Appalachian Prison Book Project

Award-Winning Book Reveals Why Books Are Important For Incarcerated Appalachians

Each year Berea College and the Appalachian Studies Association present the Weatherford Awards. They honor books about the Appalachian South. The winner of the 2024 award for nonfiction is titled, This Book is Free and Yours to Keep. It consists largely of letters from incarcerated people across the region who corresponded with the Appalachian Prison Book Project. Ellen Skirvin is one of the book’s editors.

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Federal Protests Hit Home And Tall Tale Telling Tips, This West Virginia Week

The top stories in West Virginia this week include a protest against federal cuts, a plan to change what SNAP benefits can buy and efforts to stabilize the state employees insurance agency.

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Appalachian Prison Book Project, Inside Appalachia

This week, Inside Appalachia, the Appalachian Prison Book Project has been sending books to incarcerated people for nearly 20 years. Its most popular book is the dictionary. Also, the Seeing Hand Association brings together people who are visually impaired to learn the craft of chair caning. And, crossing a river by ferry can be a special experience, and hard to come by. On the Ohio River, a retiring ferry captain passes the torch to his deck hand.

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A Book Of Letters From Prison Wins Award And Our Song Of The Week, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, a book from the Appalachian Prison Book Project wins an award, and our Song of the Week.

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