from Dateline (January 30, 2003)

‘Orange County Reads One Book’ Kicks Off Feb. 5
by Gail Matsunaga

Orange County residents will be challenged to form the largest book club of its kind with the Feb. 5 launch of “Orange County Reads One Book” a countywide effort to strengthen literacy, community building, and multigenerational and multicultural understanding. Cal State Fullerton is hosting the kickoff festivities, which will include the introduction and celebration of the New York Times best seller Falling Leaves – and its companion children’s book Chinese Cinderella – by Huntington Beach author Adeline Yen Mah.

Activities will begin with a press conference, followed by a 3 p.m. program featuring Yen Mah. Program co-chairs William M. Habermehl, Orange County Department of Education superintendent, and Steven N. Barth, Los Angeles Times vice president of classified advertising/general manager, Los Angeles Times Interactive, will invite county residents to read Falling Leaves and Chinese Cinderella over the next six weeks, then participate in discussions, programs, art events, seminars and activities that will include opportunities to meet the author.

Students from middle and high schools also will be on hand to share their personal thoughts and experiences about Chinese Cinderella. After the program, Yen Mah will be available to sign her books, which the Titan Bookstore has on display and for sale, in addition to Cinderella stories from other countries, including Persia, Mexico, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Philippines and Laos.

In the weeks ahead, the campus community will have opportunities to further explore the books and learn more about Yen Mah in a Pollak Library exhibit that will feature a BBC program on the author’s return to China; pages from her original manuscripts; letters and pictures from readers; family photos; and items relating to various aspects of Yen Mah’s life.

Additionally, several classes will include Falling Leaves in this semester’s curriculum.

The university also is participating in “One Book, One City” a project with the city of Santa Ana to encourage residents to read John Steinbeck’s The Pearl. Coordinated primarily through Grand Central Art Center, activities and programs appealing to all ages have been ongoing and will continue through April.