Libraries of Stevens County are pleased to present, One Book, One County, a countywide reading program featuring New York Times Bestseller, Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin. During the month of February, readers are encouraged to read Three Cups of Tea, and discuss the book. Author David Oliver Relin will present a slide show and discuss the book on Wednesday, March 12, at 7 pm, at Lakeside Middle School, as well as answer questions from the audience. This program is free and open to the public.

Nine Mile Falls School District Instructional Literacy Coach, Cheryl Allen, is working with Mrs. Brooke Golden, Manager of the Lakeside Library, to incorporate this wonderful opportunity into learning activities for students. Mr. Brian Dunn, who teaches Current World Affairs at Lakeside High School, will be encouraging his students to attend as one of their required public meetings. Parents of middle and high school students are particularly invited to attend the program with their students to share an educational and literary experience.

The central theme of Three Cups of Tea is derived from a Baltistan proverb, “The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger,” a villager tells Greg Mortenson. “The second time, you are an honored guest. The third time you become family.” Dangerously ill when he finished his climb of K2 in 1993, Mortenson was sheltered by the small Pakistani village of Korphe; in return, he promised to build the impoverished town’s first school, a project that grew into the Central Asia Institute, which has since constructed more than 57 schools across rural Pakistan and Afghanistan. Coauthor Relin recounts Mortenson’s efforts in fascinating detail, presenting compelling portraits of the village elders, philanthropists, Taliban officials, ambitious school girls, and upright Muslims Mortenson met along the way (excerpt from Publisher’s Weekly). “What is amazing about this book is the message that it brings our young adults—it says you can make a difference in the world, and proves it,” said Mrs. Golden.