First Year Read Book Selected

By Stacey Axler

All new students of the class of 2016 will read the book “Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China”, written by Leslie Chang as a part of the First Year Read (FYR)program.

The First Year read program was established last year as an additional discussion activity during fall orientation for the class of 2015 last year.

“The book is based on interviews with young workers in China and thus it provides a glimpse into the thoughts, feelings, concerns and realities of young people who are lured from the countryside into the city in hopes of a better life and expanded opportunities….  The book also situates Hood students in a conversation that links the themes of the book with the headlines of today,” said Hood Provost Katherine Conway-Turner.

“Factory Girls” is based off of interviews and meetings that author Chang had with various factory workers to find out more about the appeal of factory work in the industrial areas of China.

The book has won numerous awards and accolades, such as the PEN USA Literary Award for Research Nonfiction and the Asian American Literary Award For Nonfiction.

Similarly, “Factory Girls” has been mentioned by several publications and magazines as one of the best books of the year.

The book offers topics for examination across disciplines and thus I believe it will generate a great deal of discussion inside and outside of the classroom,” Conway-Turner said.

Next fall, Chang will come to the college to discuss her book with the Hood community.

Every year, the FYR program reads multiple books to select the best possible selection for the incoming Hood class.

“I would like to thank members of the FYR committee for all of their work and their commitment to recommending outstanding books for our FYR programs,” Conway-Turner said.