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PREORDER THE BOOK

COME TO THE LAUNCH EVENT

About the Eastern Panhandle Community Read

The Eastern Panhandle Community Read is a regional reading initiative created to bring neighbors, educators, advocates, and readers together around one shared story—and the urgent conversations it inspires.

Each year, Four Seasons Books selects a single powerful book that speaks to the unique challenges, values, and voices of our Appalachian communities. Through that book, we invite the public to read together, reflect deeply, and take part in a series of events that blend literature, civic engagement, and collective action.
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More than a book club, this is a movement rooted in the belief that storytelling can spark change—and that the most important conversations start with a shared page.

What It Includes:

• A featured Community Read title chosen for its relevance, power, and resonance
• Monthly book club meetings at Four Seasons Books and partner sites
• Public programs and speaker events in collaboration with local organizations
• A capstone author event with the book’s creator, open to all
• Resources and materials for schools, libraries, and community groups

​Our 2025 Pick:

They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals by Mariah Blake
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A fearless investigation into the global spread of “forever chemicals,” the corporations behind them, and the people fighting back.
This year’s selection is especially personal. With Jefferson County facing its own water contamination battles, They Poisoned the World gives us the chance to learn, connect, and organize through story.