It’s not every day that readers get the chance to grill authors about the books they write and the characters they create, but Falmouth resident Jean Mary Flahive will be at her fans’ disposal at Wescott Junior High School next month.
Flahive’s novel, “Billy Boy: The Sunday Soldier of the 17th Maine,” a fictionalized account based on the true tale of a mentally challenged Maine soldier, has been sitting on the nightstands of Westbrook eighth-graders – and of many of their parents and teachers, as well.
One of those teachers, Cheryl Gillespie, chose the novel for her community reading program, which is funded by a grant from the Maine Humanities Council in Portland.
A few years back, a similar group had formed, but Gillespie said it became too expensive to buy books to hand out to community members to read and discuss, so it faded away.
“It was really kind of dead in the water,” Gillespie said.
Last year, Gillespie decided to do some research about getting a grant to fund the program, and in December, the Maine Humanities Council awarded the school $1,000.
The Maine Humanities Council is a private nonprofit organization, Maine’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and quartered on Brighton Avenue.
The money the council awarded, along with a $500 donation from the Parent Teacher Organization and Gillespie’s donated time and energy, made it possible for the program to start back up again.
Because of the Maine Humanities Council’s dedication to the study of history, Gillespie chose to purchase 50 copies of “Billy Boy” with the grant money, for students, parents, teachers and other community members to read.
“The 50 copies just flew out of the boxes,” Gillespie said.
There’s a waiting list for others who would like to read the book.
Gillespie said she heard about the book from a history teacher at the junior high who attended a conference at which Flahive spoke. The historical nature of the book, and the fact that both the author and main character are from Maine, made it an attractive choice for her program.
“I thought, this is perfect,” Gillespie said.
But time is dwindling before Flahive visits the school to talk about the book and answer questions from her readers. The public is welcome to attend the event at 6:30 p.m. on May 7 at the junior high school. Gillespie said a local Civil War buff who participates in re-enactments told her he may show up in full uniform.
Eighth-graders at the junior high said they’re about halfway done with the book, and so far, so good.
Flahive, whose novel came out about a year and a half ago, said she’s given talks at schools before and enjoys answering questions from readers, especially about the research she had to do to write the book.
Flahive has always had an interest in the Civil War. She’s taught college classes and worked as a grant writer, fundraiser and project developer. “Billy Boy” is her first novel, and she has a children’s book coming out next month, called “Remember Me: Tomah Joseph’s Gift to Franklin Roosevelt.”
Other parts of the community reading program include book groups that are set up specifically for adults, young children and teachers.
“The intent is to show kids that everybody reads,” Gillespie said.
Jean Flahive will talk about her book, “Billy Boy: The Sunday Soldier of the 17th Maine,” answer questions from readers, on Thursday, May 7, at 6:30 p.m., at Wescott Junior High School.
Wescott Junior High School teacher Cheryl Gillespie is surrounded by her students, clockwise from left, Alicia Bonney, James Doyle, Katie Clark and Rachel Crawford, who are all avid readers.
“Billy Boy,” by Falmouth resident Jean Mary Flahive, is a novel based on the true story of a mentally challenged young soldier from Berwick.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
