Take the power and pleasure in reading a compelling book and multiply that across a city of people with different thoughts and backgrounds. See the ripple effects as people, who don’t normally cross paths, come together. Watch as reading, normally a solitary task, transforms into a vibrant, social experience.

That’s the power of Peoria Reads, Peoria Public Library’s one city/one book program.

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of Peoria Reads, Peoria Public Library and our partners have chosen a book that resonates with our roots.

Our first roots.

Long before the city of Peoria existed, the Illinois River Valley was populated by a confederation of Native American tribes, including the Peoria tribe.

There is value in revisiting our history, even when it is through the lens of contemporary fiction, specifically a high-stakes Yount Adult heist novel.

You’re going to love our chosen book for 2026!

Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley blends an exciting museum heist plot with deep cultural education about Indigenous repatriation and missing women.

Time magazine has deemed Angeline Boulley a Top 100 Young Adult Author.

Not only are we thrilled to be bringing Ms. Boulley to Peoria in November as our capstone event, but we have a number of other significant programs planned over the next couple months. We must thank our partners — Bradley University, Methodist College and Neighborhood House.

Please join us from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 in Columbia Park, next door to McClure Branch for a Peoria Reads Block Party, a day of exploring Indigenous culture and history.

We will have special guests from across that state, including a Native American chef from Chicago who will tease our tastebuds, Logan Pappenfort, the former second chief for the Peoria tribe of Indians of Oklahoma and current director of Dickson Mounds, and Jay Young, the Executive Director of the American Indian Center of Chicago, one of the oldest urban Native centers in the U.S.

We are excited to have these impressive speakers — and others — for this fun, family-friendly event. We will have food and field games and more. As with all our library programs, this is free and open to the public.

We hope people will start checking out Warrior Girl Unearthed now. We have stocked up on extra copies.

Find all Peoria Reads programming at the library’s website at www.peoriapubliclibrary.org.

— Jennifer Davis is Manager of Public Relations for Peoria Public Library.