2027 - Good People | City of Lake Oswego

The Lake Oswego Public Library is thrilled to announce its official selection for the 21st annual Lake Oswego Reads citywide reading program: the critically acclaimed novel Good People by author Patmeena Sabit. 

Entering its third decade of bringing the community together through a shared literary experience, Lake Oswego Reads will focus its 2027 programming on Sabit’s haunting debut novel. Structured as a panoramic oral history through a kaleidoscope of perspectives, Good People explores the fragile balance of identity, assimilation, and the American dream through the lens of an Afghan refugee family thrust into the court of public opinion following an unthinkable family tragedy. 

"Our selection committee was captivated by Good People just a few pages in," said Library Director and selection committee member, Melissa Kelly. "With a mystery at its center, this cleverly constructed novel made us think, feel, and wonder. This is a profound book that the community will want to talk about." 

Selection committee and Library Advisory Board member Seth Pauley added, "There is an incredible energy that comes through the different narrative voices, with each voice telling only what it knows—or wants its audience to believe—to be true. While the story triangulates around a tragic event, it is deeply concerned with cultural and generational conflict, and how what we accept as truth often reflects our own biases." 

Local educators and students on the selection committee also expressed high praise for the novel's modern relevance: 

Jessie Pan (High School Student): "This book beautifully illustrates the struggle between first-generation immigrants and their children. It paints a vivid picture of how fast an original narrative can get twisted by the media, leading to a skewed perception of 'what happened.'"

Marcy Huss (High School Teacher): "I love the freshness of this choice—I can’t remember the last time an LO Reads book was a page-turning mystery. It is incredibly accessible for both adults and teens, while prompting us to question how we consume media stories."

Rain Obiesie (High School Student): "Good People is an engaging mystery that forces readers to scrutinize their own thought processes as they navigate conflicting definitions of truth."

April Younglove (Librarian): "It forces us to ask what it means to be a good parent, neighbor, or friend. The novel also powerfully examines how domestic violence is discussed depending on a victim’s race, culture, and class."

2027 Calendar of Events & Book Distribution: 
The citywide program will officially kick off in early 2027. Thanks to the ongoing generosity of the Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library, 800 free copies of the book will be distributed to LINCC Library cardholders on a first-come, first-served basis on Sunday, February 28 starting at 1 :00 pm.  

Throughout the month of April, a diverse array of free public events will take place across Lake Oswego to explore the cultural and thematic depths of the novel: 

Cultural & Culinary Presentations: Weekly educational sessions showcasing Afghan heritage, history, and traditional cuisine.

Artistic Interpretations: A special exhibition featuring local artists' visual responses to the book's core themes, hosted in partnership with the Lakewood Center for the Arts.

Community Book Discussions: Staff-led literary groups meeting at various times and locations throughout the city all month long.

Headline Author Event: 
The month-long celebration will culminate in a headline community event featuring Patmeena Sabit. The author will visit Lake Oswego on Monday, April 26, 2027, for a special presentation and Q & A session at Lake Oswego High School (2501 Country Club Road, Lake Oswego, OR) beginning at 7:00 pm. 

Admission is free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be distributed to library cardholders at the Lake Oswego Public Library beginning April 1, 2027. 

For more details on the full April schedule of events, passport activities, or how to get involved, please visit the official Lake Oswego Reads website, www.ci.oswego.or.us/loreads . 

About Lake Oswego Reads: 
Lake Oswego Reads is an award-winning program created by the Lake Oswego Public Library. It aims to strengthen civic pride, foster meaningful discussion among residents, and connect neighbors through the common bond of reading a single book each year. The program is presented by the Lake Oswego Public Library, with title sponsorship from the Friends of the Lake Oswego Public Library and The Review. 

Media Contact: 
Nancy Niland, Volunteer & Special Events Coordinator 
Lake Oswego Public Library  

503-675-2538 | [email protected] 

2027 - Good People

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