Lincoln City Libraries Announces 2025 One Book One Lincoln Title

Lincoln City Libraries Announces 2025 One Book One Lincoln Title

Published on September 01, 2025

Lincoln City Libraries (LCL) today announced "Dust Child" by Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai as the book selected for the 2025 One Book One Lincoln Community Reading Program. The book is available from LCL in print and large type as well as downloadable audio and ebook formats.

Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai's "Dust Child" is a sweeping saga of family secrets, shifting perspectives and the search for forgiveness. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War and its aftermath, the novel follows two sisters who work in Saigon's bars, earning money by spending time with American soldiers. Some of those soldiers father children who are later left behind. Decades later, the past and present collide in a story of a veteran seeking redemption and an Amerasian man searching for a sense of belonging.

"Dust Child" is a She Reads Award Winner for Best Historical Fiction and an Indie Next List Great Read.

The runners-up for the 2025 program were "The Light Pirate" by Lily Brooks-Dalton and "James" by Percival Everett. The book selection process began in February when a 19-member selection committee of community readers narrowed the 141 nominations down to the top three.

"It is so exciting to see how the Lincoln community has supported all three of the finalists this year with double the voting numbers over last year. We are pleased that the story and themes of "Dust Child" resonated with the readers of Lincoln," said Jennifer Jackson, Librarian and One Book One Lincoln Program Facilitator.

LCL has sponsored the annual One Book One Lincoln program since 2002 to encourage reading and dialogue by creating a community-wide reading and discussion experience.

Find out more about One Book One Lincoln events at lincolnlibraries.org.