NEHS Common Reader

The Advisory Council has selected Beautiful Country, by Qian Julie Wang as the Common Reader for next year’s scholarship competition. Respondents to the recent Common Reader survey ranked this book very high; it addresses the very current issues concerning immigration, introduces a new voice to the literary canon, and shifts the selection from fiction to memoir, a decision encouraged by many Advisors. The Kirkus Review states, "Engaging readers through all five senses and the heart, Wang’s debut memoir is a critical addition to the literature on immigration as well as the timeless category of childhood memoir." Applicants for the scholarships, who must be graduating seniors during the 2022-2023 school year, are required to read this text and select a prompt as the basis of their application essays.

NEHS is working to develop a partnership with an organization that may be able give NEHS members and/or chapters a reduction in cost for the text. More information about the partnership will be provided as soon as possible.

Applicants for the Merit Scholarships are to read this text and select a prompt as the basis of their application submissions.

• Essay Prompts will be posted on November 1.

• Scholarship Applications accepted: December 12, 2022 - January 9, 2023.