One Book One County Montcalm
The Montcalm Community College Library and the public libraries of Montcalm County have combined to offer One Book One County Montcalm. The program aims to reach our community of readers, in Montcalm County and at MCC, to inspire, uplift, and enlighten by reading books that touch the hearts and minds of our readers, celebrate literature and encourage library use.
The One Book committee is comprised of representatives from each of the public libraries in Montcalm County. One Book is sponsored by Montcalm Community College, the MCC Foundation and the public libraries of Montcalm County.
2026 Book Selection
The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night that Saved America
By Kostya Kennedy
Timed for the 250th anniversary of America’s revolution and founding: Paul Revere’s heroic ride, newly told with fresh research into little-known aspects of the story Americans have heard since childhood but hardly understood.
On April 18, 1775, a Boston-based silversmith, engraver, and anti-British political operative named Paul Revere set out on a borrowed horse to fulfill a dangerous but crucial mission: to alert American colonists of advancing British troops, which would seek to crush their nascent revolt.
Revere was not the only rider that night, and indeed, he had completed at least 18 previous rides across New England and other colonies, disseminating intelligence about British movements. But this ride was like no other, and its consequences in the months and years to come―as the American Revolution morphed from isolated skirmishes to a full-fledged war―became one of our founding legends.
In The Ride, Kostya Kennedy presents a dramatic new narrative of the events of April 18 and 19, 1775, informed by fresh primary and secondary source research into archives, family letters and diaries, contemporary accounts, and more. Kennedy reveals Revere’s ride to be more complex than it is usually portrayed―a loosely coordinated series of rides by numerous men, near-disaster, capture by British forces, and finally success. While Revere was central to the ride and its plotting, Kennedy reveals the other men (and, perhaps, a woman with information about the movement of British forces) who helped to set in motion the events that would lead to America’s independence.
Thrillingly written in a dramatic, unstoppable narrative, The Ride re-tells an essential American story for a new generation of readers. – From Amazon.com
Upcoming OBOC Events
Carson City Public Library - Tuesday, August 4, at 6 p.m.
Crystal Community Library - Tuesday, July 21, at 1 p.m.
Flat River Community Library - Wednesday, June 24, at 6 p.m.
Home Township Library - Friday, June 26, at 10 a.m.
Montcalm Community College Library - Thursday, August 13, at 12 noon
Richland Township Library - Friday, August 7, at 11 a.m.
Tamarack District Library - Thursday, June 25, at 5 p.m.
Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library - Wednesday, August 26, at 1 p.m.
White Pine District Library - Wednesday, July 15 at 1 p.m.
One Book Closing
Tuesday, September 22, 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Montcalm Heritage Village on Montcalm Community College’s Sidney campus. In case of rain, the event will be held inside Rooms D303-305 in the Beatrice E. Doser Building on MCC’s Sidney campus.
Admission is free. RSVP is required to attend by Sept. 15. Visit the link below or call 989-328-1261.
Additional Resources
Kennedy narrows the focus to a single night. How does concentrating on April 18–19, 1775 change the way we understand the American Revolution?
Paul Revere is often treated as a mythic figure. How does Kennedy humanize Revere? What strengths and flaws stand out in this portrayal?
The book emphasizes teamwork over individual heroism. How do figures like William Dawes, Samuel Prescott, and the militia networks complicate the traditional Revere narrative?
Communication is central to the story. What does the book reveal about how information traveled in colonial America, and why that mattered so much on this night?
Kennedy challenges the idea that the ride itself “saved” America. What factors—planning, preparation, luck, or timing—seem most critical to the outcome?
How does the book portray the British perspective? In what ways does understanding their decisions and missteps add depth to the story?
Fear and uncertainty play a major role throughout the night. How do ordinary people—militia members, townspeople, messengers—respond under pressure?
The subtitle suggests national importance. In your view, did this night truly “save” America, or is that an intentional exaggeration meant to provoke thought?
Kennedy blends narrative storytelling with historical analysis. How effective is this approach for conveying history? Did it make the events feel more immediate or more speculative?
After reading this book, how has your understanding of the Revolution’s beginning changed? What surprised you most about how close events came to unfolding differently?
April 1775: The First Day of the American Revolution by Jay Winik
A moment-by-moment account of the same pivotal day, expanding the lens beyond Revere to show how close events came to unfolding differently.
Paul Revere and the World He Lived In by Esther Forbes
A classic biography that places Revere within his broader social and political world — excellent for readers who want more depth after Kennedy’s focused narrative.
Washington’s Crossing by David McCullough
Another example of history hinging on a single, high-stakes moment. McCullough’s storytelling style will appeal to fans of Kennedy’s pacing and clarity.
The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere (context companion) by Nathaniel Philbrick
While not solely about the ride, Philbrick’s work often revisits Revolutionary myths with fresh research and readable prose.
The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson
Though set in WWII, this book shares Kennedy’s approach: zooming in on a critical turning point to show how individuals, timing, and chance shape history.
The Longest Night by David J. Eicher
Focuses on a single night during the Civil War, blending military decisions with human drama — great for readers drawn to compressed timelines.
Founding Myths: Stories That Hide Our Patriotic Past by Ray Raphael
Perfect for readers intrigued by how Kennedy challenges the simplified Revere legend.
1776 by David McCullough
Explores how uncertainty, confusion, and imperfect information shaped the Revolutionary cause — key themes in The Ride.
A People’s History of the American Revolution by Ray Raphael
Highlights messengers, militia members, and townspeople — those same “supporting characters” Kennedy brings to life.
American Midnight by Adam Hochschild
Set later in U.S. history, but similarly examines fear, communication breakdowns, and national identity during a tense moment of change.
The 2026 One Book One County Montcalm selection, “The Ride: Paul Revere and the Night That Saved America” by Kostya Kennedy, is available for checkout at the following libraries.
Carson City Public Library
Crystal Community Library
Flat River Community Library in Greenville
Home Township Library in Edmore
Timothy C. Hauenstein Reynolds Township Library in Howard City
Tamarack District Library in Lakeview
Montcalm Community College Library on the college’s Sidney campus
Richland Township Library in Vestaburg
White Pine District Library in Stanton