FAQs

Your One Maryland One Book questions answered!

  • How is the One Maryland One Book chosen?

    Each fall, Maryland Humanities sends out a call for suggestions to the general public, educators, librarians, schools, book clubs, and other partners. The call for suggestions is based on an annual theme and pre-determined criteria.

    Once the suggestions deadline has passed, the Maryland Humanities staff researches all suggestions to make sure they fit the established criteria. Then the selection committee takes the lead.

    The selection committee narrows the list of potential choices to a top ten list. In January, the committee meets to discuss the top ten and narrows the list down to three choices, later voting to establish which book will be the One Maryland One Book pick.

  • What are the selection criteria for One Maryland One Book?
    In addition to having a focus on the yearly theme, the book can be either fiction or nonfiction and should:

    • be able to generate sustained discussion on the year’s theme
    • be of interest to people in the state of Maryland
    • appeal to a wide range of readers of different backgrounds and reading abilities
    • connect to high school age readers as well as adults
    • be of manageable length (up to 350 pages)
    • be available in paperback and priced affordably
    • be in print and audio, and if possible, in electronic format, large print, Braille, film and translation
    • a living author is a consideration, but not a criterion
    • a Maryland author is a consideration, but not a criterion

  • What was the theme for the 2017 One Maryland One Book?
    Home & Belonging
  • What books were finalists for the 2017 One Maryland One Book?
    The theme for the 2017 One Maryland One Book is Home & Belonging.

    The finalists for the 2017 selection were:

    • Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
    • The Turner House by Angela Flournoy
    • Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

  • How can I participate in One Maryland One Book?
    Visit the How to Participate page to learn how you can take part, either as an individual or as a program partner. Maryland Humanities offers free support materials—Reader’s Guides, Teacher’s Guides, bookmarks, and posters—to book groups, organizations, and businesses that sign on as official partners.
  • Does Maryland Humanities give out free copies of the book?
    Given the statewide scope of the program, we are unable to provide copies of the book to individuals or book clubs. However, via the generosity of our donors, books are made available to participating public libraries and public high schools.

    We update bookstores around the state once the book is selected. Check your local bookstore for a copy or let them know about the program!

    Maryland Humanities provides some funding support to libraries and nonprofit organizations, as well as secondary and post-secondary schools, to foster creative public programming across the state.

  • How do you choose the One Maryland One Book Author Tour stops?
    Each year, Maryland organizations are invited to co-host the statewide Author Tour. The author is typically available for a limited number of official tour stops, so the application process is competitive.

    For information on funding support or the Author Tour contact Andrea Lewis.

  • Are One Maryland One Book events free or is there a cost to participate?
    All One Maryland One Book events, including the Author Tour, are free and open to the public. Seating is first-come first-served.

    Sign up for Maryland Humanities email newsletter to receive advance notice of events, or connect with us on Facebook or on Twitter via @MDHumanities. Use the hashtag #1MD1BK to join the conversation!

Did We Miss Your Questions?
Send us an email and ask away!

  • “[One Maryland One Book] taught me how much we need to talk and listen to one another.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “One student who has been held back several years and suffers from emotional disorders spent several minutes asking One Maryland One Book [author Daniel James Brown] questions. He very patiently listened and answered each question. He then signed her book: ‘Write with your heart not your head.’ To watch this interaction was very touching.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “The book selections offer an opportunity to read a book that is informative and engaging. It enhances our view of the world and the individuals within it. We sincerely look forward to the OMOB selections and materials each year. It is a topic of excitement and discussion among students and staff. Truly and wonderfully.”

    ​One Maryland One Book teacher

  • “[One Maryland One Book is] excellent! I come to as many of the One Maryland One Book events and will continue to do so—always pleased!”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “One of my students, a boy who works 35 hours a week at McDonalds, took the time to write me a letter stating the book had changed his life.”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “What a discussion! That what’s needed in every town, city, and every age group.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “I distributed copies of the book and we engaged in an afterschool discussion which included students and staff. Everyone who participated was so engaged that our 45 minute planned discussion ended up stretching into an hour and a half!”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “Left on my own, I would choose the same kind of books over and over again. Now, [participating in One Maryland One Book,] my reading experience is broader and richer and all the more enjoyable.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 participant

  • “The OMOB 2014 selection seemed to touch the hearts of so many teachers and students. Everyone who read the story was in awe of the struggles, the will to survive, and then the motivation to write the memoir. The Distance Between Us created such an impact on each reader that s/he handed the book to someone with the request, “you must read this story!” Plus, the selection was inter-disciplinary and ‘captured’ students in all grade and academic levels. Renya Grande captivated the readers who, “couldn’t put the book down.” It is one of the best selections. Thank you!!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2014 teacher

  • “I had two students participate who told me they’ve never finished a book before and they finished this one and want to read more!”

    ​One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “I completed the book club with 22 students, all of them on the JV football team – so not your stereotypical group of book club attendees. On the last day of our book club experience I asked students for some feedback and also asked if they would be interested in participating in another book club. Nearly all of them said that this was the first time they had ever participated in a book club, and a few said it was the first time they had actually read an entire book. I keep hearing back from them, too, [asking] ‘When is the next book club starting up?’. The discussions we had were powerful and meaningful–this was truly one of the most moving experiences I have had as an educator.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “We had our best attendance, ever, for a book discussion, in the seven years I’ve been here.”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 participant

  • “This program is a gift, literally and figuratively!”

    One Maryland One Book 2015 teacher

  • “One student in my book club who is in a wheelchair and has a lot of other persona/home issues, was the first to finish the book, and wheeled herself into the library more than once to ask me if I had finished the book because she wanted to talk about it. She was a huge contributor to the discussion.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher

  • “For most of my 10th grade students, this was the first book they have read from cover to cover.”

    One Maryland One Book 2016 teacher
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About Us
Maryland Humanities is a statewide, educational nonprofit organization that creates and supports educational experiences in the humanities that inspire all Marylanders to embrace lifelong learning, exchange ideas openly, and enrich their communities.
Maryland Humanities
108 West Centre Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201-4565
(410) 685-0095
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info@mdhumanities.org
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