Community Read of Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope to culminate with September 30 Author talk

Mankato —Twin Rivers Council for the Arts is partnering with the North Mankato Taylor Library for its 2026 Autumn Community Read featuring Dear Jacob: A Mother’s Journey of Hope by nationally recognized child advocate Patty Wetterling with Joy Baker.

As part of the Community Read, a limited number of free copies of Dear Jacob are available for community members to pick up at the North Mankato Taylor Library while supplies last. Readers are encouraged to pick up a copy, read along and participate in the related Community Read events throughout September.

Published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press, Dear Jacob recounts the 27-year search for Wetterling’s 11-year-old son, Jacob, who was abducted near his St. Joseph, Minnesota, home on October 22, 1989. The memoir takes readers behind the headlines to share the Wetterling family’s experience of the investigation, the years of uncertainty and the eventual discovery of what happened to Jacob.

The book also chronicles the remarkable advocacy that grew from the family’s tragedy. Wetterling became a national voice for missing and exploited children, successfully advocating for changes in child protection laws and practices while working to support other families experiencing the disappearance of a child.

Wetterling served on the board of directors of the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children from 1991 to 2021 and served as its chair from 2012 to 2015. She also co-founded Team HOPE, a national support network connecting families of missing children with others who have experienced similar circumstances.

The Autumn Community Read will include two community events leading up to and including Wetterling’s visit.

A Documentary Screening of the ABC 20/20 episode “Where Are You, Jacob?” will be held Wednesday, September 23 at 6 p.m. at Shared Spaces at Emy Frentz, 523 S. Second Street in Mankato.

The Community Read will culminate with an Author Talk featuring Patty Wetterling on Wednesday, September 30 at 6:30 p.m. at the Spring Lake Park Swim Facility Warming House, 641 Webster Ave. in North Mankato.

The author event will provide an opportunity for community members to hear Wetterling reflect on the experiences chronicled in Dear Jacob, her decades of advocacy and the lessons of hope, resilience and community that have emerged from her family’s journey.

The September 30 appearance also serves as the final event in the 2026 Twin Rivers Writers Series. Throughout the year, the series has invited audiences to engage directly with writers through moderated conversations and audience Q&A.

Twin Rivers and the North Mankato Taylor Library invite community members to pick up a free copy of Dear Jacob while supplies last, read along with the community and participate in the related Community Read events.

The 2026 Twin Rivers Writers Series and this event are underwritten by the Bryan and Tami Paulsen Charitable Fund and the Carl and Verna Schmidt Foundation.

For additional information about the Twin Rivers Writers Series, visit: www.twinriversarts.org/writers-series

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About Twin Rivers Council for the Arts

Twin Rivers Council for the Arts is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through the arts by supporting artists, fostering creative connections and developing programs that enhance the cultural vitality of Greater Mankato and southern Minnesota. Through initiatives including CityArt Mankato, Twin Rivers Writers Series, Creative Connections, public art projects, exhibitions and educational programming, Twin Rivers works to make the arts accessible and meaningful for everyone. www.twinriversarts.org.