After the first initial meeting, the Newtown High School DEep dIve book discussion group is set to host the author Arshay Cooper of its first read, A Most Beautiful Thing: The True Story of America’s First All-Black High School Rowing Team, for a virtual event that is open to the community on March 9 at 6 pm.

The new book discussion group launched in February and was originally set to discuss Cooper’s book at the first meeting, held on February 16. Instead, with the virtual author talk now slated for March 9, the first meeting focused on the group’s mission and hopes.

The NHS DEep dIve book discussion group launched in time for Black History Month and was formed by NHS librarian Liza Zandonella and district Coordinator of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Wesley A. Johnson II.

The book group was created to include students, school staff, and town community members. All are welcome to attend its events.

“We are really excited ... We couldn’t have imaged that this would have happened to us,” Johnson said in a phone interview about the upcoming virtual author discussion.

To sign up for the March 9 virtual event e-mail Zandonella at zandonellal@newtown.k12.ct.us.

A description for the new book group reads, “We are starting a book discussion group here at NHS called DEep dIve! We’ll be exploring Diversity Equity and Inclusion by reading and discussing outstanding young adult and adult literature. We hope you are as excited as we are about this new adventure we are embarking upon!”

The NHS Library Media Center’s website, nhs-lmc.com, also has details for the next book discussion group meeting, set for March 16 at 6 pm in the NHS Library Media Center, 12 Berkshire Road, at 6 pm. The next book the group will be discussing is Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. A description for the book reads, “Originally published in 1937, Their Eyes Were Watching God has become one of the most important and enduring works of modern American literature. Written with Zora Neale Hurston’s singular wit and pathos, this Southern love story recounts Janie Crawford’s ripening from a vibrant, but voiceless, teenage girl into a woman with her finger on the trigger of her own destiny.”

Johnson said the first DEep dIve book discussion group meeting in February surpassed his expectations, and he and Zandonella both want more people to attend the group’s meetings.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for us to use literature as a tool to have conversations around DEI,” Johnson said.

People interested in attending the March 16 meeting can also e-mail Zandonella, zandonellal@newtown.k12.ct.us, for more information.

Education Reporter Eliza Hallabeck can be reached at eliza@thebee.com.