Avid book readers were given a lesson on what it means to be an American, regardless of race or background.

Lauren Kessler, author of “Stubborn Twig: Three Generations in the Life of a Japanese American Family,” presented a lecture for the 2009 Oregon Reads program in the Rogue River Room, Tuesday evening.

The lecture was hosted by the Jackson County Library Foundation, in conjunction with Friends of the Hannon Library. Oregon Reads is a statewide program that runs from January to April 2009 in commemoration of the state’s sesquicentennial anniversary. Kessler’s novel was chosen as the adult read for the year. She has been traveling Oregon giving lectures and readings for the program.

Numerous community members and students attended the event. After an introduction from Shelley Austin, the executive director of the JCLF, Kessler, a Eugene resident, took the stage.

“Stubborn Twig” is the story of Masau Yasui, a Japanese immigrant whose family settled in Oregon in the early 20th century. He started his own business in the Hood River Valley, which continued to grow for years. The growth was cut short when those of Japanese descent, including Yasui, were interred during World War II. He did not gain citizenship until about 50 years after coming to Oregon.

“This is an Oregon Pioneer tale,” Kessler said of the Yasui’s story. “It is the other Oregon Trail, across the Pacific [Ocean].”

Of the novel, Ashland resident Carita Culmer said, “It was very compelling and hard to put down. . . [Kessler] put human faces on something we knew collectively by telling what happened to individuals. She describes people we all know. . . It just brings [the story] closer to the heart.”

The lecture consisted of discussions on the themes from the novel, such as culture shock, perseverance and the struggles of Japanese Americans. During that time, Kessler showed a six-minute video of archival photos from the Yasui family.

The author also spoke of the hardships of second or third generation Japanese Americans. “A difficult childhood was relatively common to second generation immigrants,” Kessler explained. Although they were American citizens, they were still shunned and looked down upon, even as children. Kessler read a poem written by Masau Yasui’s eldest son, which showed his sorrow about the discrimination shown towards him.

Midway through the lecture, Kessler asked the audience to stand up. For every proceeding generation of the audience member’s family not born in Oregon, each participant was asked to sit down. No member had more than two previous generations living in Oregon. Kessler used this as an experiment to show that every American citizen is an immigrant to some extent.

Even Oregon is guilty of discrimination to some extent.

“Oregon . . . has played the part of both hero and victim in the last few centuries” Kessler said. “Prejudice is written into the laws of the land.”

Kessler concluded her lecture by explaining that America imitates a patchwork quilt more than the commonly accepted scheme of a melting pot.

“The melting pot idea doesn’t work unless you’re a European American. [The patchwork quilt] is beautiful because each patch is different.”

For more info about the Oregon Reads Program, visit www.oregonreads2009.org or the Jackson County Library Web site at www.jcls.org.