January 2–February 28, 2026
Chelsea District Library, Dexter District Library, and Serendipity Books are proud to present the second annual Neighbors Read! This community read will bring together readers from the cities of Dexter and Chelsea and the surrounding townships of Lyndon, Sylvan, Dexter, Lima, Scio, and Webster. We will focus specifically on books set in our beautiful state, Michigan, or books by Michigan authors. This year’s read is Dead Moose on Isle Royale by Jeffrey M. Holden. Through book discussions, complementary events, and a visit from Mr. Holden himself, we can start a conversation across our towns and townships this winter.
Why a Community Read?
Even as a solitary act, reading has been shown to build empathy. When we read as a community, we can spread that empathy to our family, friends, and neighbors. A community read brings people together of different ages, backgrounds, and more to converse on a common theme.
2026 Neighbors Read Details:
Dead Moose on Isle Royale, by Jeffrey M. Holden
Isle Royale is one of the most remote and pristine of all the U.S. national parks, and the site of the world’s longest-running predator–prey study. Every summer, Holden leads groups of citizen scientists on week-long expeditions to search for dead moose. Those intrepid enough to join him backpacking off trail in Isle Royale’s rugged beauty face challenges from treacherous weather conditions, to wildlife, primitive backcountry camping, traveling through swamps and wetlands, and backpacks that grow heavier with bones every time a new dead moose is found. Scientists use the bones, photos, and data they collect to reconstruct the moose population through the years, correlating it against other data on wolves, weather, and ticks. Dead Moose on Isle Royale provides a fascinating look into the day-to-day realities of backpacking in the wilderness, while featuring the extraordinary scientific discoveries of the Wolf-Moose Project.
Books will be available to pick up from Chelsea District Library, Dexter District Library, and Serendipity Books beginning in mid-December.
Meet the Author!
Neighbors Read: A Conversation with Jeffrey M. Holden
Saturday, Feb. 21 | 1–2:30pm | Dexter District Library | Drop-in
Serendipity Books owner, Michelle Tuplin, will interview Holden, author of Dead Moose on Isle Royale. Hear more about the inspiration behind the book, the rigors of backcountry work in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Holden’s writing process. The interview will be followed by Q&A from the audience. This event is open to the public and does not require a ticket.
Can’t make it in-person? Attend the author talk via Zoom. Register here to receive a link to the conversation!
Additional Neighbors Read Programs:
The Toledo War: The Acquisition of Isle Royale and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula
Jan. 18 | 2pm | Dexter District Library Lower Level Meeting Room | Registration required
Discover the dramatic, and occasionally humorous, chapter in Michigan’s past known as the Toledo War. Why do so many people in Michigan KNOW that Ohio is the worst state? It is a rivalry that well predates football. Explores how a disputed strip of swampy land nearly sparked a shooting war between Ohio and the Michigan Territory, shaping both states’ identities in the process. Learn how political maneuvering, a militia standoff, and a presidential compromise ultimately cost Michigan Toledo, but granted it the vast, mineral-rich wilderness of Isle Royale and the Upper Peninsula.
This program will be in the library’s lower-level meeting room. Registration is suggested as this program will be moved to a Zoom presentation in the event of inclement weather. Register on the library’s events calendar or call 734-426-4477 (ext. 120)
Hometown Book Club
Wednesday, Jan. 21 | 7–8pm | Serendipity Books | Registration required
Keep the conversation going at our favorite indie bookstore! Join CDL librarians and Michelle Tuplin from Serendipity Books as we dive further into our natural world. The Hometown Book Club will discuss American Wolf, by Nate Blakeslee.
