photo by: Promotional images

The Lawrence Public Library has selected three books for Read Across Lawrence 2019. They are, from left, “Sourdough” by Robin Sloan for adults, “The Doughnut Fix” by Jessie Janowitz for teens and “A Tangle of Knots” by Lisa Graff for kids.

After selecting one book for all ages in 2018, the Lawrence Public Library went back to selecting three books for the 2019 Read Across Lawrence program.

“It’s a return to the norm,” said Kristin Soper, adult programming coordinator for the library.

This year, the library selected “A Tangle of Knots” by Lisa Graff for kids, “The Doughnut Fix” by Jessie Janowitz for teens and “Sourdough” by Robin Sloan for adults. All the selections have food-related themes.

Read Across Lawrence is a library program that encourages members of the community to read the same book and explore its themes through public discussions and interactive programming.

Soper said the programming dates have not yet been established for the 2019 edition, but it usually runs from early or mid-February to the first weekend of March.

Additionally, free copies of each of the books will be available at a later date, she said. Each year the library provides 1,000 copies of the book for the public.

Soper said the library chose “Sourdough” as the adult selection this year as a lighter book than what the program has read in recent years.

“Sourdough” tells the story of Lois Clary, a software engineer at a San Francisco robotics company, who has world-changing ambitions. She focuses solely on her job, not interacting much with other people except for two brothers who run a restaurant in her neighborhood.

The brothers face work visa issues and must close the shop. They give Lois the sourdough starter that they use to bake their bread, and they ask her to keep it alive.

She begins producing homemade bread and enters the local farmers market, where she is exposed to a whole new world.

The book also explores themes of women in the tech industry, including a woman facing a work conundrum and what she really wants to do with her life.

“Also baking is pretty big right now, and we thought that would be a fun tie-in,” Soper said.

Another book focused on the baking business, “The Doughnut Fix,” tells the story of Tristan, a young baker who makes perfect chocolate chip cookies.

When Tristan’s family moves to a new town, he learns of a store that was once known for its chocolate cream doughnuts, but whose owner hasn’t made them in years. Tristan sets out to get the recipe and sell the doughnuts himself.

Although the last book, “A Tangle of Knots,” also features food, it’s more about self-discovery.

In the slightly magical story, 11-year-old Cady, an orphan with a phenomenal cake-baking talent, embarks on a journey to learn more about her past. She is led to a mysterious address that houses a lost luggage emporium and an old recipe, along with people who will change her life and help her find out more about herself and her history.

For more information and updates on this year’s Read Across Lawrence programming, visit the library’s website at lplks.org