The Philadelphia Public Library has chosen Julie Otsuka’s award winning book, “Buddha in the Attic” for its one book program, reports Montgomery Media.
The One Book program encourages an entire city to read one book as a way of generating discussion and bringing people together under one experience. Otsuka’s book begins with the picture bride’s arrival in America to their imprisonment in incarceration camps during World War II.
“Japanese cultures and traditions will be explored this year in events such as a program on the Geisha in myth and reality, a Japanese sword-fighting demonstration, in addition to workshops in origami, Japanese classical dance, and kimono-dressing for kids,” says program coordinator Kalela Williams.
Otsuka kicked off this year’s event with a reading at Philadelphia Central Library.