This year鈥檚 community-wide NEA Big Read Lakeshore enters its 12th year and accompanying programs for four different-aged reader groups.
The NEA Big Read Lakeshore is a month-long, county-wide reading program that takes place each November, to support reading among various age groups and expose readers to great works for pleasure and enrichment. The program encourages local book clubs interested in reading any of the chosen titles to sign up on the program鈥檚 website () to gain access to free book discussion material and information on how to get involved. More than 50 private book clubs participate each year.
The 2025-26 program will also feature dozens of book discussions and/or author events for readers of all ages throughout Ottawa, Allegan and Muskegon counties. Please check back to the 鈥渆vents鈥� at , where new events will be posted as soon as they鈥檙e scheduled.
The selected books for this fall, include:
NEA Big Read group: 鈥�I Cheerfully Refuse鈥� by Leif Enger
The book centers around Rainy, a grieving musician sailing in Lake Superior in search of his lost and beloved wife. Set in a collapsing, lawless America ruled by a ruthless billionaire class, Rainy encounters storms, survivors and unexpected allies 鈥� including a young stowaway who changes his journey.
Author Leif Enger will visit three times throughout Ottawa County at the following locations, 7pm for each date.
Nov. 11 at Hope College (Graves Hall)
Nov. 12 at Herrick Public Library鈥檚 main branch in Holland
Nov. 13 at the Muskegon Area District Library
Middle Read group: 鈥�A Wish in the Dark鈥� by Christina Soontornvat
This Newbery Award winner follows Pong, born in a prison and who later escapes to find freedom is just as elusive outside 鈥� where the wealthy bask in light while the poor remain in darkness. Hunted by the warden鈥檚 determined daughter, Pong discovers harsh truths about justice and power in the Thai-inspired city of Chattana. This fast-paced adventure reimagines Les Mis諟erables. The Middle Read author visit will take place on March 25-26, 2026.
Little Read group: 鈥淛辞耻谤苍别测鈥� by Aaron Becker
Author and illustrator Aaron Becker created this wordless picture book, which earned a Caldecott Honor. The illustrations follow a lonely girl who draws a magic door and escapes into a fantastical world filled with adventure and danger. Armed with a red marker, she creates boats, balloons and flying carpets to navigate the wondrous landscape. When captured by a sinister emperor, her courage and kindness become the key to freedom.
Mini Read group: 鈥淩ow, Row, Row Your Boat鈥� (in English & Spanish), Illustrated by Annie Kubler and Sarah Dellow. This book comes from a series specifically designed for babies, and serves as a wonderful introduction to books through nursery rhymes and interactive text.
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Support for Big Read Lakeshore Provided by NEA
The program 鈥� organized by Hope College 鈥� has continued to be supported in part with a $20,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and also supported by Arts Midwest. The NEA Big Read Lakeshore program has now received 11 grants from the NEA annually since 2014. To learn more about how National Endowment for the Arts grants impact individuals and communities, visit .
Hope College鈥檚 NEA Big Read, Middle Read, Little Read and Mini Read Lakeshore programs bring the community together around a common book for a month each fall, using the shared experience of reading, discussing and exploring the themes of the book as a springboard to listen to and learn from each other. Presented in collaboration with 75 community partners including lakeshore libraries, nonprofits, businesses, school districts and academic institutions, the programs involve thousands of readers along the Lakeshore each year.
Van Duinen founded the Big Read Lakeshore (designed for adult readers and high school-aged readers) in 2014 and added the Little Read Lakeshore in 2017. The programs have engaged an estimated 20,000 people annually, including thousands of students from pre-school through college age in Ottawa, Allegan and Muskegon counties.
The NEA Big Read Lakeshore and its Little Read Lakeshore were recognized by Michigan Humanities as its Statewide Community Partner of the Year (2021). The following year the NEA Big Read Lakeshore program expanded to include in scope and reach to Muskegon.
For a list of participating community and school partners, visit: