Silicon Valley Reads 2023: Journey to New Beginnings

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

This year, it is the 20th Anniversary of Silicon Valley Reads! Silicon Valley Reads is an annual community program that selects books focused on a contemporary theme. It offers free events to Santa Clara County residents. These events seek to engage our community in reading, thinking, and discussing the topic. There are two goals:

  • Encourage the love of reading and learning.
  • Offer a welcoming forum where our diverse community can come together to share different perspectives.

Silicon Valley Reads is presented by San José Public Library, Santa Clara County Library District, and the Santa Clara County Office of Education.

This Year's Theme

It has been an inspiring and dynamic two-decade journey. Over the years, Silicon Valley Reads has identified themes and books that resonated with the community.

Over the last two years, when the world experienced a global pandemic, Silicon Valley Reads gave people hope for the future with themes, such as “Connecting” and “The Power of Kindness, Resilience and Hope.”

Our community has persevered and is ready to move forward. For 2023, Silicon Valley Reads will set off on a “Journey to New Beginnings.”

Kickoff Event: January 26

The 2023 Silicon Valley Reads kickoff event was on Thursday, January 26, 2023, at 7:00 PM.

San Jose Mercury News columnist Sal Pizarro moderated a conversation with the three authors of this year's selected books: Tommy Orange, Kai Harris, and Amanda Skenadore.

This free event had both an in-person and an online option. It will be presented at the De Anza College in Cupertino and live-streamed by the Commonwealth Club of Silicon Valley.

All Events

A full calendar of events featuring all participating organizations is available on the Silicon Valley Reads site.

Silicon Valley Reads Events at San Jose Libraries

Featured Titles

Adult Books

There, There, book cover
The Second Life of Mirielle West, book cover
What the Fireflies Knew, book cover


Children/Teen Books

Coqui in the City, book cover
Sugar in Milk, book cover
When Scars are Scattered, book cover
Furia, book cover