Join us for a virtual author chat with Eric Gansworth, author of our YA Rogue Reads Book, If I Ever Get Out of Here.

About the Author: Eric Gansworth (Sˑha-weñ na-saeˀ) is a member of Eel clan, enrolled Onondaga, born and raised at the Tuscarora Nation. He has published a dozen books, including the novels Mending Skins (Pen Oakland Award), Extra Indians (American Book Award, NAISA Book of the Year), and Give Me Some Truth (Whippoorwill Award). His newest book, Apple (Skin to the Core), a memoir-in-verse and images, was longlisted for the 2020 National Book Award. He is a Professor of English and Lowery Writer-in-Residence at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York.  

About the Book:  Lewis "Shoe" Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games, the snow blowing through his roof. What he's not used to is white people being nice to him — people like George Haddonfield, whose family recently moved to town with the Air Force. As the boys connect through their mutual passion for music, especially the Beatles, Lewis has to lie more and more to hide the reality of his family's poverty from George. He also has to deal with the vicious Evan Reininger, who makes Lewis the special target of his wrath. But when everyone else is on Evan's side, how can he be defeated? And if George finds out the truth about Lewis's home — will he still be his friend? Acclaimed adult author Eric Gansworth makes his YA debut with this wry and powerful novel about friendship, memory, and the joy of rock 'n' roll.

About Rogue Reads 

Rogue Reads encourages everyone in Jackson County to read and discuss the same books. This three-month program takes place December through February and features discussions and programs on the 2022-23 theme: Music & Community.

Join the Rogue Reads Challenge on Beanstack, then read and discuss this year's titles: Music is History by Questlove (adults), If I Ever Get Out Of Here by Eric Gansworth (teens), Amina’s Voice by Hena Khan (tweens), and Because by Mo Willems (children and families). Beanstack participants track their reading to earn badges and chances to win fun prizes. Look for more exciting Rogue Reads programs at jcls.org/roguereads. 

Rogue Reads is sponsored by the Jackson County Library Foundation and Hunter Communications. Hunter Communications is proud to help Jackson County families connect to Rogue Reads with premier internet service. Learn if you qualify to save $30 a month on internet access through the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program.