What's Ely Reading?

laceysquier
3 days ago
10 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Book recommendations from Ely-area community leaders brought to you by Boundary Waters Connect in collaboration with Piragis Northwoods Company, where great books find you.

A History of Incredible Ely by John W. Somrock

Published in 1976, this book is a compact history of Ely's early decades told through Lee Brownell's vast photo collection and information gathered from old newspapers, mining industry journals, and logging company records.

The Ely-Winton Historical Society exists to collect, preserve, and display to the public, artifacts and information relating to the history of our amazing area in northern Minnesota. Through our Museum, our extensive archive of documents and photos, and various informative events throughout the year, we hope to share with you the story of the shining jewel of the Northland.

Bad Therapy: Why the Kids Aren't Growing Up by Abigail Shrier

Mental health is a hot topic today, with more people than ever advocating and seeking ways to protect their mental health. Abigail Shrier "...explores the ways the mental health industry has transformed the way we teach, treat, discipline, and even talk to our kids in this book." This is a must read for all parents, educators, and people invested in our children's well being and development.

Northern Lakes Arts Association produces professional-quality theater, concerts, and cultural events while leading hands-on arts education for youth and adults. As the hub and steward of Ely’s Rural Arts Ecosystem, NLAA connects Mainstage Productions, the Northern Lakes Arts Academy, and Community Arts & Events into one living network of creativity.

From Broadway in the Boundary Waters to youth theater camps, visual arts workshops, and free concerts in the park, NLAA makes the arts accessible and thriving in Northern Minnesota. Explore our programs, get involved, and experience why the arts matter in rural communities.

Driftless by David Rhodes

Set in a Wisconsin farming town that's smaller than Winton, Driftless illustrates the deep and complex stories that we each hold within us. Rhodes takes easily stereotyped characters - a retired farmer, a young preacher, a widowed mechanic, and develops them into surprising and nuanced human beings. I love this book for many reasons - the landscape he paints with words, the slower pace, the depth. But mostly I love how Rhodes' characters struggle to find and maintain a feeling of belonging, even in a place they've lived their whole lives.

Time and again, we see his characters need to return to their neighbors, to place trust in their community in order to return to equilibrium. Rhodes' books reek of the empathy and connection that the Ely Folk School values and promotes through its mission focused on community building. He creates communities "where the rules of the living did not require feeding on each other - where wonder could be discovered without horror and learning the truth did not entail losing one's faith.”

The mission of the Ely Folk School is to build community by providing learning experiences that celebrate the wilderness heritage, art, history, culture, and craft of the people of northern Minnesota. Our vision is to be a gathering space where all Ely area residents and visitors forge new connections, build a stronger community, and develop as individuals through experiential learning that honors the crafts and cultures of our region.

Grayson by Lynn Cox

Seventeen-year-old Lynne Cox was swimming her last half mile back to the pier after a long workout when she became aware that something was swimming with her. It was a baby gray whale. Lynne quickly realized that if she swam back to the pier, the young calf would follow her to shore and die from collapsed lungs. On the other hand, if Lynne didn’t find the mother whale, the baby would suffer from dehydration and starve to death. Something so enormous — the mother whale would be at least fifty feet long — suddenly seemed very small in the vast Pacific Ocean. A beautiful reminder of the interconnectedness of our world, the vastness of nature, and the awe available when we stop to see it.

Boundary Waters Connect connects people and resources in ways that grow Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness-edge economies. We offer services for new (and prospective!) residents, as well as programs to cultivate entrepreneurial spirt and support community leaders.

Humanly Possible: Seven Hundred Years of Humanist Freethinking, Inquiry, and Hope by Sarah Bakewell

Humanly Possible is a delightfully engaging book that tells the story of the philosophical tradition of the humanities. Author Sarah Bakewell defines the humanities in a multiplicity of ways, but perhaps most broadly she summarizes it as "genuine inquiry into the world combined with literary elegance reveled in for its own sake."

This is a book about the love of books. I enjoy Bakewell’s self-aware style, and appreciate that it feels like she is talking to me, her reader. I’ve read several of Bakewell’s books, and I find that I am earnestly and eagerly interested in whatever she writes about, whether it be epicureanism, existentialism, or – as in this case – humanism.

Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino

Perhaps the greatest book ever written about tourism, the urge to explore, and the enchantment of visiting a new place, Invisible Cities alternates between "conversations" that the explorer Marco Polo and the emperor Kublai Khan have about the fantastical places Marco Polo has visited during his travels, and the descriptive vignettes of those cities themselves. If you are looking for an unconventional book (light on traditional plot and character development, heavy on evocative, transportive prose) check out this cerebral but enchanting book.

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ’s not happy about it. Today, he’s wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don’t have a car like his other friends. But it’s Nana who opens young CJ’s eyes and shows him the real beauty in the world around them—and the joy in being connected to our neighbors and place.

Powerline by Paul Wellstone and Barry Casper

Paul Wellstone and Barry Casper capture so many important issues in this story about a powerline being cut through Minnesota farm country in the late 1970s. Not only do they make energy policy interesting, they bring up themes of environmental justice and energy democracy that still echo though Minnesota today. The fact that they recorded everyday conversations and major events in what was a national story (they made a "made for TV movie” about it, even!) makes this a historic treasure, told through the eyes of immigrant farmers and rural activists. While the story doesn't identify the important role that tribes play in this rural energy transition, it is otherwise a shockingly prescient story.

As we enter a new energy revolution we will have to answer their questions about who the power is for, why do we have infrastructure, and who gets a seat at the table. This is a great book that reminds us of what an amazing leader and person Senator Wellstone was, and how listening to people is the only way to solve our most pressing problems.

Right Story, Wrong Story by Tyson Yunkaporta

Ely Folk School classes typically have capacity for only as many students that can fit around a large dining table. Around a table, personal stories and meaningful conversation have space to emerge and resonate. Larger groups don't always have that power.

In this book, Tyson Yunkaporta argues that story is at the heart of everything. But what is a right or wrong story? As we continue to debate misinformation and who to trust, Yunkaporta presents thinking on effective ways to talk to and with each other - emphasizing our individual experiences to illustrate larger themes. As a member of the Apalech Clan in Australia, he incorporates his indigenous mindset to also encourage thinking and conversation that includes the Earth and her offerings.

Many Folk School classes include work time especially apt for conversations such as the ones Yunkaporta encourages us all to have. It is something special - how working with our hands can open our hearts to deeper connection.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo

Once, in a house on Egypt Street, there lived a china rabbit named Edward Tulane. The rabbit was very pleased with himself, and for good reason: he was owned by a girl named Abilene, who adored him completely. And then, one day, he was lost. Finding ourselves requires learning to love, breaking apart, and loving agin. Kate DiCamillo is a middle-grade author who's stories apply to all and remind us to find ourselves in our own journeys.

The Serviceberry: Abundance and Reciprocity in the Natural World by Robin Wall Kimmerer

Robin Wall Kimmerer’s The Serviceberry helps us imagine a better way to live — more connected, more grateful, and more grounded. Through her essay on this little berry Kimmerer speaks to our deep longing for connection, purpose, and enoughness.

She helps us explore what it might look like to organize our lives and our economy around reciprocity instead of accumulation — where neighbors are truly neighborly, where generosity replaces scarcity, and where “all flourishing is mutual.” Her writing invites us to imagine an economy rooted not in profit, but in gift — an economy where berry juice on your fingers is a reminder that we belong to one another and to the land. This book is a beautiful, hopeful vision of what community can be.

The mission of Ely Presbyterian is to explore and celebrate our love for God and one another. The Ely Presbyterian Church part of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which approaches faith with honesty and embraces doubt, tough questions, and wonder as part of the journey. We strive to be an open, welcoming, and inclusive community where everyone belongs, no matter where you are in your faith. Here, you won’t find judgment or shame—just a gathering of imperfect people, each with our own unique story.

Thistlefoot by GennaRose Nethercott

This beautiful story about a reunited brother and sister pair weaves together Jewish folk lore and history, and delves into the importance of story, memory, and the preservation of culture. Why are customs and community important, and how can we protect the ways of the past amidst violence, tragedy, and loss? If you are a fan of immersive, modern fantasy with lyrical prose, you will be delighted.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Tristan Strong, from Chicago, ends up at his grandparents farm in Alabama for the summer while grieving the loss of his best friend. When his best friend's notebook of African myths and folk tales is stolen in the middle of the night, Tristan goes after the thief, ending up in a world filled with heroes of Black folklore, gods of West African culture, and a mysterious figure causing issues. Taking this journey with Tristan, you're called to reflect on the role grief plays in our lives, how our ancestry and family story shows up in our lives, and the ways that our friends and family can change the course of our lives.

What Feelings Do When No One's Looking by Tina Oziewicz

A beautiful book that helps teach emotional intelligence!

Happy Days Learning Center offers a nurturing, safe, and engaging environment where children can grow through hands-on learning and exploration. Our program supports the developmental needs of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, fostering cognitive, social, and emotional growth. By blending play, education, and outdoor time, we inspire curiosity and prepare children for future success.

Winton: The Town That Lumber Built

Published by Ely Winton Historical Society and written by former historical society manger, Margaret Sweet, this book features cover art by Carl Gawboy and chronicles the history of Winton and how it is inextricably tied to the story of logging in northeastern Minnesota. Inside are personal stories of community members, logging company maps, and images of what Winton once was.

Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet by Thich Nhat Hanh

Thich Nat Hanh’s inspiring and grounding book reminds us that, as his editor Sister True Dedication writes, “cultivating reverence for the simple wonders of life, is, in our times, a powerful act of resistance.” It is increasingly a challenge to find moments to step outside, slow down, and take in the beauty of our planet with all our senses. And we must!

This beautiful book is a gentle, necessary lesson in presence, in finding our center, in nurturing our capacity for joy and love and wisdom and compassion and action in creating the world we want to see, one person at a time. It starts with each one of us and ends with all of us stronger together.

I truly hope you find your way and yourself in this book, and through it find your way towards fostering a supportive community that nourishes self, one another, and this amazing planet we are on, which supports us too, on the daily.

Tofte Lake Center (TLC) is a non-profit organization that provides residencies for artists who crave dedicated time to work on their projects, for creatives who seek individual growth through guided workshops or retreats, for arts organizations that want to make time to re/focus on their goals or mission, for arts leaders to gather to exchange ideas with colleagues in their field. TLC is on a pristine lake near Ely, Minnesota, and adjacent to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.