Maryland’s literary community converges in St. Mary’s County this fall for a compelling author event tied to the 2025 One Maryland One Book selection, Kin: Rooted in Hope by Carole Boston Weatherford, with artwork by her son, Jeffery Boston Weatherford. On October 8, 2025, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., the Nancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center at St. Mary’s College of Maryland in Leonardtown will host a free public event featuring the mother-son duo. Their discussion will illuminate the book’s exploration of African American history and family legacy, rooted deeply in Maryland’s past. Earlier that day, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m., the College of Southern Maryland’s La Plata campus will welcome the Weatherfords for a panel discussion, extending the conversation to a broader Southern Maryland audience.
The main event in St. Mary’s County begins with lobby exhibits at 6:30 p.m., showcasing local historical organizations and their ties to the themes in Kin. These displays, open before and after the 7 p.m. author talk, offer context on Maryland’s African American heritage, complementing the book’s narrative. A book signing and sales will follow the discussion, giving attendees a chance to engage directly with the Weatherfords. Additional events across St. Mary’s, Calvert, and Charles counties throughout September and October will further promote Kin at libraries, historic sites, and community venues, fostering a region-wide dialogue about history and identity.
Kin: Rooted in Hope, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book and Boston Globe-Horn Book Poetry Award winner, is a poetic and visual journey through the Weatherfords’ family history, tracing ancestors from colonial Maryland to the 20th century. Carole Boston Weatherford, a Maryland native and 2025 Children’s Literature Legacy Award recipient, weaves narratives of her forebears, including those who lived on the Wye House Plantation in Talbot County. The book highlights Maryland landmarks like the Chesapeake Bay, Fort McHenry, and the Wye River, grounding its story in places familiar to Southern Maryland readers. Jeffery Boston Weatherford’s illustrations add a vivid dimension, making Kin a unique mother-son collaboration.
“Kin: Rooted in Hope is a family affair, a mother-son collaboration on a family saga dating back to colonial Maryland,” said Carole Boston Weatherford. “Kin conjures the past, reclaims lost ancestral narratives and brings us to the realization that knowing your history is generational wealth. As a Marylander, I am so proud that Kin’s selection as the 2025 One Maryland One Book will further amplify our ancestors’ voices. Their story of bondage and freedom—a history shared by many African Americans—is the American story.”
Selected by a committee of Maryland educators, librarians, and community members under the theme “What We Collect / What We Tell,” Kin resonates with readers for its blend of personal genealogy and historical insight. “I couldn’t be more excited about Kin: Rooted in Hope as our 2025 One Maryland One Book pick,” said Lindsey Baker, CEO of Maryland Humanities. “This book does exactly what our theme asks of us—it pieces together history, memory, and loss to reclaim stories that deserve to be told. Carole Boston Weatherford and Jeffery Boston Weatherford don’t just bring the past to life; they remind us why it matters today.”
The One Maryland One Book program, now in its 18th year, is a cornerstone of Maryland Humanities’ efforts to unite communities through literature. Administered by the Maryland Center for the Book, the initiative encourages residents statewide to read the same book and engage in discussions about its themes. In Southern Maryland, where history and culture are deeply intertwined, Kin offers a lens into the region’s African American heritage, from the Eastern Shore’s plantations to urban Baltimore. The program’s partnership with local institutions like St. Mary’s County Library, Calvert Library, Charles County Public Library, and the College of Southern Maryland amplifies its reach, ensuring accessibility across diverse communities.
Maryland Humanities, founded in 1973, has long championed programs that bridge literature and history. The One Maryland One Book initiative, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Maryland State Library Agency, has reached over 100,000 Marylanders since its inception, according to Maryland Humanities’ annual reports. This year’s selection aligns with Southern Maryland’s ongoing efforts to preserve African American history, seen in local projects like the St. Mary’s County Museum Division’s work at sites such as Sotterley Plantation, a historic landmark near Hollywood, Maryland, that documents the region’s complex past.
The Weatherfords’ event promises to spark meaningful conversations about heritage, resilience, and the power of storytelling. Carole Boston Weatherford’s accolades, including a Newbery Honor and Children’s Book Guild Nonfiction Award, underscore her ability to craft narratives that resonate with all ages. Jeffery Boston Weatherford’s art, which brings their ancestors’ stories to life, adds a visual depth that enhances the book’s impact. Together, their work invites Southern Marylanders to reflect on their own histories while celebrating the region’s shared legacy.
