By PHOEBE DONALD ROBINSON/For the Reporter

COLUMBIANA – Local students will have an opportunity to win a signed copy of Irene Latham’s book “Leaving Gee’s Bend” in September.

Latham, a Shelby County resident, has partnered with the Columbiana Public Library to create a trivia challenge based on the book.

Library Director Dutcha Lawson said Latham’s book is written for young readers but appeals to all ages.

“The book (tells) the story of 10-year-old Ludelphia Bennett living in Gee’s Bend, a small community cut off from the outside world on three sides by the Alabama River,” she said. “The courageous Bennett escapes by ferry to Camden in Wilcox County to find a doctor to save her critically ill mother. It is a story of family, survival and hope during the depression in 1932.”

The trivia challenge is open to students in third through eighth grades.

“Latham wrote 10 trivia challenge questions for students to hunt for the answers as they read the book called the Great Scavenger Hunt,” Lawson said. “The trivia list is at each school’s library and also at the Columbiana Library.”

Students should turn in the answers the trivia questions to their school’s media specialists or the Columbiana Public Library. A drawing will be selected from the students who participated in the challenge, and the winner will receive a signed copy of “Leaving Gee’s Bend.” The drawing will be he held Thursday, Sept. 12 at 3:30 p.m. at the Columbiana Public Library.

Latham donated signed copies of her book to Elvin Hill, Shelby, Wilsonville Elementary and Columbiana Middle School’s libraries. She will be the featured speaker at the Quilt Walk on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m. The walk is sponsored by Friends of the Library, and an authentic Gee’s Bend Quilt will be on display.

All students are encouraged to come to the Sept. 12 program, whether they have read the book or not. They should bring a piece of material, whether from a piece of clothing, blanket or other favorite possession.

A memory quilt will be made from the pieces of fabric donated by the students and raffled off at the Quilt Walk on Nov. 2 at 3 p.m. following Latham’s program. Raffles may be purchased at the library.

“This unique student program offers the opportunity to be part of making an heirloom quilt to benefit Columbiana’s library as well as learn about one of Alabama’s national treasures – the quilters of Gee’s Bend,” Lawson said.