The Cincinnati Enquirer

Time is running out for Cincinnatians who want to meet to chat about 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, telling 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. next Tuesday to discuss and sign River as well as answer questions. You'll find him at the University of Cincinnati's Tangeman University Center, Great Hall. Free.

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.

And he'll sign and discuss it at noon May 5 at Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Edwards and Madison roads, Norwood.

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

• 6:30 p.m. today, Pleasant Ridge branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 6233 Montgomery Road (369-4488) with discussion leaders David Dukart, branch manager, and Doris Ludwick, library services assistant.

• 11:15 a.m. Thursday, Bond Hill Recreation Center, 1501 Elizabeth Place (242-9565) with discussion leader Lisa Ribar, Bond Hill branch manager.

• 2 p.m. Thursday, Madeira branch library, 7200 Miami Ave. (369-6028) with discussion leaders and reference librarians Barb Homan, and Robynn Warner.

• 7 p.m. Thursday, Westwood branch library, 3345 Epworth Ave. (369-4474) with Joyce Baer, branch manager and Nancy Weinberg, reference librarian.

• 1 p.m. Thursday, Crosby Township Senior Center, 8910 Willey Road (738-1440) with discussion leader Margaret Rieger, Harrison branch library manager.

Hush events:

• 3 p.m. Thursday, Madisonville branch library, 4830 Whetsel Ave., (369-6029) with discussion leader Denise Scretchen, branch manager.

• 3:30 p.m. Thursday, West End branch library, 805 Ezzard Charles Drive (369-6026) with discussion leader Kathy Bach, branch manager.

• 3:30 May 6, Wyoming branch library, 500 Springfield Pike (369-6014) with discussion leader Betty Meyer, reference librarian.

Join Enquirer for discussion of 'Crossing'

We're looking for readers of Crossing the River, this year's On the Same Page book selection.

We want you to join our discussion group, which we will feature in a future Tempo story. We'll meet 7 p.m. today in the Enquirer's 20th-floor Presentation Center. Please reserve a spot. E-mail Jim Knippenberg: jknippenberg@enquirer.com or phone: 768-8513. On the Same Page is an annual community-wide reading project.