Many students at Hawai‘i Pacific University are taking advantage of the opportunity to share a common reading experience and build a sense of community focused on intellectual inquiry with the “HPU Reads: 2009-2010 Common Book Program.”

The HPU Reads common book selection for the year is, “Little Brother,” by Cory Doctrow. The heroes in this adventure novel are teenagers in San Francisco who build anonymous websites and services after the U.S. government censors mainstream media and imprisons thousands in the wake of a terrorist attack.

All first-year students received a copy of the book during new student orientation and many others are reading the book in conjunction with courses as diverse as writing, journalism, biology, anthropology and environmental studies.

Those reading the book are also offered events throughout the academic year to discuss the book and its themes and hear speakers on related topics.

The HPU Reads program develops a sense of community and encourages student retention by providing a shared experience for first-year students. This opportunity allows students to explore, think critically and creatively, and communicate ideas effectively about the many dimensions of human problems, historical issues, and natural phenomena, as well as expose students to foreign cultures and social conditions.

For more information about HPU Reads, contact the Center for Student Life and First-Year Programs at readysetgo@hpu.edu or 1-866-CALL-HPU, ext. 12.

See link to Macmillan En Masse, a site that offers a diverse selection of broadly appealing, and critically acclaimed books suited for First-Year and common reading programs. The site presents news about top common reading titles and the institutions that read them:

New Students at Hawai‘i Pacific University Read Little Brother: http://macmillanacademic.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/hpu-little-brother/