The Fairfield Public Library and its community partners are happy to announce the One Book One Town selection for 2021 – Punching the Air by award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and Dr. Yusef Salaam. This is the story of a tragic event leading to an unjust imprisonment and its impact on the family and community. It is also a story of how the power of art and poetry can create strength and community.
Ibi Zoboi is the New York Times Bestselling author of American Street, a National Book Award Finalist and a New York Times Notable Book. Her writing has been published widely.
Dr. Yusef Salaam was just fifteen years old when his life was upended after being wrongly convicted with four other boys in the “Central Park Jogger” case. In 2002, after the young men spent years of their lives behind bars, their sentences were overturned. They are now known as The Exonerated Five. Their story has been documented in the award-winning film The Central Park Five and in the highly acclaimed series When They See Us. Dr. Salaam is now a poet, prison reform activist, and inspirational speaker. He received a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016 among other honors.
Both authors will be visiting Fairfield virtually on Tuesday, March 2nd, 2021 at 7:00 pm. There will also be book discussions and other related programs, including the annual One Book One Town writing contest. Copies of the book are available in print or digitally to borrow from the libraries or for purchase from the Fairfield University Book Store.
Registration for the Authors visit will begin February 1, 2021. Details on One Book One Town events and the Writing Contest will soon be updated at fairfieldpubliclibrary.org/obot/
The One Book One Town book is chosen each year by a committee comprised of members of the Fairfield Public Library, the Pequot Library, Fairfield University, Fairfield University Bookstore, and the Fairfield Public Schools. This is the thirteenth year of Fairfield’s One Book One Town. One Book One Town is made possible through the sponsorship of the Friends of the Fairfield Public Library.