“Virtual Illinois Libraries Present: Cristina Henriquez – Voice, Culture, & Human Connection,” April 16

Thursday, April 16, 7 p.m.

Presented by the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries

The recipient of the Chicago Public Library Foundation's 21st Century Award, and revered for 2014's The Book of Unknown Americans that the New York Times called "unfailingly well written and entertaining," Chicago-based author Cristina Henriquez participates in an April 16 virtual event hosted by Illinois Libraries Present, the writer sharing her thoughts on Voice, Culture, & Human Connection.

Henríquez’s newest book, The Great Divide, is a moving exploration of the people who lived, loved, and labored during the construction of the Panama Canal. Named a New York Times’ Editors’ Choice selection and one of Time magazine's “100 Must-Read Books of 2024,” The Great Divide explores history and adversity in a place very special to her – her father’s homeland of Panama.

Henríquez has also authored The Book of Unknown Americans, The World in Half, and Come Together, Fall Apart, all to significant acclaim. Her fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, the New York Times, and The Best American Short Stories 2018, and she is a recipient of the 21st Century Award given by The Chicago Public Library Foundation. Additionally, she is a graduate of Northwestern University and the University of Iowa's Iowa Writer’s Workshop, and lives in the Chicago suburbs with her family.

For the virtual Voice, Culture, & Human Connection program, Carmen Álvarez will join Henríquez as moderator. Álvarez is an advocate for libraries and Latinx representation in the publishing industry. Her work has appeared in Glamour, Elle, and Vogue, and she has a social-media presence surpassing 180,000 followers across platforms. This online session offered through the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libarries is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).

The virtual program Cristina Henriquez – Voice, Culture, & Human Connection will take place on April 16, participation in the 7 p.m. event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.org, or calling (309)755-3393 and visiting SilvisLibrary.org.