First Bank Book Club
We’re sparking a love of reading through book giveaways, author visits to schools, and literary events.
Connecting students to authors and books.
First Bank Book Club aimed to help boost literacy rates in the Carolinas. To do this, we brought writers of award-winning children’s books to public elementary schools and after-school programs, and many First Bank branches have free book depots for readers ages baby through high school.
Award-Winning Authors
In the 2022-2025 school years, we brought some of the best-selling authors to schools to make an impact on young readers. Students participated in Q&A sessions and took home a free copy of each author’s book.
2024-2025
- Mollie Elkman – The House That She Built
- Megan E. Freeman – Away
- Kwame Mbalia – Freedom Fire: Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek
- Maya Myers – Not Perfect
- Claribel A. Ortega – Witchlings
- Tui Sutherland – Wings of Fire: the Dragonet Prophecy (an event with nearly 500 kids!)
- Renee Watson – All the Blues in the Sky
2023-2024
- Derrick Barnes – Who Got Game? Basketball: Amazing but True Stories!
- Kalynn Bayron – The Vanquishers: Secret of the Reaping
- Max Brallier – Last Kids on Earth
- Natalie Daise – Okra Stew: A Gullah Geechee Family Celebration
- Alan Gratz – Heroes: A Novel of Pearl Harbor
- Carole Lindstrom – Autumn Peltier, Water Warrior
- Maya Meyers – Not Perfect
- Tanisia Moore – I Am My Ancestor’s Wildest Dreams
- Christine Platt – Frankie and Friends: Breaking News
- Scott Reintgen – A Door in the Dark
- Peter Reynolds – The Reflection In Me
- Sheila Turnage – Island of Spies
- Lauren Yero – Under the Forgetful Sky
2022-2023
- Tami Charles & Bryan Collier – We Are Here
- Dhonielle Clayton – The Marvellers (Marvellerverse, 1)
- Christina Diaz Gonzalez – Invisible: A Graphic Novel
- Jo Watson Hackl – Smack Dab in the Middle of Maybe
- Stacy McAnuity – Blood! More than Just a Vampire Drink
- Sarah Mlynowki & Debbie Rigaud – Best Wishes: The Sister Switch
- Christina Soontornvat – The Last Mapmaker
- Sheila Turnage – Island of Spies
- Kimberly Wilson – A Penny’s Worth
- Kelly Yang – Key Player (Front Desk #4)
