World's Largest Digital Book Club Invites Readers to Embark on an Extraordinary Journey

CLEVELAND, April 1, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of readers worldwide can discover a remarkable true story through the largest global digital book club, Big Library Read. From April 1–15, booklovers can read and discuss Abu Bakr al Rabeeah and Winnie Yeung's heartbreaking yet hopeful Homes: A Refugee Story ebook by borrowing from their public library with no waitlists or holds. Readers may join by visiting their local library's digital collection or downloading the award-winning Libby app, named one of TIME's Best iPhone and Android Apps. Over 19,000 libraries around the world are participating, including more than 90 percent of public libraries in North America.

Homes: A Refugee Story has received positive reviews from critics and authors alike and was chosen as a 2018 Governor General's Literary Award finalist for nonfiction. The title was named April's Big Library Read selection by a popular vote of readers and librarians worldwide.

"It brings such joy to Abu Bakr and me that his wish of wanting to tell the world of Syria's plight is being fulfilled in such a far-reaching way," said author Winnie Yeung. "For this is the magic of books: they don't just feed our imaginations, they build bridges of understanding. The relationship of sharing, receiving and honoring each other is the true gift of storytelling —something I am so grateful to be a partner in."

Homes: A Refugee Story chronicles the struggles of the al Rabeeah family who left their home in Iraq for Syria in hope of a safer life – just before the Syrian civil war broke out. Abu Bakr, one of eight children, was ten years old when the violence began on the streets around him: car bombings, attacks on his mosque and school, firebombs late at night. Homes tells of the strange juxtaposition of growing up as a typical teenager in a war zone: horrific, unimaginable events punctuated by normalcy – soccer, cousins, video games, friends.

Big Library Read is an international reading program that simultaneously connects millions of readers around the world with an ebook through public libraries. Homes: A Refugee Story is the 18^th selection of this program which began in 2013 and takes place three times per year. Readers can join an online discussion about the book at https://discuss.biglibraryread.com/. The free program runs for two weeks from April 1-15, which includes National Library Week, and only requires a library card to get started. Big Library Read is facilitated by OverDrive, the leading platform for ebooks, audiobooks and magazines.

Homes: A Refugee Story can be read on all major computers and devices through Libby or libbyapp.com, including iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phones and tablets and Chromebook™ without waitlists or holds. Through Libby, readers can also "send to Kindle®" [US libraries only]. The title will automatically expire at the end of the lending period, and there are no late fees.

To join the discussion, learn about past Big Library Read ebooks and download Libby, visit biglibraryread.com.

About Rakuten OverDrive
Rakuten OverDrive is the leading digital reading platform for libraries and schools worldwide. We are dedicated to "a world enlightened by reading" by delivering the industry's largest catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines and other digital media to a growing network of 43,000 libraries and schools in 76 countries. Named one of TIME's Best iPhone and Android Apps of 2018, Libby is the "one-tap reading app" for libraries. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio USA and owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten. 

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SOURCE Rakuten OverDrive