Common Reader Program reveals new book for 2021-2022

After the Common Reader Program’s April 26 screening of the movie “Owned: A Tale of Two Americas,” the program announced Amy Ellis Nutt’s “Becoming Nicole” as the book for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Hunter the Hawk announced the book in a video following the format of a popular online trend. The video showed three book titles where Hunter pointed at them until only “Becoming Nicole” was left. 

“Becoming Nicole” is a true story about a family embarking on a journey to accept and embrace Nicole’s gender identity. The book recounts the parents’ experience from the beginning of the adoption process to seeing that one of their children is transgender and supporting their daughter along the way.

“We chose the book because we considered it very timely. Considering the number of states that are considering legislation right now that is impacting young transgender people in our school systems we thought, what better book to select than something that is so current in our contemporary society right now,” said Anne Gessler, Clinical Assistant Professor of First-Year Seminar and Humanities.

Wanalee Romero, director of the First-Year Seminar, explained that the Common Reader Program has a committee consisting of faculty, staff and students from different parts of the campus. Initially, committee members find the books that they think would be a good fit for the program and come back with a list.

Because the First-Year Seminar also adopts the book, the committee researches all candidates and ensures that the options fit the criteria, which includes that the books contain themes of voice, diversity, citizenship, marginality, and civic engagement since these aspects are embedded in the First-Year Seminar Program. Additionally, the books need to be a certain length so students can read the novel over the semester and the book must follow a compelling narrative because the committee members want the students to be engaged in the story.

“‘Becoming Nicole’ got on our list like all books do; I don’t even know what part of campus it came from, it just ended up on the list and then it passed all the criteria … and so it got on the shortlist of the books that we would actually read,” Romero said. “While all of that was happening, there had been different areas around the United States, and Houston for a while, where so-called bathroom bills had been proposed and in some cases passed, where the transgender community was having even less of a voice….It was a really pressing thing and we haven’t really done any LGBTQ-themed books, so that was something that we needed to pay some attention to.”

Even though the First-Year Seminar and Common Reader Program require students in these programs to read “Becoming Nicole,” Gessler encourages everyone in the UHCL community to join in reading the selection.

“We want this to be open to everyone so we’re hoping that no matter if you’re a first-year student, a staff worker or a faculty member it provides a window into understanding the everyday struggles and fight for citizenship rights and equality that transgender youth and advocates have been facing,” Gessler said.

“I think that it’s a good coming of age narrative and our first-year students will really resonate with that,” she continued. “You know how does it feel to be in a new school, trying to fit in and being harrassed because you’re different? I think it also has a very strong message about self advocacy and working with others to create change. I think it’s a very inspiring message regardless of who you are.”

Established in 2014, the Common Reader Program is an extension of the First-Year Seminar. The purpose is to promote the development of critical thinking and provide discussions centering around race, class, gender and citizenship. Over the next year, the program seeks to highlight the LGBTQ voice and raise awareness about the community.