Author of A Most Beautiful Thing
Join us for our first-ever virtual Meet the Author event. Arshay Cooper will be discussing his inspiring memoir A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America's First All-Black High School Rowing Team.
Growing up on Chicago’s West Side in the 1990s, raised by a single mother in a one-bedroom apartment, Cooper witnessed violence on the streets every day. His life was forever altered when he and a handful of fellow classmates, some from rival gangs, joined a newly formed rowing team at Manley High School. Together, they rewrote their futures and transformed the sport by becoming the first all-black high school crew team in the country.
Moving, mesmerizing, and highly relevant, A Most Beautiful Thing was recently made into a feature-length documentary, narrated by Common and executive produced by Dwyane Wade, Grant Hill, and 9th Wonder. Learn more about the book and film at the A Most Beautiful Thing website.
Register for Meet the Author: Wednesday, October 21, 7pm
This event will be hosted on Zoom. The event is free and open to the public, though registration is required.
Take Part in a Book Discussion
Our librarians will be hosting two discussions of A Most Beautiful Thing. We invite you to read the book and discuss it with your community. You can reserve a copy in our catalog, or check out an ebook or downloadable audiobook in our digital collection.
Register for a discussion
Tuesday, October 13, 7pm
Thursday, October 15, 11am
Those interested in purchasing a copy of the book are encouraged to do so from Semicolon, Chicago’s only black, female-owned bookstore. Community members who purchase a copy of the book from Semicolon will receive a bookplate signed by the author. Books can be purchased via Semicolon's website.
From the south: Go north on Green Bay Road. Turn left on Wilmette Ave. Turn right on Park Ave. Library is located on the corner of Wilmette Ave. and Park Ave. Parking lot is on the north side of the building.
From the north: Go south on Green Bay Road. Turn right on Wilmette Ave. Turn right on Park Ave. Library is located on the corner of Wilmette Ave. and Park Ave. Parking lot is on the north side of the building.
From I-94 (Edens Expressway):from the South - exit at Lake Ave. East. Go east on Lake Ave. a little over 2 miles. Turn right on Park Ave. • from the North - exit at Rt. 41/Skokie Blvd. Turn left (east) on Lake Ave. Go east on Lake Ave. a little over 2 miles. Turn right on Park Ave.
Mass transit options include CTA, Metra, and Pace.