The Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati continues reading and discussing books for On the Same Page, the project that asks the entire community to read and discuss the same book. This year's books are Crossing the River by Caryl Phillips and, for young readers, Hush by Jacqueline Woodson.

River spans 250 years, opening with an anguished African farmer with failed crops being forced to sell his children into slavery. It progresses to the present, employing several voices to tell of a family's struggle to establish roots in a new land.

Hush is the story of Toswiah Green and her life when her family enters the witness protection program. The pressures of growing up in a strange place, along with a forced new identity, form the basis of a tale about an adolescent coming to terms with life.

Phillips will be here 7 p.m. May 4 to discuss and sign River. You'll find him at at the University of Cincinnati's Tangeman University Center, Great Hall. It's a freebie.

He'll also turn up on Channel 48 at 8 p.m. May 5 to discuss the book and take questions (call-ins welcome) in a live broadcast.

On the Same Page is a cooperative effort of Channel 48, the Enquirer and the Public Library of Cincinnati & Hamilton County.

Ready to talk about River? Here's where you can go this week:

• 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Corryville branch library, 2802 Vine St., (369-6034). Discussion leader is Frank Dugan, branch manager.

• 7 p.m. Thursday, Oakley branch, 4033 Gilmore Ave. (369-6038). Discussion leader is Jeanne Rettig, branch manager.

• 1 p.m. Saturday, Madisonville branch, 4830 Whetsel Ave. (369-6029). Discussion leader is Denise Scretchen, branch manager.

• 2 p.m. Saturday, Main Library, Room 3B, 800 Vine St., downtown, 369-6918. Discussion leader is Barb Behrends, reference librarian.

• 6 p.m. Monday, Price Hill branch, 3215 Warsaw Ave. (369-4490). Discussion leader is Sherry Quiñones, branch manager

• 7 p.m. Monday, Main Library, Room 3A, 800 Vine St. (369-6918). Discussion leader is Barb Behrends, reference librarian.

Upcoming Hush discussions:

• 4 p.m. Thursday, Bond Hill branch, 1703 Dale Road (369-4445). Discussion leader is Lisa Ribar, branch manager.

• 4 p.m. Thursday, Covedale branch, 4980 Glenway Ave., (369-4460). Discussion leader is Diana Jeffries, reference librarian.

• 2 p.m. Saturday, Main Library, Room 2A, 800 Vine St., (369-6918). Discussion leader is Carrie Conlin, young adult librarian.

Join Enquirer groupThe Enquirer is looking for Crossing the River readers to join our discussion group. We'll meet within a month on a date to be determined. Would you join us? E-mail Jim Knippenberg (jknippenberg@enquirer.com). Or call 768-8513.