Calling all readers and aspiring readers! Join us this summer in building your library and chatting about books with peers. Lo'Mas Lit Book Club is a reading group, a book club, a discussion zone, quarantine-era hangout time for youth ages 13–25, every Friday at 5pm throughout the summer. Weekly book club sessions will be led by Carisa Musialik and Rachel Gorman, uptown writers, activists, and teachers at Gregorio Luperón High School. The book list includes novels, a short story anthology, a graphic novel, and more.
BOOK CLUB:
Club members who are ages 13–20 will receive book club picks (plus some bonus books) for FREE—just register here for the book club by Wednesday, June 24! We kindly ask that participants ages 21+ purchase copies from Word Up (links are below), though if funding is a barrier to participation, email us at uptownreads@wordupbooks.com and we will work with you on this. Register here for the book club by Wednesday, June 24.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
In addition to the book club, there will be 4 major showcases—on June 26, July 17, August 7, and August 28—during which the authors will join readers to discuss their works. The public at large can gain entry to these events by purchasing any of the books mentioned below. To receive an event link to ALL the public events on June 26, July 17, August 7, or August 28, purchase one of the books by the authors below at WordUpBooks.com, and we will send you access links in advance of each event. One book purchase provides access to all four public events.
Lo'Mas Lit Book Club is presented collaboratively by Word Up Community Bookshop and co-curator Angie Cruz, with support from Uplift NYC, Dominican Writers Association, and New York State Council on the Arts.
BOOK CLUB SCHEDULE
JUNE 26
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Dominicana by Angie Cruz & A People’s Future of the United States edited by Victor LaValle
6–7pm | Book club launch event with authors Angie Cruz and Victor LaValle
—> Purchase any book listed on this page to receive an event link.
JULY 3
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Barely Missing Anything by Matt Mendez
JULY 10
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay
JULY 17
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Dear Haiti, Love Alaine by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite
6–7pm | Public event with authors Matt Mendez, Maika Moulite, Maritza Moulite, and Randy Ribay
—> Purchase any book listed on this page to receive an event link.
JULY 24
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Frying Plantain by Zalika Reid-Benta
JULY 31
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Felix Ever After by Kacen Callendar
AUGUST 7
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Good Talk by Mira Jacobs
6–7pm | Public event with authors Mira Jacobs and Zalika Reid-Benta
—> Purchase any book listed on this page to receive an event link.
AUGUST 14
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Running by Natalia Sylvester
AUGUST 21
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
AUGUST 28
5–6pm | Book club meeting: Don't Ask Me Where I'm From by Jennifer De Leon
6–7pm | Public event with authors Elizabeth Acevedo, Jennifer De Leon, Lilliam Rivera, and Natalia Sylvester
—> Purchase any book listed on this page to receive an event link.
