The 2016 Read Across Lawrence event will feature, from left, These

The Lawrence Public Library has announced the selected books for Read Across Lawrence 2016, and Heather Kearns says they’re pretty stellar.

Kearns, marketing coordinator for the library, said this year’s selections are very popular within their age groups and with critics.

A team of librarians from the Lawrence Public Library and Kansas University chose “The Martian,” by Andy Weir, as the adult selection. It was published in 2011 but its popularity has skyrocketed since the movie adaptation by the same name hit theaters in October.

The 2016 Read Across Lawrence event will feature, from left, These

“The Martian” inspired the choices for teens and children, Kearns said: “These Broken Stars,” by Amie Kaufman, and “The True Meaning of Smekday,” by Adam Rex, respectively.

Kearns said “These Broken Stars” is a fun read that also deals with some hard science, similar to the adult pick. “The True Meaning of Smekday” has “a good message and diverse characters. Bonus: it has a cat,” she said.

Exact dates will not be announced until January, but during that month the library will hold a launch party. Books — free, while supplies last — will be distributed at that point. Then February is Read Across Lawrence month, Kearns said, which means the library will host events that relate to the books and the theme.

In some years previous, authors of the selected books have visited the library. Kearns said she doesn’t think any of the authors will make it this year, but some guests have committed to giving presentations that she thinks will be “pretty out-of-this-world.”

She said there will be programs about outer space and space travel, some of which “bring in science and music and a variety of different people.”

“I would love to spill the beans right now, but I’ve gotta wait, but we’ve got some sort of jaw-dropping stuff happening — that’s the best I can put it,” Kearns said. “We’re really super excited. … I’ve been telling people to keep their calendars clear in February. It’s gonna be awesome.”

The Read Across Lawrence program started in 2001, and last year, the library added the teen category. Kearns said last year adults picked up nearly 550 books; teens, about 500; and children, about 1,100.

Kearns said the program is a great way to promote reading and community at the same time.

“You pick a book as a community and read it together,” she said. “It encourages everybody to talk about the same book.”

Descriptions of the books are available on the library’s website at lawrence.lib.ks.us.