Oxford's "Big Read"

Garrison Franks• Oct 9, 2025

We’re all used to hearing that “There’s nothing to do in Oxford.” But even in a small town, there’s always something new going on, and there’s always something we can do to make a difference; if only for our own community. This school year, the Oxford community is using literature as a basis to take action for the environment. 

The Oxford Lane Library has received grant money from the National Endowment for the Arts to participate in the 2025-26 “Big Read” program, a project which funds community-wide book readings. The Oxford community has chosen to read the memoir Lab Girl by Hope Jahren, which details the author’s lifelong relationship with scientific work and the process of how she grew up into a famous geochemist and geobiologist. 

But what really is a “Big Read”, and what does Oxford’s Big Read of Lab Girl entail? The Oxford Lane will begin by hosting special guests and relevant activities throughout this year, and will hold community reading sessions of Lab Girl starting this winter. Additionally, Miami University and Talawanda Middle and High Schools will be joining in with similar programs. A few Talawanda students may already be familiar with Lab Girl - Ms. Sammons’s Honors Eng II students and Dr. Weatherwax’s AP Lang & Comp students are currently reading the book and participating in science- and sustainability-themed activities. For example, on October 14th, these students will explore the THS natural areas and study soil chemistry, nature journaling, seed planting, and more. Additionally, on the 22nd, documentarian Lexi Marsh will be screening her film The Bearded Lady Project: Challenging the Face of Science for these students during the school day. The students involved with this project will also be doing field service hours related to the book. Some of the options including plogging on Talawanda’s campus (walking while cleaning up trash), helping Miami clear the trails of invasive honeysuckle, and making posters to advertise the seed library at Lane.

At Talawanda and throughout the Oxford community, the experience of reading Lab Girl and learning more about natural sciences has just begun. One quote from the book reads that “People are like plants. They grow toward the light” (Jahren). In other words, while this type of initiative may feel hard to find in a small town like Oxford, we can take advantage of the opportunities to grow that we do have. Stay tuned for the details of the Oxford Big Read, and take the initiative to get involved with the community throughout this year!