Read Poetry Central Minnesota, a One Book, Four Counties community read program encourages readers  and educators in Sherburne, Benton, Stearns, and Wright counties to discuss Bodega: poems by Su Hwang. Read Poetry Central Minnesota is a program of Lyricality, made possible through a vibrant collaboration of librarians, teachers, book group leaders, and readers from central Minnesota. The program’s purpose is to initiate thoughtful discussion around issues of race, identity, im/migration, and marginalization within marginalized communities, as explored in Bodega.

“Bodega is a Spanish word that has several meanings,” Su Hwang writes, “but its primary definition is ‘warehouse or cellar.’ In NYC, the word has come to describe a world within a world: a corner mini-mart that serves the community within a several-block radius. Like all good things, however, bodegas are now an endangered species…this one word holds so much power, meaning––and memories. BODEGA uses the metaphor of this urban, communal space to interrogate issues of race, identity, im/migration, and marginalization within marginalized communities from the lens of a coming-of-age story.” Readers will have an opportunity to discuss the book at Zoom meetings co-sponsored by Great River Regional Library on October 14 at 1:30 and 7 pm.