By The Book: Brewster Explores Coastal Vulnerability In Second Books And Big Ideas Program

BREWSTER – Talk about a page-turner. 

The town of Brewster is embarking on its second year collaborating with the Brewster Ladies’ Library on the Books and Big Ideas program, but this time they are focusing on a topic close to residents’ hearts.

 This year’s theme, “Living on the Coast,” centers on the location of Brewster and the vulnerable nature of its ecosystem. 

 The initiative is a community-centric program that uses books for all ages to encourage engagement through discussion about topics affecting the community.

 Throughout September and October there will be seven events to correspond with the books in the program. 

 Adult titles include “The High House” by Jessie Greengrass; “Shucked: Life on a New England Oyster Farm” by Erin Byers Murray; “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore” by Elizabeth Rush; and “A Cape Cod Notebook (Volume 1)” by Robert Finch. A common thread throughout the books is the link to coastal sanctuaries and environmentally vulnerable areas. 

 For young adults, the program includes “Girl. Boy. Sea.” by Chris Vick. Younger readers will have the opportunity to read “Shouting at the Rain” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt. Kids who enjoy picture books can pick up “Little Turtle and the Changing Sea” by Becky Davies and “Clem and Crab” by Fiona Lumbers. 

 All of these titles are available to borrow at the Brewster Ladies’ Library and most are available for purchase at the Brewster Book Store. 

 The program kicks off this Saturday, Sept. 6 at 2 p.m. at the Brewster Ladies’ Library where the Oscar-winning film “Flow” will be screened. The movie follows a cat on an adventure after his home is devastated by a great flood, with themes centered around the fragility of nature and the environment and the necessity of working together.

 Following the kickoff event, the Cape Cod museum of Natural History will host a guided family field walk on Sept. 14 at 9 a.m. This will reference the books “Clem and Crab” and “A Cape Cod Notebook.” 

 On Saturday, Sept. 27 at 8:30 a.m. Mass Audubon will be taking registered attendees on a nature walk through the Sea Camps Bay Property focusing on birds and other inhabitants of the area. During the walk, participants will explore beach and tidal flats, dunes, wetland and woodland edges and discover birds, insects, trees and shrubs and their natural history and adaptations to life on the coast. At 10 a.m., the Mass Audubon team will conduct another nature walk focused on marine exploration. Participants will be supplied with dip nets, buckets and scavenger hunts to search for and learn all about the creatures that survive this ever-changing habitat.

 On Sunday, Sept. 28, residents are invited to the Sea Camps Bay Property for a coast sweep and good neighbor beach cleanup at 10 a.m. 

 Erin Byers Murray, author of “Shucked,” will host a virtual book talk on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. The Brewster Ladies’ Library will host the virtual talk. 

 On Monday, Oct. 6 the natural resources department is hosting an oyster tour at Mants Landing at 4:30 p.m. In season, the town usually announces oyster harvest dates here for shellfish permit holders. 

 The final event on Thursday, Oct. 23 will be a book discussion of “The High House.” The novel, shortlisted for the 2021 Costa Novel Award, chronicles the relationships between two unlikely pairs of people who learn to survive together as the threat of extinction due to environmental factors continues to grow. The discussion will take place at the Brewster Ladies’ Library from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 For more information and to register for events, visit brewsterladieslibrary.org.