Skip to main navigation Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to search
Skip to content
Hours & Location, opens an overlay Help Help, opens an overlay
Hours & LocationsHours & Locations, collapsed
See all locations
HelpHelp, collapsed
  • Ask Us
  • FAQs
  • Get a Library Card
  • About HCPL
  • Catalog and Account Guide
Admin AdminAdmin, collapsed
Log In / My HCPL
  • Log In / Register
  • My Library Dashboard
  • My Borrowing
  • Checked Out
  • On Hold
  • Borrowing History
  • Fees
  • ILL Requests
  • My Collections
  • For Later Shelf
  • Completed Shelf
  • In Progress Shelf
  • Lists
  • My Events
  • My Profile
  • My Settings
Harris County Public Library
Main navigation Events
Open search form
Search the
by
for
    Saved Searches Advanced Search

    Search

    by
    for
      Saved Searches Advanced Search
      • BrowseBrowse, collapsed

        Browse

        • Catalog
        • Overdrive/Libby
        • Explore hcpl.net

        BY AUDIENCE

        • Kids
        • Teens
        • Adults

        BY FORMAT

        • Books
        • eBooks
        • Audio
        • Movies & TV
        • Magazines & Newspapers

        RECOMMENDATIONS

        • Coming Soon
        • New Titles
        • Award Winners
        • Bestsellers
        • Explore

        MORE

        • About HCPL
        • Blog
        • Careers @ HCPL
        • Friends of the Library
        • Library Policies
        • Newsroom
        • Podcast
        • Suggest a Book
        • Volunteer
      • EventsEvents, collapsed

        Events

        • All Events
        • Monthly Calendar

        BY AUDIENCE

        • Kids
        • Teens
        • Adults

        FEATURED PROGRAMS

        • Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
        • Authorama
        • Book Buddies
        • Easter & Pesach
        • Growing Readers
        • Gulf Coast Reads
        • Summer Reading Program

        MORE

        • Books & Reading
        • Citizenship & English Learning
        • Computers & Technology
        • Maker & STEM
        • Story Time
      • ServicesServices, collapsed

        Services

        • Get a Card
        • My Account
        • My Account Help
        • Accessibility Request

        YOUR LIBRARY

        • Adaptive Resources
        • Ask Us
        • Copying & Printing
        • Elections & Government
        • ILL (Interlibrary Loan)
        • In the Community
        • LAWPods
        • Library for All
        • Meeting & Study Rooms
        • Passport Services
        • Tax Services
        • Veterans Resources

        EDUCATION

        • Adult Literacy
        • Career Online High School
        • Citizenship
        • College & Career
        • ESL (Learn English)
        • Growing Readers (children 0-5 years)
        • HCPL Connected
        • Homeschool & Educator Resources

        FOR READERS

        • Author Alerts
        • Author Talks
        • Book Bundles
        • Book Hunters
        • Gulf Coast Reads
        • Newsletters
        • Summer Reading

        MAKER & MORE

        • Maker Central
        • Digital Media Labs
        • Innovation Labs
        • Gardening Tools
      • Online ResourcesOnline Resources, collapsed

        Online Resources

        • Online Resources
        • A-Z Resources
        • By Format
        • Apps

        BY SUBJECT

        • Books, Literature & Reading
        • Business, Finance & Legal
        • Computers & Technology
        • Digital Media
        • DIY
        • Español
        • Genealogy & History
        • Government
        • Health
        • HCPL Digital Archive
        • Job & Career
        • Language Learning & ESL
        • Lifelong Learning
        • Newspapers, Magazines & Journals
        • Reference & Research
        • Religion, Philosophy & Social Sciences
        • Science & Nature
        • Texshare

      Explore HCPL.NETExplore HCPL.NET

      Our EXPLORE page is a deep dive into library content, from blogs, reading lists, and library news, to online resources, events, services, and so much more. If you think you know everything HCPL has to offer, you owe it to yourself to explore! Filter by content type, format, genre, topic, and age range.

      Our EXPLORE page is a deep dive into library content! From blogs, reading lists, and news, to online resources, events, services, and so much more. If you think you know everything HCPL has to offer, you owe it to yourself to explore hcpl.net! Filter by content type, format, age range, genre, topic and more!

      EXPLORE EXPLORE
      • HCPL Blogs
      • HCPL Staff
      27
      Sep 2023

      Categories

      • View all cards in Adults
      • View all cards in Books
      • View all cards in Genealogy & History
      • View all cards in Gulf Coast Reads
      • View all cards in Social Issues & Politics
      • View all cards in True Crime

      Similar Posts for You

      • VOTE: Gulf Coast Reads 2025 Selection

        May 19, 2025

      • The Cost of Healthcare: Who pays?: Key Terms You Need to Know

        May 13, 2025

      • Celebrating Mothers in Literature and Film

        May 9, 2025

      • Pearl Buck’s Forgotten Love Story

        May 7, 2025

      • What Does ‘There Is No Ethical Consumption Under Capitalism’ Mean?

        May 6, 2025

      Gulf Coast Reads 2023: Diving Deep into Local History

      by HCPL StaffSeptember 27, 2023

      October is fast approaching and that means that Harris County Public Library, partner libraries, and other organizations across southeast Texas are gearing up for another October of shared reading, lively discussion, and events designed to deepen your reading experience.

      Now in its thirteenth year, Gulf Coast Reads is a regional reading initiative focused on the simultaneous reading of a selected title. This year's selection, chosen by popular vote, is The Fishermen and the Dragon by Kirk Wallace Johnson. The book, subtitled "Fear, Greed, and A Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast," is "a gripping, twisting account of a small town set on fire by hatred, xenophobia, and ecological disaster, a story that weaves together corporate malfeasance, a battle over shrinking natural resources, a turning point in the modern white supremacist movement, and one woman's relentless battle for environmental justice." Part true crime, part social history, and part environmental warning, The Fishermen and the Dragon is a page-turner that will keep you enthralled to the last sentence.

      GCR Highlights @ HCPL

      But reading the book is only part of the fun. As always, you will have plenty of opportunities to share your thoughts on the book with fellow readers at special book discussions and this year HCPL and the Gulf Coast Reads Committee are excited to announce they will be hosting a free, live virtual author visit by Kirk Wallace Johnson moderated by renowned Texas investigative journalist and author Lise Olsen (Code of Silence). The event will be livestreamed on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:30 PM on HCPL's YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

      Kirk Wallace Johnson Livestream: Youtube: @harriscountypl | Facebook: @harriscountypl

      Evelyn Meador Branch Library in Seabrook will host a free screening of the award-winning documentary Seadrift directed by Tim Tsai. The documentary is an excellent companion to the book and brings different perspectives. Better yet, after the screening, Director Tim Tsai will join us for a virtual Q&A and conversation with the audience. Tuesday, October 10 at 6 PM.  More info.

      Join us LIVE online for a conversation with author Kirk Wallace Johnson moderated by award-winning investigative journalist Lise Olsen on Tuesday, October 24 at 6:30 PM: LIVESTREAM
      Evelyn Meador Branch Library and the Gulf Coast Reads Committee host a FREE screening of the award-winning documentary Seadrift on Tuesday, October 10 at 7:15 PM. A live virtual Q&A with director Tim Tsai follows the screening. Learn more

      Explore all Gulf Coast Reads Events at HCPL

      Learn more about Gulf Coast Reads and events at partner locations

      Dive Deeper with Related Reads 

      HCPL staff have put together reading recommendation lists to help you keep going with Gulf Coast Reads. We have companion lists for teens and kids, readalikes and more. 

      The Fishermen and the Dragon

       




      View Full List

      Gulf Coast Reads for Teens

      Inspired by the 2023 Gulf Coast Reads pick: The Fishermen & the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast by Kirk Wallace Johnson, this youth companion list features themes of social and environmental justice.




      View Full List

      Gulf Coast Reads for Kids

      Inspired by the 2023 Gulf Coast Reads pick: The Fishermen & the Dragon: Fear, Greed, and a Fight for Justice on the Gulf Coast by Kirk Wallace Johnson, this kids companion list features themes of environmental protection, Vietnamese experiences, and community.




      View Full List

      Gone Fishing!

      Some stories and information about Fishing in Texas and along the Gulf Coast.




      View Full List

      Gulf Coast Reads

      The pick for 2023 is The Fishermen and the Dragon by Kirk Wallace Johnson. Join a book discussion at your local branch or participate in any of the Gulf Coast Reads programs for 2023. Find out more at gulfcoastreads.org!




      View Full List

      Add a comment

      More by HCPL Staff

      Remembering Some of the Teachers Who Shaped Us

      • Adults
      • teacher appreciation week

      Earth Day Events @ Your Library and Around Town

      • Adults
      • Kids
      • Teens
      • Tweens
      • Science & Nature

      Boots, BBQ & Books: Read Across Texas

      • Adults
      • General Fiction
      • Historical Fiction
      • Westerns
      • True Crime

      Discover New Posts

      VOTE: Gulf Coast Reads 2025 Selection

      • Adults

      The Cost of Healthcare: Who pays?

      • Adults
      • Business & Money
      • How Do I...?

      Celebrating Moms in Literature and Film

      • Adults
      • Teens
      • Mother's Day

      Add a comment to: Gulf Coast Reads 2023: Diving Deep into Local History

      We welcome your respectful and on-topic comments and questions in this limited public forum. To find out more, please see Appropriate Use When Posting Content. Community-contributed content represents the views of the user, not those of Harris County Public Library

      Footer Menu

      More Services

      • Author Alerts
      • Catalog & Account Help
      • Suggest a Book
      • Digital Access
      • HCPL Connected
      • Maker
      • Military Library Card
      • Podcast
      • Request a Book Bundle

      FAQs

      • My Account
      • Borrowing
      • Collections
      • Copying & Printing
      • Special Equipment

      Resources

      • Digital Media
      • Reference & Research
      • Business, Finance & Legal
      • Science & Nature
      • Lifelong Learning

      About Us

      • About HCPL
      • Locations & Hours
      • Holiday Closures
      • Blogs
      • Careers
      • Get Involved
      • LibraryForAll

      Contact the Library

      Harris County Public Library
      5749 S Loop E Hwy
      Houston, TX 77033
      (713) 274-6600
      Contact Us

      Contact the Library

      Harris County Public Library
      5749 S Loop E Hwy
      Houston, TX 77033
      (713) 274-6600
      Contact Us
      Support Library , opens a new window
      Terms of Use, opens a new window Privacy Statement, opens a new window Accessibility Statement, opens a new window © 2025 Harris County Public Library

      Powered by BiblioCommons.

      BiblioWeb: webapp04 Version 4.26.1 Last updated 2025/04/27 08:13

      Back to Top