Blood Done Sign My Name by Timothy B. Tyson has been selected as the featured read of the One Book One Community program for 2008-09, according to the organization's executive committee.

The book, which is set in the early 1970s in Oxford, North Carolina where the author grew up, is a narrative about incidents and attitudes that helped transform the country. A murder in the streets creates racial tension and draws reactions in the courtroom, among the Klan, and from Vietnam veterans with Tyson's family in the middle of it all.

The reader becomes entwined in the struggle of racial equality as told by an author who is white. The title is taken from an African American spiritual cited in the book

Blood Done Sign My Name was selected among dozens of books that were nominated by members of the Alliance community, according to Harry Paidas, vice president for public affairs and marketing at Mount Union College, who co-chairs the committee with Pat Stone, director of Rodman Public Library.

"This is the sixth year of One Book One Community in the Alliance area, and it becomes increasingly difficult to find a book with broad, relevant appeal while being mindful that one of the criteria is an appearance by the author," Paidas said. "With the selection of 'Blood,' we have a book that will no doubt elicit considerable discussion, and we anticipate a broader community audience that should transcend racial and ethnic lines in our community."

Paidas said the programming leading to the author's appearance is still to be determined but Tyson has committed to appearing in Alliance on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the Mount Union Theatre. He will be accompanied by noted gospel singer Mary D. Williams who will perform some of the songs referenced in the book. Tyson currently serves as professor of African American studies at Duke University. The book is the basis for a movie that is being released early next year.

Programming will kick off with a book review by Dr. Michelle Collins-Sibley, professor of English at Mount Union College, on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Rodman Public Library.

The selected books for the past five years have been The Color of Water by James McBride, Riding the Bus with My Sister by Rachel Simon, Real Time by Pnina Moed-Kass, Beyond the River by Ann Hagedorn, and Plenty by Alisa Smith and J.B. MacKinnon.

"We would not have the opportunity to bring the author to Alliance if not for the resources provided by our partners, including Rodman Public Library, Mount Union College, The Greater Alliance Foundation and The Review," Paidas said. "We are also pleased to report that a number of teachers in the Alliance City Schools, and Sebring, Marlington and West Branch local schools have committed to teaching from the book."

Blood Done Sign My Name is available at the Mount Union College Bookstore, Rodman Public Library and the Alliance Area Chamber of Commerce Office. Paidas said the cost of the book is $10, a reduced price due to a high volume discount. Several copies also will be available for checkout at Rodman Public Library and the Mount Union College Library.

Members of the One Book executive committee, in addition to Paidas are Cheryl Paine, Diane Thomas and Sandra Giese of Mount Union College; Pat Stone of Rodman Public Library; Ken Faye and Libby Patterson of the Alliance City Schools, and Michael Zerbe, instructor at Stark State University and former owner of Chapter Two Book Store.