When she was a student at East Tennessee State University nearly ten years ago, a chance discovery got Jamie Osborn a little hot under the collar. She came across the rich legacy of literature created by writers from Appalachia. As a child of Kentucky, West Virginia and Tennessee, Osborn wondered why her teachers never assigned books written by local authors, books she felt gave a unique voice to the people, culture and history of Appalachia.
Her research became the basis of a master's thesis. And just this year, it served as the platform for a new exhibit at the East Tennessee History Center in Knoxville and a reading initiative from the Knox County Public Library.
"Reading Appalachia: Voices From Children's Literature" highlights significant works from regional writers. On Monday, August 25, Osborn spoke with WUOT All Things Considered host Brandon Hollingsworth about Reading Appalachia and engaging children in reading local authors.