Read Contra Costa

Read Contra Costa is an annual event that encourages all county residents and library users to share in the experience of reading and discussing the same book. The program runs from September 16 through November 12, 2024.

This year, a committee of dedicated library staff had the pleasure of choosing the award winning The Things We Didn’t Know by Elba Iris Pérez. The book is a lushly written coming of age story about coming to the United States from Puerto Rico, learning to exist in two cultures, navigating family rifts while learning to assimilate to American culture. The Things We Didn’t Know is Pérez’s debut novel.

Don’t miss the opportunity to listen to the author discuss her novel and answer audience questions, either in person or virtually! See the author in person at the Pleasant Hill Library on November 9th at 11:00 AM or virtually on Tuesday, November 12th at 6:30 PM. For more information, please visit the library’s events page.

The book is available in hardback, eBook and eAudiobook formats.


One City, One Book was a “citywide book club” and a precursor to Read Contra Costa that encouraged the community to read the selection and participate in a series of events that celebrate a particular book. The annual choice is announced in the summer and community events are planned for the fall giving the community time to read and enjoy the book. One City, One Book was presented by the Walnut Creek Library Foundation and Contra Costa County Library. View previous book selections are HERE.

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