August Book of the Month: News of the World by Paulette Jiles

Cameron, TX - As late summer rolls around and the quiet turn toward autumn begins, the Cameron Community Voice is proud to present our August Book of the Month selection: News of the World by Paulette Jiles.

A National Book Award finalist, this short, gripping, and beautifully written novel brings history, heart, and the deep roots of Texas storytelling right to your bookshelf.

About the Book

Set in 1870 post-Civil War Texas, News of the World follows seventy-year-old Captain Jefferson Kyle Kidd, a widowed war veteran who travels from town to town giving live, public readings from national and international newspapers to eager local crowds.

In Wichita Falls, Captain Kidd is offered a $50 gold piece to deliver a ten-year-old orphan named Johanna to her remaining family near San Antonio. Four years prior, Johanna was taken by a Kiowa raiding party and raised as one of their own. She speaks no English, remembers nothing of her former life, and has no desire to return.

What follows is a 400-mile journey through unpredictable terrain, shared dangers, and shifting frontiers. As the two travel south, an unlikely trust forms between an old man who reads the news and a young girl caught between two worlds.

Why It’s Our August Pick

At under 250 pages, News of the World is a quick yet deeply immersive read that appeals to readers across all generations. It touches on themes that resonate deeply with small-town communities:

• The Power of Local News: Captain Kidd’s role reminds us how vital shared stories and accurate news are to bringing communities together.
• Resilience & Duty: A quiet exploration of what we owe to one another, especially when standing up for those who cannot fight for themselves.
• Texas Heritage: Atmospheric descriptions of the landscape, weather, and early Texas history that bring the past vividly to life.

Where to Buy Your Copy

Whether you prefer supporting independent bookstores, reading on an e-reader, or listening to the audiobook on your commute, you can grab your copy of News of the World through these major retailers:

• Order on Bookshop.org (Supports local independent bookstores)
• Order on Barnes & Noble
• Order on Amazon
• Get the Audiobook on Audible / Amazon

Community Discussion Questions

Reading along with us? Here are a few questions to think about or discuss with neighbors as you read:

 1. How does Captain Kidd’s job as a news reader shape how he views people and the world around him?

 2. In what ways do Captain Kidd and Johanna learn to communicate before they even share a common language?

 3. How does Jiles depict the Texas frontier, and what role does the landscape play in their journey?