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The Raritan Valley Community College Institute for Holocaust and Genocide Studies will present a virtual Summer Book Series beginning June 18. Held via Zoom webinars, the programs are free of charge and open to the public. The series, which features discussions of award-winning novels that explore the past, includes:

• Friday, June 18, 10-11 a.m., The Yellow Bird Sings: Author Jennifer Rosner will speak about her debut novel, which was inspired by the true stories of Jewish children hidden during World War II. The breathtaking novel depicts the unbreakable bond between a mother and a daughter. Beautiful and riveting, The Yellow Bird Sings is a testament to the triumph of hope in even the darkest of times.

• Friday, July 16, 10-11 a.m., We Are Not Free: The novel by Traci Chee features a collective account of a tight-knit group of young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.

• Friday, August 20, 10-11 a.m., The Vanishing Half: Brit Bennett’s novel considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person’s decisions, desires and expectations. The book also explores why people sometimes feel pulled to live as something other than their origins.

The books in the series are available online through the Somerset County Library System to download for reading or listening. To participate in the series or for additional information, email Program Specialist Michelle Edgar at michelle.edgar@raritanval.edu.

The series is being co-sponsored by the Jewish Federation of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Warren Counties; the JCC Holocaust Memorial and Education Center; and the New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.

Ranked by WalletHub.com, Intelligent.com and Niche.com as the #1 community college in New Jersey, Raritan Valley Community College has been serving as an academic and cultural center for Somerset and Hunterdon County residents for over 50 years. The College has been nationally recognized for its service to the community, environmental stewardship, and commitment to diversity. It is home to a Planetarium, Science Education Institute, and an Honors College for high achieving students.

The College offers more than 90 associate degrees and certificates, as well as career training, small business assistance through the Small Business Development Center, and professional development courses. RVCC is located at 118 Lamington Road in Branchburg, NJ. For further information, visit www.raritanval.edu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 26, 2021

PR #94