say We Are — Mary Frances Berry
• March — If There Be Pain — Gloria Mallette
• April — Cold Mountain — Charles Frazier
• October — Their Eyes Were Watching God — Zora Neale Hurston
• November — Sleeping with Strangers — Eric Jerome Dickey
• December — The Book of Harlan — Bernice L. McFadden

2017

• January — The Measure of a Man — Sidney Poitier
• February — The Heart of a Woman — Maya Angelou
• March — The Girl on the Train — Paula Hawkins
• April — The Burning Room — Michael Connelly
• May — My Life, My Love, My Legacy — Coretta Scott King
• June — Another Brooklyn — Jacqueline Woodson
• July — The Life and Longing of Luther Vandross — Craig Seymour

2018

• The Wrong Side of Goodbye — Michael Connelly
• Home Sweet Murder — James Patterson
• Year of Yes — Shonda Rhimes
• Me Before You — Jojo Moyes
• A Higher Loyalty — James Comey
• Halsey Street — Naima Coster
• The Untelling — Tayari Jones

2019

• Two Little Girls in Blue — Mary Higgins Clark
• Red Sparrow — Jason Matthews
• An American Marriage — Tayari Jones
• We're Going to Need More Wine — Gabrielle Union
• Cross the Line — James Patterson

2020

• January — The Color of Water — James McBride
• February — Leaving Cecil Street — Diane McKinney-Whetstone

The COVID-19 Pause

Like so many organizations and community groups, the Senior Read Too Book Club had to take a break when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

The West Philly Senior Center and the Free Library of Philadelphia closed, and in-person meetings paused from March 2020 through early 2022.

It was a difficult time for everyone. But the club eventually returned, and the books started coming back too.

2022

• March — The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey — Walter Mosley
• September — Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song — Katherine Krohn
• October — The Whistler — John Grisham
• November — The Night She Disappeared — Lisa Jewell
• December — Whitney Houston: The Voice, the Music, the Inspiration — Narada Michael Walden

2023

• January — Glory in Death — J.D. Robb
• February — Ella Fitzgerald — Katherine Krohn
• March — The Night She Disappeared — Lisa Jewell
• April — 15th Affair — James Patterson & Maxine Paetro
• May — Jump — Larry Miller & Laila Lacy
• October — James Brown: I Feel Good — James Brown & Marc Eliot
• November — Where the Crawdads Sing — Delia Owens
• December — Six Years — Harlan Coben

2024

• January — The House of Wolves — James Patterson & Mike Lupica
• February — It Ends With Us — Colleen Hoover
• March — Ugly Love — Colleen Hoover
• April — It Starts With Us — Colleen Hoover
• May — American Queen — Vanessa Miller
• June — House in the Pines — Ana Reyes
• September — 12 Months to Live — James Patterson

2025

• January — Walking with the Wind — John Lewis
• February — Hard to Kill — James Patterson
• March — Resurrection — Danielle Steel
• April — The Women — Kristin Hannah
• May — Trial by Fire — Danielle Steel
• September — The Upcycled Self: A Memoir on the Art of Becoming Who We Are — Tariq Trotter
• November — Finding Me — Viola Davis
• December — The Last Thing He Told Me — Laura Dave

2026: Still Reading

Our 15th anniversary year

• January — Just As I Am — Cicely Tyson
• February — House of the Cross — James Patterson
• March — Alex Cross Must Die — James Patterson
• April — Uncommon Valor — Dawn Staley
• May — The Crash — Freida McFadden
• June — Kindred — Octavia E. Butler

A Few Favorite Authors Along the Way

James Patterson

James Patterson has been a longtime favorite of the club. His books have brought plenty of suspense, surprises, and conversation to club meetings over the years.

Tayari Jones

Tayari Jones has also been an important part of the club's reading history. Books such as Silver Sparrow, An American Marriage, and The Untelling gave members plenty to talk about, particularly around family, relationships, identity, and difficult choices.

Colleen Hoover

Colleen Hoover became a favorite during 2024, when the club read three of her novels: It Ends With Us, Ugly Love, and It Starts With Us.

Dawn Staley: A Philadelphia Favorite

Reading Uncommon Valor in 2026 was especially meaningful because Dawn Staley is more than a nationally recognized basketball star. She is a Philadelphia legend.

An Olympic gold medalist, Hall of Famer, and championship coach, Staley's story gave the club an opportunity to celebrate someone whose roots are right here in Philadelphia.

Freida McFadden

With The Crash, the club returned to the kind of suspenseful story that can keep readers turning pages and wondering what is going to happen next.

Octavia E. Butler

Kindred gave the club something different to think about. Butler's landmark novel opens conversations about history, race, identity, power, memory, and survival.

The Books Are Only Part of the Story

When you look at a list of more than a decade of books, it is easy to focus on the titles.

But the books aren't really the whole story.

The real story is what happened around the books.

It's the conversations.

It's somebody saying, "I didn't agree with that character."

It's discovering that another member saw the same story completely differently.

It's laughing about a scene everyone remembers.

It's sharing a personal experience that a book brought to mind.

Sometimes a book opens a conversation that might never have happened otherwise.

That is what makes a book club special.

Celebrating the People Behind the Club

Fifteen years would not have been possible without the people who helped make the Senior Read Too Book Club what it is.

We especially recognize Mrs. Gloria Persha, whose dedication has been an important part of the club's history.

We also recognize Marvin DeBose, "Mr. Philly Librarian," from the Free Library of Philadelphia, for his literary leadership, encouragement, and support.

And, of course, we celebrate the members of the Senior Book Club who have shown up, read the books, shared their thoughts, and kept the conversation going.

The names on a reading list tell only part of the story.

The people are the story.

Fifteen Years Later

The first book was selected in 2011.

Fifteen years later, we're still turning pages.

That's something worth celebrating.

There will be more books to read, more authors to discover, and probably more than a few lively disagreements about which books were great—and which ones weren't!

That's part of the fun.

Because the Senior Read Too Book Club has always been about more than reading.

It is about staying curious.

It is about learning from one another.

It is about friendship and community.

And it is about remembering that there is always another story waiting to be discovered.

So here's to the books we've finished, the books we've debated, the books we loved, and even the ones we couldn't wait to put down.

And here's to the next chapter.

Happy 15th Anniversary to the Senior Read Too Book Club!

2011–2026

Fifteen years of reading. Fifteen years of conversation. Fifteen years of community.

And we're not finished yet.

105 yr. Anniversary of The Tragedy , Massacre, Destruction & the Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 !

The Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921

It was once known as “Black Wall Street.” Just north of downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma, stood the thriving Greenwood District, home to some of the most successful African American businesses and professionals in the country. Black-owned grocery stores, clothing shops, theaters, restaurants, hotels, newspapers, and medical offices filled the streets. Greenwood’s economic success and strong sense of community earned it the nickname “Negro Wall Street of America.”

By 1921, Tulsa had become a wealthy city due to the booming oil industry. African Americans made up approximately 12% of the city’s population, and many Black residents in Greenwood had built prosperous businesses despite the racial discrimination of the era. However, resentment and racism among many white citizens grew alongside Greenwood’s success. White mobs frequently harassed and assaulted Black residents, and racial tensions increased throughout the city.

Tulsa was also a stronghold for the Ku Klux Klan, and lynching had occurred in the surrounding areas. Because of these dangers, many African Americans armed themselves for protection. These growing racial tensions eventually erupted into one of the worst acts of racial violence in American history: the Tulsa Race Massacre of 1921.

The Incident That Sparked the Violence

On May 30, 1921, a 19-year-old Black shoe shiner named Dick Rowland entered an elevator operated by a 17-year-old white girl named Sarah Page. It was later believed that Rowland may have stumbled and accidentally grabbed Page’s arm as he exited the elevator. However, rumors quickly spread that Rowland had assaulted her.

The following day, Rowland was arrested and taken to the Tulsa courthouse. Before any real investigation had taken place, the Tulsa Tribune published a sensationalized article claiming that Rowland had attacked Sarah Page. The article fueled public outrage and suggested that Rowland could be lynched.

By the evening of May 31, a large crowd of armed white citizens gathered outside the courthouse. The sheriff attempted to prevent a lynching and tried to disperse the crowd, but tensions continued to rise. Concerned for Rowland’s safety, a group of armed Black men—many of them veterans of World War I—went to the courthouse to help protect him. After initially leaving, they returned later as the white mob grew larger.

During the confrontation, a white man attempted to disarm one of the Black men. A shot was fired, and chaos erupted. Gunfire broke out between the two groups, and the heavily outnumbered Black residents retreated toward Greenwood.

The Destruction of Greenwood

What followed was devastating. White mobs invaded Greenwood, looting and burning homes and businesses. Some reports even stated that private airplanes were used to drop incendiary devices and fire upon residents from above. Over the course of less than 24 hours, approximately 40 city blocks were destroyed.

According to records from the American Red Cross:

More than 1,100 homes and businesses owned by Black residents were burned.
Hundreds more were looted.
Thousands of African Americans were left homeless.
An estimated 300 people were killed, though the exact number remains unknown.
The once-thriving Greenwood District was reduced to ashes.

The Truth Revealed

In the aftermath, Sarah Page declined to prosecute Dick Rowland. Further investigation revealed there was no evidence of assault. Historians later concluded that the incident was likely an accident. All charges against Rowland were dropped.

The tragedy of the Tulsa Race Massacre is made even more painful by the fact that so many lives, homes, and businesses were destroyed because of a false accusation and racial hatred. For decades, this event was omitted from many history books and rarely discussed publicly.

Today, the Tulsa Race Massacre is recognized as a painful but important part of American history. The story of Greenwood and its destruction must continue to be told so future generations understand both the achievements of Black Wall Street and the devastating consequences of racism and misinformation.

— Mr. Philly Librarian

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Bibliography

• Scott Ellsworth, Death in a Promised Land: The Tulsa Race Riot of 1921 (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1982).
• John Hope Franklin and Scott Ellsworth, eds., The Tulsa Race Riot: A Scientific, Historical and Legal Analysis (Oklahoma City: Tulsa Race Riot Commission, 2000).
• Eddie Faye Gates, They Came Searching: How Blacks Sought the Promised Land in Tulsa (Austin, Tex.: Eakin Press, 1997).
• Loren L. Gill, “The Tulsa Race Riot” (M.A. thesis, University of Tulsa, 1946).
• Robert N. Hower, Angels of Mercy: The American Red Cross and the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot (Tulsa, Okla.: Homestead Press, 1993).
• Mary E. Jones Parrish, Events of the Tulsa Disaster (Tulsa, Okla.: Out on a Limb Publishing, 1998).

Philly Muslim Connect : Resources & Marketplace Weekend

 

Senior Book Club Recommendation : Finding Me by Viola Davis

 

Finding Me by Viola Davis is a powerful and unforgettable memoir that left a lasting impact on our group. It was an incredible read and rated as the Best book we read in 2025. Every member of our Senior reading group loved the book, which made our discussions especially lively, emotional, and deeply moving. Many moments were heart-wrenching, particularly when Davis described the abuse and instability her family endured at the hands of her father.

Book Club Recommendation: Finding Me by Viola Davis

As a group, we discussed how the adversity and trauma Viola Davis experienced throughout her childhood directly shaped her resilience, empathy, and emotional depth as an artist. Her struggles did not define her limits; instead, they became the foundation of her strength. Her life experiences are clearly reflected in the depth and authenticity she brings to her work, including her role in How to Get Away with Murder and critically acclaimed performances in Fences, The Help, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Widows, and The Woman King.

Ultimately, Finding Me is not just a memoir about success or fame; it is a story of survival, healing, and self-acceptance. Davis’s journey illustrates how confronting pain and embracing one’s full story can lead to personal freedom and artistic excellence. The book resonated deeply with our group and sparked meaningful conversations about trauma, resilience, and the power of storytelling.

Overall, "Finding Me" is a must-read powerful, honest, and deeply inspiring.  Mr. Philly Librarian

2026 In the Margins Awards Announcement

 

2026 In the Margins Awards Announcement

We are proud to celebrate the 2026 In the Margins Award Honorees, recognizing books that amplify the voices and lived experiences of incarcerated, detained, and marginalized youth.

Featured Top Titles:

Stitching for Freedom by Gary Tyler with Ellen Bravo

Pushing Hope by Raymond Santana, illustrated by Keith Henry Brown

Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry

These extraordinary works illuminate stories of resilience, survival, justice, and hope — narratives that are essential in our classrooms, libraries, and communities.

Congratulations to the authors, illustrators, and publishers whose contributions continue to shape a more inclusive and empathetic youth literature landscape.

Full press release:

[https://lnkd.in/eeK3NA4c]

#InTheMargins #YouthLiterature #SchoolLibraries #DiverseBooks #ReadingJustice #LibrariesTransform #mrphillylibrarian #freelibraryofphiladelphia

‘Beasts of No Nation,’ a Brutal Tale of Child Soldiers in Africa

Uzodinma, Iweala(2006) Beasts of No Nation. Paperback | Harper Perennial | ISBN: 978-0060798688 | $12.59 | 176 Pages

Beasts of No Nation is a socially conscious and harrowing film based on the 2006 novel by Nigerian-American author Uzodinma Iweala. The story centers on child soldiers in war-torn West Africa, focusing on Agu, a nine-year-old boy (played by then 14-year-old Abraham Attah) who escapes the massacre of his family. Agu is soon captured and molded into a child soldier by a brutal rebel leader, portrayed powerfully by Idris Elba.

Directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga, this film doesn’t shy away from the devastating realities of war, especially its impact on children. Idris Elba delivers a chilling performance, and young Abraham Attah gives an astonishingly mature and heartbreaking portrayal of innocence lost.

This remarkable movie is certain to receive serious Oscar consideration. As Peter Travers of Rolling Stone aptly put it: “Hard to watch, impossible to forget.” You can stream it now on Netflix.

I also had the opportunity to meet Ishmael Beah, the author of A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, which explores the same harrowing subject of child soldiers. During the book talk and discussion, Beah went into powerful detail about what he and others went through—his firsthand account added a deeply personal and emotional layer to the topic, making the reality behind Beasts of No Nation feel even more urgent and heartbreaking. I saw the pain in his eyes as he spoke—deep, quiet, and haunting. It was a reminder that these stories are not just narratives crafted for books or films, but lived experiences filled with trauma, survival, and resilience. His presence and words left a lasting impact on me, giving a human face to the suffering portrayed in both his memoir and the film.  MrPhillyLibrarian

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Bibliography on Children Soldiers theme Books

Books

• Beah, Ishmael. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2008).
• Bok, Francis. Escape from Slavery: The True Story of My Ten Years in Captivity and My Journey to Freedom in America (St. Martin's Griffin, 2004).
• Brett, Rachel and Irma Specht. Young Soldiers: Why they Choose to Fight (Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc., 2004).
• Briggs, Jimmie. Innocents Lost: When Child Soldiers Go to War (Basic Books, 2005).
• Dallaire, Romeo. They Fight Like Soldiers, They Die Like Children: The Global Quest to Eradicate the Use of Child Soldiers (Random House, 2010).
• Denov, Myriam. Child Soldiers: Sierra Leone's Revolutionary United Front (Cambridge University Press, 2010).
• Eichstaedt, Peter. First Kill Your Family: Child Soldiers of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (Lawrence Hill Books, 2009).
• Gates, Scott and Simon Reich. Child Soldiers in the Age of Fractured States (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2009).
• Honwama, Alcinda. Child Soldiers in Africa (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007).
• Jal, Emmanuel. War Child: A Child Soldier's Story (St. Martin's Griffin, 2010).
• Kahn, Leora. Child Solders (Powerhouse Books, 2008).
• London, Charles. One Day the Soldiers Came: Voices of Children in War (Harper Perennial, 2007).
• McDonnell, Faith. Girl Soldier: A Story of Hope for Northern Uganda's Children (Chosen Books, 2007).
• Rosen, David M. Armies of the Young: Child Soldiers in War and Terrorism (Rutgers University Press, 2005).
• Singer, P.W. Children at War (University of California Press, 2006).
• Wessells, Michael. Child Soldiers: From Violence to Protection (Harvard University Press, 2009).

Films

Beasts of No Nation (2015)

Ana’s Playground (2009)

Blood Diamond (2006)

War Dance (2006)

Invisible Children (2003)

Children in War (2000)

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Blast from a Past Valentine’s Day: A Visit from the “Seniors Enjoy Reading” Book Club

Senior Book Club 

Every now and then, a memory surfaces that reminds us just how powerful community, kindness, and the love of reading truly are. One of those moments happened on Valentine’s Day 2017 a day I’ll never forget.

That afternoon, four members of the “Seniors Enjoy Reading” book club made a surprise visit to the Haverford Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. They came to express their appreciation for the support we provide to their club a small but meaningful Valentine’s gesture that touched my heart.

The “Seniors Enjoy Reading” book club is based at the West Philly Senior Community Center and includes 14 dedicated readers  12 women and 2 men  most in their late 70s and beyond. Many of the members face mobility challenges, which makes their participation in a book club even more special. Their fearless and compassionate leader, Mrs. Gloria Presha, has been the heart of the group  and a beloved patron of our library. She and I have worked together for over five years to help the club thrive.

As their advisor, I help select titles that spark rich discussion and ensure there are enough copies available through the Free Library of Philadelphia, so everyone can enjoy the books completely free of charge. It’s a simple but powerful service that keeps the joy of reading alive for so many seniors who might not otherwise have access.

That Valentine’s Day visit wasn’t just a thank-you. It was a celebration of connection, shared stories, and enduring friendship  the kind you can only build through years of reading together.

Some of the people in that photo are no longer with us, but their memories linger on.
Their wisdom, laughter, and love of books left a mark on all of us  and their spirit lives on in every meeting, every chapter, and every conversation the club continues to share.

At the Free Library, we know reading is for everyone at every stage of life. And through partnerships like this, we continue to build bridges between people, stories, and generations.

– Mr. Philly Librarian