February 8, 2007

Vermont Humanities Council’s Vermont Reads Pick Serialized on Vermont Public Radio

Author Elizabeth Winthrop didn’t realize what she was getting into. She visited a Bennington exhibit of child labor photographs taken in the early 1900s by Lewis Hine. One particular portrait of a young mill spinner captivated her. Four years later her book COUNTING ON GRACE was published. It was inspired by that iconic photograph. Now, COUNTING ON GRACE is the featured book of "Vermont Reads," the Vermont Humanities Council’s community-wide reading project. And beginning Sunday, March 4, Vermont Public Radio is broadcasting a reading of COUNTING ON GRACE in twelve episodes.

"It’s the first time VPR has serialized a book," said Jody Evans, VPR Director of Broadcasting. "It’s such a riveting book. The kind you start and stay up way too late reading. Or you sneak moments to read so you can find out what happens next. We knew we wanted to share it with our listeners. Luckily author Elizabeth Winthrop shared our enthusiasm and granted us the rights we needed so we could.
Now it’s up to listeners to let us know if they enjoy listening to a book serialized over several weeks."

Counting on Grace weaves the story of life in a 1910 southern Vermont textile mill. Twelve-year old Grace has left school to work with her family in the mill. When she meets up with child labor law reformer Lewis Hine, she and her friends learn life will never be the same.

But VPR’s broadcast of COUNTING ON GRACE doesn’t stop there. Winthrop was satisfied with the character she created from the photograph. But she still wanted to learn what happened to the girl staring out from the photo. The little girl that became an iconic symbol; her photo symbolized child labor reform on a US Postage stamp in 1998 and was featured in a Reebok advertisement.

So she began researching - and discovered that history had it wrong. Ultimately, Winthrop dug Addie Card out of the dustbin of history and restored her to her proper place.

VPR host Neal Charnoff interviews Winthrop as part of the series. In the first episode, they talk about the inspiration for the story and how she researched the story. Winthrop also talks of the challenges of using a historical person as an integral part of a fictional plot. During the last episode, Charnoff and Winthrop talk about what happened to the real Grace, Addie Card.

VPR produced COUNTING ON GRACE with funding provided by listeners. It is narrated by Lili Gamache with original music composed by Peter Engisch. The production was engineered by Chris Albertine, directed by Mark Nash and produced by Leah Hollenberger with assistance from Franny Bastian.

The Vermont Humanities Council is collaborating with libraries and other non-profit organizations across the state to present activities and events related to COUNTING ON GRACE for children and adults. Check with your local library or school to see about coordinating or participating in a Vermont Reads event. Author Elizabeth Winthrop will make two Vermont Reads appearances; the first is May 19 in Bennington; the second will be in September. Details about upcoming events as well as information regarding grant applications to fund community Vermont Reads events are available by calling the Vermont Humanities Council.

VPR can be heard at 107.9 FM in Burlington, 89.5 FM in Windsor, 88.7 FM in Rutland, 88.5 FM in St. Johnsbury, 94.3 FM in Bennington, 95.1 Sunderland/Manchester, 92.5 in Manchester, 94.5 in Brattleboro, 95.3 in Middlebury, 94.1 in Montpelier and online at vpr.net.