Read Attend Connect

Romeo Reads is…

An invitation to all Romeo, Washington & Bruce Township residents to read a specially selected book and to attend free programs connected with its content.

We wish to:

• promote literacy
• foster an appreciation of books and reading
• provide a forum to connect and
• enhance civic unity through literature.

This is our fourth year of Romeo Reads. We hope you’ll join in. This year we are reading The Recipe Box by Viola Shipman. Viola Shipman is the pen name for author Wade Rouse.

What is The Recipe Box about?

Growing up in northern Michigan, Samantha “Sam” Mullins felt trapped on her family’s orchard and pie shop, so she left with dreams of making her own mark in the world. But life as an overworked, undervalued sous chef at a reality star’s New York bakery is not what Sam dreamed.

When the chef embarrasses Sam, she quits and returns home and spends a summer working on her family’s orchard cooking and baking alongside the women in her life—including her mother, Deana, and grandmother, Willo.

One flour-flecked, ink-smeared recipe at a time, Sam learns about the women in her life, her family’s history, and her passion for food through their treasured recipe box.

As Sam discovers what matters most she opens her heart to a man she left behind, but who now might be the key to her happiness.

Who is the author?

Wade Rouse is the internationally bestselling author of nine books. He chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction.

Rouse earned his B.A. from Drury University and his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. He is also an acclaimed writing teacher who has mentored numerous students to become published authors. He divides his time between Saugatuck, Michigan, and Palm Springs, California.

What do others think of the book?

“Filled with cherished memories and treasured recipes, The Recipe Box is a touching tribute to the women and food that unite us and connect our past to the present.” ~ Richard Paul Evans, #1 New York Times bestselling author

“Sweet (On Many Levels) Story About Family Legacy. I want to try out the recipes included in the book. They all sound delicious. And the stories each recipe invokes are cleverly woven throughout. Lots of lovely messages included among the stories, too. Overall a really inspiring book about families and their histories. Made me want to know more about my ancestors.” ~ review by nhrbookcrazy3, norfolk, va.

“Soulful, nostalgic, searching, hopeful. These are some of the adjectives that went through my mind as I read The Recipe Box. I laughed out loud at parts and was touched and thoughtful in others. This story is full of heritage and family… it spans many generations. It is not a saga, but is full of snippets from the lives of the matriarchs of Sam’s family.” ~ review by Phyllis_H, originally on AmongTheReads.net

How do I get the book?

To purchase a copy of Shipman’s book for $12, contact the circulation desk at either branch. Please specify if you are purchasing a copy. We accept cash or check. Or, you can place a hold for a copy of the book, or audiobook on CD, through our library lending system. Overdrive and Hoopla offer the title as an e-audiobook.

Enjoy your read!

Read The Recipe Box on your own, or meet with a group. We encourage readers to connect for book discussions.

Join our Facebook Group (Romeo District Library Group) to discover other readers, and for the Romeo Reads Thursday morning competition!

Be the FIRST to answer the trivia question posted in our Group at 11:00 am beginning February 15—and you win! Prizes are minimal but fun and chosen in connection to the book.

Events

We have SEVEN free memorable events for you to enjoy!

Monday, February 5, 6:00 pm, Kezar Branch: History of Romeo Orchards

The majority of The Recipe Box takes place on a northern Michigan orchard—a setting known quite well by residents of Romeo! RDL Archivist Emily Malek will share some history of our local orchards, including historical pictures from the Romeo Community Archives. Books are available for purchase.

Register here.

Thursday, February 13, 6:00 pm, Kezar Branch: Create a Recipe Junk Journal

Naturally, this book includes many recipes!  In fact, the actual recipes mentioned are included at the end of chapters!  This fun class guides you through the process of making your own recipe book in the hot crafting trend of Junk Journals! Meets every Tuesday for four weeks through March 4 at Kezar. All supplies provided, including custom stickers!

Register here.

Thursday, March 12, 6:00 pm, Kezar Branch: Savor the Bounty of the Orchards

Fran of Pamela’s Catering graces our library once again to share delectable dishes made with prime ingredients from our area’s significant stock. Fruit is NOT just for dessert! Bring your appetite for some tasty samples and take home some new recipes to your family and friends. Registration is required and limited to 30.

Register here.

Thursday, April 4, 6:00 pm, Kezar Branch: Mindful Eating: Food is More Than Taste

Characters in this book discuss moments of awareness and clarity in relation to the food they eat and the company with which they eat. Is this a dying craft? Or do we eat simply for sustenance alone? We welcome Michigan State University Extension for some answers, and to learn the practice of mindful eating and its benefits as well as how to experience it with a guided meditation.

No registration required for this event.

Thursday, April 11, 6:00 pm, Kezar Branch: Book Discussion with Librarian Stacie Guzzo

Read this sweet story of family and food, then join in the discussion before the author visits us in a couple of weeks! If you do not get a chance to read it before the discussion meets, come anyway! We always have a no-pressure and lively good time! Copies of The Recipe Box are available for purchase at both of our branches.

Register here.

Saturday, April 13, 1:00 pm, Graubner Branch: Bakeoff and Cake Walk

Take a walk on the cake side! Bring your baking skills to the library and let’s see those yummy desserts! Resident bakers are invited to participate in this friendly bakeoff, which will be judged by local chefs.

Bake Off Rules and Regulations

Register here.

Cake Walk Information

The BIG Event! Reception and Author Visit with Viola Shipman

Thursday, April 25, 7:00 pm, The Abbey on Main, 102 Church St., Romeo, 48065 | Across from Kezar Library

The event all Romeo Readers have been waiting for!

Let us welcome our celebrated author to Romeo! He will speak about The Recipe Box as well as others he’s penned, and share some family history and memories. There will be time for audience questions. Books are available for purchase.

Register here.

How do I register?

Register online for EACH program that interests you.

• www.rdl.org, Library Information, Calendar.
• Then navigate to each event date to register.

Or, click through the direct links on this page. Please remember to include your email address. Call 586-752-2583 if you need to register by phone or if you have questions.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

We want as many participants as possible to enjoy this awesome program!

ROMEO READS 2024 is sponsored by Romeo District Library and Friends of the Romeo District Library.

June 12th 2023 – August 12th 2023

Spend this Summer reading and logging your reading times to get prizes.

We have Summer Reading Challenges for Kids, Teens and Adults.

This year the Romeo District Library is using Beanstack to keep track of your reading. Getting started with Beanstack is easy!  You can download the app to your device or visit our Beanstack page to get started.  Follow the steps to create an account for yourself and your family so you can participate in our reading challenges!

You can download the Beanstack app for your device by visiting your app store below.

Once you download the app select “At my Library, school, or bookstore” then select Find a Site and search for Romeo to select Romeo District Library.

If you have any questions or problems please reach out at ask@romeodistrictlibrary.org or give us a call at 586.752.0603

What is Romeo Reads?

Read Attend Connect

Romeo Reads is…

An invitation to all community residents to read a Michigan-authored book and to attend free programs connected with its content.

We wish to:

• promote literacy
• foster an appreciation of books and reading
• provide a forum to connect and
• enhance civic unity through literature.

This is our third year of Romeo Reads. We hope you’ll join in.

We are reading Call me Athena: Girl from Detroit by Colby Cedar Smith.

What’s this year’s book about?

In depression-era Detroit, the world seems like a place full of contradictions to Mary…

Promised to a much older man and told to curb her desire to own a business like her father, while courted by a boy who sees her for who she is and who she wants to be, Mary sees her future as more uncertain by the day…

By flashing back to Mary’s parents’ adolescences in WWI-era Greece and France, they… exist as people whose dreams have been blunted by trauma.

Call Me Athena[‘s]… real strength is the way it takes such different times, places, and stories and shows how commonalities like love, grief, and hope can connect a family over the course of generations.

Who is the author?

Colby Cedar Smith grew up in the Midwest, and she still dreams of the cold northern woods and the smell of lake water.

She holds degrees from Colorado College and Harvard University. She has been a finalist for several poetry awards and prizes, and her poems have been published in many publications.

Call Me Athena is a Library of Michigan 2022 Michigan Notable Book selection.

Colby lives with her husband and two children in Hopewell, New Jersey, and teaches creative writing at the Arts Council of Princeton. Read more of her work at www.colbycedarsmith.com.

What do others think of the book?

“… the author’s sense of history brings details of the different times and cultures to life… Her blank verse serves the tale well, with lines such as “Death walks the halls / naked, / without pride, asking for his mother,” to convey the youth and despair of injured young men. A strong debut written with heart and strength. —Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission

“This novel in verse captures one young woman’s struggle for independence, equality, and identity as the daughter of Greek and French immigrants in tumultuous 1930s Detroit.” —Back Cover Review

“This is an exceptional novel in verse that at times devastated me in the best way, bringing out the anguish that these characters suffered and with only such few words. I also laughed and smiled at the joyful moments… Highly recommended YA novel that will transport you to historical times in which women had to fight for every bit of freedom. —Danielle, Amazon review

RomeoReads2022_Presentation
We invite all Romeo, Washington and Bruce Twp. community members to read a selected Michigan author’s title and to attend programs associated with its content.

The Romeo Reads 2022 selection is: The Mason House: a memoir by T. Marie Bertineau. It is a Library of Michigan 2021 Michigan Notable Books selection.

ALL TOGETHER.

one book. one community. one full program. one enriching dialogue.

Program runs March 1 – April 21 and includes:

March 1: Pasty Make & Taste: A a pasty making demonstration and tasting along with lots of fun facts about Cornish history and cooking.

March 17: Memoir-writing Workshop: Hear about the memoir writing process but learn some trick and tips along the way.

March 29: ‘Gifts of Grief’ Presentation: Therapist Alicia Brown as she discusses the positive side of grief and the grieving process.

April 12: Group Book Discussion: Join us for a discussion of the book, “The Mason House: A Memoir”, with RDL librarian Stacie Guzzo.

April 21: Author Visit & Book Signing: The Mason House: a memoir author, T. Marie Bertineau, will speak about her book and the writing process. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

SCROLL DOWN TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

Romeo District Library, with Friends of the Romeo District Library are pleased to announce its first community read program, Romeo Reads. We invite everyone in our community to participate in our NEW multi-feature program including a shared read and discussion of a selected book, as well as professional presentations on topics weaved throughout. The Romeo Reads 2021 chosen book is one of the 2020 Michigan Notable Books: “We Hope For Better Things” by Erin Bartels. Description: When journalist Elizabeth Balsam is asked to deliver a box of old photos to a relative she didn’t know she had, the strange request seems like it isn’t worth her time. But as she explores her great-aunt’s farmhouse with its locked doors and hidden graves, she soon discovers just how dramatically some of the most newsworthy events of the previous two centuries shaped her own family. As she searches for answers to the riddles around her, the remarkable stories of two women who lived in this very house emerge as testaments to love, resilience, and courage in the face of war, racism, and misunderstanding.

To purchase a signed copy of Bartels’ book for $12, contact the circulation desk at either branch to schedule a curbside pickup or delivery. Please specify if you are purchasing a copy. When you pick up your book, provide payment in an envelope in exact change or by check to the order of Friends of the Romeo District Library. Alternatively, you can place a hold for a book, ebook or e-audiobook through our catalog or Hoopla. There are several copies available in our Co-op. Enjoy your read!

Please note: Zoom codes and instructions will be provided to program registrants prior to event dates so please include your email address in your registration information.

Click Here To Download Zoom

Register for Events

Romeo Reads: Detroit ’67: Looking Back to Move Forward

Thursday 2/11/2021 7:00pm
Joel Stone, curator at the Detroit Historical Society presentation about the Detroit Rebellion of 1967 and the 12th Street Riot. The events that took place in the summer of 1967 had a significant impact on the people of Detroit and southeast Michigan. This presentation looks at the events of 1967 in their historical context and discusses how an extensive community engagement project was developed to address this important anniversary, and includes an award-winning exhibition and publication, successful oral history project, and over 180 partner programs.
This will be a Zoom presentation. Please note: Zoom codes and instructions will be provided to program registrants prior to event dates so please include your email address in your registration information.

Romeo Reads: Zoom Book Discussion

Thursday 2/18/2021 2:00 pm
Join us in discussing the Romeo Reads 2021 chosen book, “We Hope for Better Things” by Erin Bartels.
This will be a Zoom presentation. Please note: Zoom codes and instructions will be provided to program registrants prior to event dates so please include your email address in your registration information.

Romeo Reads: Zoom Book Discussion

Tuesday 2/23/2021 7:00 pm
Join us in discussing the Romeo Reads 2021 chosen book, “We Hope for Better Things” by Erin Bartels.
This will be a Zoom presentation. Please note: Zoom codes and instructions will be provided to program registrants prior to event dates so please include your email address in your registration information.

Romeo Reads: Building Family History From Stories and Legends

Tuesday 3/9/2021 7:00 pm
De Witt S. Dykes, Associate Professor of History, Oakland University will be speaking about family stories and legends handed down over several generations undergo variations in the telling. It is the responsibility of current generations to evaluate inherited stories, discard errors, use original primary sources to verify the truth and extend the family story as much as possible. The use of online databases will be analyzed in connection with print and other sources. Genealogy forms and a list of books and databases will be available.
This will be a Zoom presentation. Please note: Zoom codes and instructions will be provided to program registrants prior to event dates so please include your email address in your registration information.

Romeo Reads: Virtual Author Visit with Erin Bartels

Thursday 3/25/2021 7:00 pm
Join us for a discussion with Romeo Reads 2021, “We Hope for Better Things” author Erin Bartels.
Erin Bartels is the award-winning author of We Hope for Better Things (2020 Michigan Notable Book, 2020 WFWA Star Award–winner, 2019 Christy Award finalist), The Words between Us (2020 Christy Award finalist, 2015 WFWA Rising Star Award finalist), and All That We Carried (coming January 2021). She is a member of the Capital City Writers and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association. When she’s not writing, she can be found wandering through the woods with her camera, painting in both watercolor and oil, or reading with a semi-spastic Chihuahua mix on her lap. Erin lives in Lansing, Michigan, with her husband, Zachary, and their son, Calvin. Find her on Facebook @ErinBartelsAuthor, on Twitter @ErinLBartels, or on Instagram @erinbartelswrites.
This will be a Zoom presentation. Please note: Zoom codes and instructions will be provided to program registrants prior to event dates so please include your email address in your registration information.

Saturday, July 9th 2:00-3:30 pm

Come join for us for a fun exciting afternoon playing silly games! You will get one minute to accomplish weird tasks! For grades 5-8. No need to register.

Saturday June 11th from 2-4 pm
We’re having a carnival to usher in summer reading. There will be sno-cones, music, an obstacle course for all ages and much more. Enjoy the day and sign up for summer reading!
To sign up for summer reading from home, log into http://romeodistrictlibrary.readsquared.com after June 11. You can register as a family or an individual. Come back to log in minutes (or books for the pre-school crowd.) Play games on the site, read from our booklists, come to our programs and get badges. When you earn 5 badges, no more than once per week, come into the library to get a prize!