Introducing One Book, One Laramie County
- What happens when an entire community reads the same book?
One Book, One Laramie County invites readers of all backgrounds to come together through a shared reading experience. This community-wide initiative encourages us to read, reflect, and engage in meaningful conversation, creating space for connection across generations, perspectives, and experiences. At its heart, One Book, One Laramie County is about finding common ground through literature.
This year’s selection also connects to a moment of national reflection as the United States marks its semiquincentennial, a time to consider the stories that shape who we are, where we are today, and where we are going. In that spirit, we have selected an incredible story that invites thoughtful reflection, and shared discussion.
The Bear by Andrew Krivak
A former National Endowment for the Arts Big Read selection, The Bear is a lyrical, haunting novel about human fragility, resilience, and our relationship with the natural world.
Set in an imagined future, the story follows a girl raised by her father in deep harmony with the land. With only a few remnants of civilization left behind, he teaches her how to listen—to the seasons, the stars, and the living world around her. When she must navigate the wilderness alone, an unexpected guide leads her toward survival, understanding, and belonging.
The Bear invites readers to slow down, reflect, and consider what endures when much has been stripped away making it a powerful foundation for shared discussion and interpretation.
Read. Reflect. Discuss.
There are multiple ways to be a part of One Book, One Laramie County:
- Free copies of The Bear will be available at all LCLS locations beginning February 2
- Readers are encouraged to read and pass the book along, extending the experience throughout the community to their family and friends
- Related reading lists will be available, including selections for youth and children to support family participation
- One Book, One Laramie County will conclude with an author event on May 2. More details will be shared as the event approaches – stay tuned.
Join us as we read together and discover how reading becomes community.