Some people think it’s a miracle, some people think it’s a disaster. That’s the story of “Flight Behavior,” a novel by Barbara Kingsolver chosen for Our Community Reads in Aptos, Capitola, Scotts Valley and Felton by the Friends of Aptos Library.
Book lovers gather for the Our Community Reads voting party.
The story follows Dellarobia Turnbow, a 28-year-old housewife and mother who discovers millions of monarch butterflies displaced from Mexico in the valley behind her home in Tennessee.
The timing is perfect as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to list the monarch butterfly as endangered and designate critical habitat as the western migratory population has declined by more than 95% since the 1980s. To comment by March 12, go to regulations.gov and www.fws.gov/monarch.
On Saturday, Feb. 8, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Natural Bridges State Park, 2531 W. Ciff Drive, Santa Cruz will host the 38th Annual Migration Festival celebrating migratory creature such as monarch butterflies that come to the Santa Cruz coast every year. There will be talks, games, crafts and music.
Here is the list of events for this year’s Our Community Reads:
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Events
Tuesday, Jan. 21 • 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.
Field Trip: Monarch Butterflies at Natural Bridges
Join Martha Nitzberg, Interpretive Ranger, and volunteer docent June Langhoff at a Monarch overwintering site. Learn about their amazing migration and the Methuselah generation that winters on our coast. Weather permitting, take a short, guided walk to the Monarch grove. Binoculars will enhance the experience. Coffee & snacks provided.
Meet at Natural Bridges Visitor Center — 2531 W Cliff Drive (parking fee) Santa Cruz.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13810992
Note: There will be an optional stop at Lighthouse Field (another overwintering site) afterward.
Thursday, Jan. 23 • 11 am to 1 pm
Book Discussion
The Loft Coffee Sho: 2701 Cabrillo College Drive, Aptos.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13811178
Saturday, Jan. 25 • 5 to 7 pm
Film: Ice on Fire
Ice on Fire is a documentary narrated by Leonardo DiCaprio that premiered to a standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival in 2019. It explores the potential extinction level effects caused by arctic methane release and new technologies that could reverse global warming.
After the film, Dr. Gary Griggs, Distinguished Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences at UCSC, will moderate a brief Q&A. Dr. Griggs is Chair of the California Ocean Sciences Trust, and a columnist for the Santa Cruz Sentinel. His latest book is California Catastrophes — The Natural Disaster History of the Golden State.
La Selva Beach Branch Library — 316 Estrella Ave., La Selva Beach.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13811658
Wedensday, Jan. 29 • 6:30 pm
Photographers in Nature
Local nature photographers Seraphina Landgrebe, Kevin Lohman, and Bruce Leventhal join fellow photographer Jim Bourne for a lively discussion of how to capture those special images in the wild.
Barbara Kingsolver
Seraphina Landgrebe has been awarded “Photographer of the Year” by the Professional Photographers Association of the Monterey Bay Area and has operated a successful portrait studio for 30 years in Santa Cruz County.
Kevin Lohman is an award-winning wildlife photographer living in Santa Cruz, with an educational background in marine science.
Bruce Leventhal is an educator, naturalist, and photographer with degrees in biology emphasizing ecology, evolution, and behavior. Their work will be on display.
Radius Gallery at Tannery Arts Center — 1050 River St #127, Santa Cruz.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13811548
Saturday, Feb. 1 • 1 to 3 pm
Poetry Writing Workshop
In a creative and supportive setting, poet-teacher Magdalena Montagne will guide you in writing poems inspired by the many themes of Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior — identity, belonging, climate activism, & social justice. No experience necessary; appropriate for teens and up.
Scotts Valley Branch Library — 251 Kings Valley Road.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13811589
Wednesday, Feb. 5 • 6:30 pm
Displaced: How Climate Change is Causing Dislocation and Economic Hardship in Latin America & Beyond
Nick Rowell, Professor of Political Science at Cabrillo College, discusses how natural disasters and severe shifts in weather are destroying human habitats and forcing entire communities to abandon their homes and livelihoods, unwillingly joining the growing numbers of climate refugees.
Aptos Branch Library — 7695 Soquel Drive, and via Zoom.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13811682
Friday, Feb. 7 • 11 a.m.
Preschool Story Time
Join librarian Rowan Rammer for great stories and a butterfly craft activity related to Flight Behavior, by Barbarea Kingsolver
Aptos Branch Library — 7695 Soquel Dr.
No registration needed.
Thursday, Feb. 13 • 6:30 p.m.
Timber! A History of Local Logging and the Path Toward Sustainability
A thought-provoking discussion of logging in our local forests. How proper logging practices and private landownership have come into conflict regarding protected species, and how natural disasters, especially fires, have impacted environmental policy.
Panelists: Ed Orre, Cal Fire division chief, Resource Management for the Santa Clara Unit; Lisa Robinson, president of the San Lorenzo Valley Museum, member of the Conference of California Historical Societies and the Society of California Archivists; and Bryan Largay, conservation director of the Land Trust of Santa Cruz County.
Moderated by Judi Heher of the Friends of the Scotts Valley Library.
Scotts Valley Branch Library — 251 Kings Valley Road (Also on Zoom)
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13813015
Wednesday, Feb. 19 • 6:30 pm
On the Move: How Climate Change is Disrupting our Natural Habitats and Causing Unintended Migration
A discussion of factors causing displacement and population reduction of both marine and terrestrial creatures on the Central Coast. Panelists are Catherine Courtier (PhD candidate, UC Davis and NOAA SWFSC) and Paige Kouba (PhD, UC Davis).
Moderater Lauren Hanneman, associate faculty, Cabrillo College Department of Environmental Studies.
Live Oak Library Annex at Simpkins Family Swim Center — 979 17th Ave., Santa Cruz.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13813426
Saturday, Feb. 22 • 1 p.m.
Musing on Monarchs — Art Workshop
Observe, draw, and write in this unique art experience, facilitated by artists and art educators Sharon Ferguson and Jo-Neal Graves. Your interest and love of the natural world are the only requirements.
Capitola Branch Library — 2005 Wharf Road, Capitola
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13813483
Tuesday, March 4 • 6 pm
Film: Flight of the Butterflies
The stunning cinematography of this Canadian film follows Monarch butterflies on their migration from Canada, across the U.S., to remote overwintering sanctuaries in Mexico, where they settle in the hundreds of millions.
Before the film, Martha Nitzberg, interpretive ranger at Natural Bridges State Beach, will share her expertise on the Monarchs of Santa Cruz.
Art works from an Aptos High School student art competition, redesigning the Flight Behavior book cover, will be shown. Judges are staff members of Bookshop Santa Cruz and Two Birds Books.
Aptos Branch Library — 7695 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13813578
Saturday, March 8 • 10:30 am
From Manzanita to Milkweed: Plants to Support Monarchs & Pollinators
Get to know the best native California flowering plants for your home garden. Learn how to source the plants and propagate some of them from seed. (Seeds will be shared, plus a list of resources.)
With 20 years of California native plant experience, UC Master Gardener Janice Kuch has worked on local habitat restoration projects, including a current native plant garden project at San Juan Bautista State Historic Park.
Felton Branch Library — 6121 Gushee St., Felton.
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13814097
Thursday, March 13 • 6 pm
Trivia Night
The Santa Cruz Public Library’s Victor Willis poses challenging questions inspired by Flight Behavior, its setting and subject matter. Book groups may participate, or you can fly solo.
Meet upstairs (there’s elevator access). Food and drink available for purchase. Help wrap up another stimulating and entertaining Our Community Reads!
Art works from a Scotts Valley High School student art competition, redesigning the Flight Behavior book cover, will be shown. Judges are staff members of Bookshop Santa Cruz and Two Birds Books.
Bruno’s Bar and Grill @ Kings Village Shopping Center — 230 Mount Hermon Road, Scotts Valley. n
Register at https://santacruzpl.libcal.com/event/13814105
TOP PHOTO: The Monarch butterfly, featured in Barbara Kingsolver’s Flight Behavior, chosen for the 2025 Our Community Reads, is a star of the Migration Festival Feb. 8 in Santa Cruz.