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Silicon Valley Reads is an annual community engagement program in Santa Clara County, California, that encourages the public to read the same books, at the same time, and discuss them at events for all ages. It involves public libraries, schools and community organizations in all 15 cities and towns in Santa Clara County.

History of Silicon Valley Reads Silicon Valley Reads was started in 2003 as a partnership between Santa Clara County Office of Education and the San José Public Library Foundation. Its original concept was based on a traditional community reads program where one book is selected for reading and discussion in book clubs and by the general public. In 2005, Santa Clara County Library joined Silicon Valley Reads as the third presenting organization.

In 2009, Silicon Valley Reads began to select books for children and teens that had themes similar to the book(s) selected for adult readers. The motivation was to have families reading together and discussing the topic.

In 2010, programming for Silicon Valley Reads was expanded to include films, panel discussions and presentations by authors beyond the featured book(s) in order to reach a broader audience.

Silicon Valley Reads first selected an overarching theme for the year in 2012 and again expanded programming to include an art exhibit and other events to engage the community in reading, thinking, discussing and sharing diverse perspectives on a provocative subject relevant to the Silicon Valley region. Participation in events soared from 2,200 in 2011 to 8,900 in 2012. Since 2012, Silicon Valley Reads has consistently offered more than 100 free public events for all ages each year.

In 2017, the San José Public Library Foundation dropped out as a presenting organization and San José Public Library became the third presenting partner. Santa Clara County Library District took over as the fiscal agent for Silicon Valley Reads. Funding for Silicon Valley Reads comes entirely from donations by community organizations, foundations, corporations and individuals. Representatives of the three presenting organizations serve as Co-chairs of Silicon Valley Reads and there is a 30-member Community Advisory Board to provide input and oversight.

Mission To encourage reading and discussion of selected books as a way to open community dialogue about provocative themes relevant to the Silicon Valley region.

Vision As a result of reading the same book(s) and talking about it, the diverse Silicon Valley community experiences new perspectives and understanding of important issues and values.

Goals
 * To promote reading, literacy, and the appreciation of good literature among all members of the community including non-traditional readers and those with limited literacy skills
 * To build community through open and lively dialogues about the ideas and themes of a selected book
 * To support education and lifelong learning, critical for Silicon Valley to maintain its leadership in creativity and innovation

Silicon Valley Reads Books and Themes

2003   Breaking Through by Francisco Jiminez (memoir)

2004	Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury (speculative fiction)

2005	Epitaph for A Peach by David Masumoto (memoir)

2006	When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka (fiction) The Souvenir by Louise Steinman (memoir)

2007	The Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle (fiction)

2008	The Distant Land of My Father by Bo Caldwell (fiction)

2009	Not A Genuine Black Man by Brian Copeland (memoir) The Other Side by Jacqueline Woodson (Grades K-3) The Liberation of Gabriel King by K.L. Going (Grades 4-7) 2009 was the first year for Silicon Valley Reads to also include books for children that reflected the same theme as the book(s) for adults.

2010	In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan (nonfiction) Carrot Soup by John Segal (Grade Pre-K) Tops & Bottoms by Janet Stevens (Grades 1-3) Seedfolks by Paul Fleischman (Grades 4-8)

2011	The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond (fiction) Pouch by David Ezra Stein (Grade Pre-K) One by Kathryn Otoshi (Grades K-3) Alabama Moon by Watt Key (Grades 4-8)

2012	Theme: “Muslim & American: Two Perspectives”' The Muslim Next Door by Sumbul Ali-Karamali (nonfiction) The Butterfly Mosque by Willow Wilson (memoir) It’s OK To Be Different by Todd Parr (Grade Pre-K) One Green Apple by Eve Bunting (Grades K-2) My Name is Bilal by Asma Mobin-Uddin (Grades 2-6) Skunk Girl by Sheba Karim (Grades 7 and up) 2012 was the first year for Silicon Valley Reads to be focused on a provocative theme relevant to the region.

2013	Theme: “Invisible Wounds of War” The Long Walk by Brian Castner (memoir) Minefields of the Heart by Sue Diaz (memoir) Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut (Grades Pre-K-2) Nubs:The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine and a Miracle by Mary Nethery, Kirby Larson and Brian Dennis (Grades 2-5) Back Home by Julia Keller (Grades 5-8) Purple Heart by Patricia McCormick (Grades 9-12)

2014	Theme: “Books & Technology: Friends or Foes?” The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing To Our Brains by Nicholas Carr (nonfiction) Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (fiction) Reading Makes You Feel Good by Todd Parr (Grade Pre-K) The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce (Grades K-3) Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library by Chris Grabenstein (Grades 4-7)

2015	Theme: “Homeland & Home: The Immigrant Experience” Stealing Buddha’s Dinner by Bich Minh Nguyen (memoir) The Book of Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez (fiction) We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo (fiction) The Peace Book by Todd Parr (Grade Pre-K) My Name Is Yoon by Helen Recorvits (Grades K-3) Dancing Home by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizaretta (Grades 4-7) Something About America by Maria Testa (Grades 8 and up)

2016	Theme: “Chance of Rain: The Impact of Climate Change On Our Lives” Memory of Water by Emmi Itaranta (fiction) Sherwood Nation by Benjamin Parzybok (fiction) Water Is Water by Miranda Paul (Grades Pre-K-3) The Storm In The Barn by Matt Phelan (Grades 4 and up)

2017	'''Theme: “. . . and justice for all”''' Unfair: The New Science of Criminal Injustice by Adam Benforado (nonfiction) Writing My Wrongs by Shaka Senghor (memoir) Bear and Bee by Sergio Ruzzier (Grades Pre-K-2) Black & White and Rikers High by Paul Volponi (Grades 7 and up)

2018	Theme: “No Matter What: Carin, Coping, Compassion” My Lovely Wife in the Psych Ward by Mark Lukach (memoir) Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (fiction) Mango, Abuela and Me by Meg Medina (Grades Pre-K-3) The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones by Wendelin Van Draanen (Grades 4-7) Not If I See You First by Eric Lindstrom (Grades 8 and up)

2019	Theme: “Finding Identity in Family History” It’s All Relative by AJ Jacobs (nonfiction) Finding Samuel Lowe by Paula Madison (memoir) The Stranger In My Genes by Bill Griffeth (memoir) Alma and How She Got Her Name by Juana Martinez-Neal (Grades Pre-K-3) The Blossoming University of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods (Grades 4-7) Picture Us In The Light by Kelly Loy Gilbert (Grades 8 and up)

2020	Theme: “Women – Making It Happen” Alpha Girls by Julian Guthrie (nonfiction) The Tenth Muse by Catherine Chung (fiction) The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires (Grades Pre-K-2) Almost Astronauts (Grades 5-8) and Who Says Women Can’t Be Computer Programmers (Grades 2-4) by Tanya Lee Stone