Student suggestions out-numbered the number of faculty suggestions for the next Freshman Common Reader book for the first time, Melinda Messineo, Freshman Connections director, said.
Incoming freshmen will read Jeannette Walls' memoir, "The Glass Castle," which tells her story of finding herself despite the obstacles her childhood threw at her.
Messineo said she thinks incoming freshmen will benefit from "The Glass Castle" because the average student could relate to Walls' story.
"I think one of the main parts of the story is how in some point in our lives, we have to separate ourselves from our parents," she said. "A lot of people moving to college are experiencing that same thing."
The book focuses on Walls' dysfunctional childhood of alcoholic parents and living in complete poverty.
Each year a book is selected from about 100 book suggestions, Messineo said.
A board of about 16 individuals, which is composed of faculty, advisers, library technicians and one student, narrows down the number of books on the list until the top 10 books are read by each board member.
Senior creative writing major J.D. Mitchell was on the board for the second time this year. He said bringing a student perspective to the board helps ensure the Freshman Common Reader will be something students enjoy.
"I think sometimes the books people complain about are a bit dry or don't appeal to a lot of people," he said. "[‘The Glass Castle'] really makes you think about current social issues."
Messineo said, besides appealing to students, the freshman reader needs to be affordable and the author needs to be available to come to campus.
Each freshman is provided with a paperback copy of the book at summer orientation. They then attend a round table discussion during Welcome Week and do other activities with their Freshman Common Reader.
As part of the Freshman Connections program, each year the author of the Freshman Connections book comes to campus in the fall to speak to students.
"What we like about the author visit is it provides a real person and it connects the student to the words on the page," she said. "It makes this more alive, more real by having the author there. Especially when it is their own experience like their own memoir and their own autobiography."
Walls will be at Ball State to speak at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 21 in John R. Emens Auditorium.
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