Meredith College’s Summer Reading Program selection for 2012 is “The Glass Castle,” by Jeannette Walls. The memoir has been on the New York Times best-sellers list for more than four years, has sold more than 3.5 million copies in the U.S., been translated into 22 languages, and was named one of the "Top 10 Books of the Decade" by Amazon.com. Walls’ memoir has been taught at universities in courses on literature, psychology, parenting, child development and poverty.

The Summer Reading Program was created to enhance the academic climate on campus and to engage incoming first year students in a shared intellectual endeavor with the entire campus community, including students, faculty, staff and alumnae.

Jeanette Walls will come to campus on August 27, 2011, as part of the Presidential Lecture Series at Meredith College.