In celebration of Juneteenth, WV Living Book Club dives into West Virginians’ experiences of the Civil Rights movement with our next read.
Spring is the season of growth and transformation, perfect for a protagonist who experiences a whirlwind of chaos during the Prohibition era and comes out the other side a changed person—for better or worse. That was part of the discussion revolving around Jeannette Walls’ book Hang the Moon, the subject of the WV Living Book Club’s spring meeting.
The summer, however, carries themes of freedom, unity, and light, and our next Book Club read carries all of that and more.
West Virginians’ Experiences in Civil Rights: How We Have Been Connected All Along is a collection of personal accounts and experiences from West Virginia storytellers Joan Browning, Crystal Good, Don Spencer, and many others. Within the pages, their impact on civil rights and equality in Almost Heaven and beyond from the 1960s to the modern day is showcased, as well as the ways in which their efforts continue to tie us all together.
The stories were compiled by Eve Faulkes and published in 2024 with more than 200 of her original illustrations with the support of The Community Coalition for Social Justice in Morgantown. Faulkes will join us in person for the conversation on June 23, 2026, along with friend, featured storyteller, and book co-editor Joan Browning, with other storytellers possibly joining virtually. Join us at New South Square in Granville to learn more about the creation of this graphic novel, the voices within it, and why their stories are so important to the history and culture of West Virginia—past, present, and future.
Register for the spring 2026 meeting and order your book on our website. 1135 Main Street, Granville, wvliving.com/bookclub
Bookstores and libraries are invited to join in on the fun! To become a participating partner, register on our Book Club page
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SPRING 2026 ISSUE
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