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The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America, by Kostya Kennedy, is the book everyone will be reading as the 2026 One Book One County Montcalm (OBOC) selection.

The book was announced at the May 19 kickoff celebration at �鶹ӳ����ý’s Sidney �鶹ӳ����ý, which featured a musical performance of American folk songs by Ben Traverse. 

With humor, heartfelt reflection and a few carefully placed literary “rabbit holes,” Carson City Public Library Director Beth O’Grady kept the audience guessing before announcing this year’s One Book One County selection.

O’Grady described the annual One Book One County gathering as more than a reading program, calling it “a celebration of conversation, laughter, food, and thought provoking and entertaining programming” that welcomes residents from across Montcalm County and beyond.Drawing connections between literature, history and personal discovery, O’Grady told attendees she believes “the golden thread that leads us through the reading rabbit hole is continually connecting all of us and our world.”

Before revealing the featured title, O’Grady highlighted the importance of local libraries and the people behind them, recognizing longtime Carson City Public Library Board member Kathleen Copp for her years of community service and recent autobiography, Chicory and Queen Anne’s Lace.

Copp, of Carson City, joined O’Grady to unveil this year’s selection to the audience of about 80 attendees.

Timed to coincide with the 250th anniversary of America’s founding, The Ride offers a fresh look at the story of Paul Revere and his legendary midnight ride. Drawing on new research, author Kostya Kennedy uncovers lesser-known details behind the events of April 18-19, 1775, when Revere and a network of fellow riders warned colonists of advancing British troops.

Far more complex than the familiar legend, the ride involved multiple messengers, close calls, and even Revere’s capture before the warning ultimately succeeded. Through archival records, letters, diaries, and contemporary accounts, The Ride reveals the coordinated effort that helped spark the American Revolution and shaped the path to American independence.

A series of book discussions about The Ride are planned this summer, including:

• Carson City Public Library, Tuesday, August 4, at 6 p.m.

• Crystal Community Library, Tuesday, July 21, at 1 p.m.

• Flat River Community Library in Greenville, Wednesday, June 24, at 6 p.m.

• Home Township Library in Edmore, Friday, June 26, at 10 a.m.

• �鶹ӳ����ý Library on the college’s Sidney �鶹ӳ����ý, Thursday, August 13, at 12 noon

• Richland Township Library in Vestaburg, Friday, August 7, at 11 a.m.

• Tamarack District Library in Lakeview, Thursday, June 25, at 5 p.m.

• Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library in Howard City, Wednesday, August 26, at 1 p.m.

• White Pine District Library in Stanton, Wednesday, July 15, at 1 p.m.

The closing event will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 6 p.m. in Montcalm Heritage Village on MCC’s Sidney �鶹ӳ����ý.

One Book One County Montcalm is sponsored by MCC, the MCC Foundation and the public libraries of Montcalm County.

For more information, visit the One Book One County website or call the MCC Library at 989-328-1261.