On March 23, Cranford High School’s Intergenerational Book Club held its discussion session. The meeting had a phenomenal turnout, with strong participation from CHS students and teachers as well as community members. This year, members prepared for the discussion day by selecting and reading either Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green or The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt. 

Students prepared questions in advance to keep the conversation going, but all participants were encouraged to share stories, express opinions, and pose their own inquiries. Many participants even shared more personal or relevant experiences regarding the topic of the novel. 

The Anxious Generation depicts “the great rewiring” of children’s minds through the introduction of smartphones and social media to their youth. On the other hand, Everything is Tuberculosis details the evolution of the disease through a social and political lense, in addition to its medical complications. 

I read Everything is Tuberculosis, and I was both shocked by and impressed with Green’s work. Green travels to Sierra Leone to conduct extensive research and deeply immerse himself in the experiences of a tuberculosis patient. Green exposes society for its inequities and lack of empathy, but he also calls himself out for his own previous ignorance to the world’s deadliest infectious disease. He emphasizes that the true reason for and persistence of tuberculosis can be accredited to the lack of social organization, not just biology. 

Through the conference, I acquired a better understanding of how Everything is Tuberculosis affected readers. After speaking with Mrs. Shaw, one of the club advisors, I was intrigued by her perspective as she explained, “It disgusted me that companies and governments value money more than human lives.” This recurring theme in the novel sparked prolonged discussion throughout the meeting. 

There was much positive feedback from the session with many book club members expressing their enjoyment of the book, myself included.

Stay tuned for next year’s book selections! This is a perfect opportunity to get exposure to some great literature, to step out of your comfort zone, and to immerse yourself in the Cranford community!