What does it mean to lose your roots – within your culture, within your family – and what happens when you find them?

   TCCL invites you to participate in “One Book, One Tulsa,” by reading Nicole Chung’s 2018 memoir “All You Can Ever Know,” a profound, moving chronicle of Chung’s cross-cultural adoption and search for her biological Korean parents. Chung’s debut novel was named Best Book of the Year by The Washington Post, Time, Library Journal and many other prestigious publications.

   Chung will discuss “All You Can Ever Know,” answer questions from the audience and sign books on Friday, Sept. 27 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Central Library, Fifth Street and Denver Avenue, on the first floor. Copies of her book will be available for purchase.

   Raised by adoptive parents in the Pacific Northwest, Chung felt that she was destined to feel out of place as a transracial adoptee. As she faced prejudice her adoptive family could not see, Chung worked at finding her identity as an Asian American writer. Curious about where she came from, she wondered if the story she had been told was the whole truth.

   “All You Can Ever Know” tells of Chung’s search for her biological parents, which coincided with the birth of her own child. This award-winning memoir is a chronicle of surprising connections and the repercussions of unearthing painful family secrets.

   “One Book, One Tulsa,” is a communitywide reading initiative designed to create a dialog between readers. To complement “One Book, One Tulsa,” TCCL will host a series of programs leading up to Chung’s visit.

The Art of Memoir Writing

    • Monday, Sept. 23, 6-7 p.m., Central Library
    • Tuesday, Sept. 24, 7-8 p.m., Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St.

Where Your Family Story Begins: Using Ancestry Library Edition

  • Tuesday, Sept. 24, 3:30-5 p.m., Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford

Take 5: Korean-American Literature

  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, 7-8:30 p.m., Martin Regional Library, 2601 S. Garnett Road

Discover Your Heritage With Genealogy DNA

  • Wednesday, Sept. 25, noon-1 p.m., Jenks Library, 523 W. B St.
  • Friday, Sept. 27, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Schusterman-Benson Library, 3333 E. 32nd Place

   For more information on TCCL programs and services, call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7323, or visit www.tulsalibrary.org.

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