Provided

"The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Diaz, MFA '95, is one of eight titles that have been chosen for free distribution. In Ithaca, 450 books copies will be given away April 23, World Book Night.

Across campus and in the community, The Cornell Store will be giving out some 450 free books -- including the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz, MFA '95 -- April 23.

The giveaway is part of the half a million free books that will be distributed for World Book Night in 6,000 towns and cities in the United States.

Staff members from The Cornell Store have volunteered to participate by handing out books across campus and in the community. The printing and distribution work for the initiative have been provided by authors and more than 40 publishers and book manufacturing companies committed to the value of reading.

"We hope those who receive a free book will pay it forward by passing the book on and promoting literacy in their communities," says Pat Wynn, director of The Cornell Store.

The Cornell Store will distribute eight titles -- all chosen by a panel of booksellers and librarians through several rounds of voting. They are:

• "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers)
• "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou (Ballantine)
• "Kindred" by Octavia E. Butler (Beacon Press)
• "The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao" by Junot Díaz (Riverhead)
• "A Prayer for Owen Meany" by John Irving (Ballantine)
• "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri (Mariner)
• "Bel Canto" by Ann Patchett (Perennial)
• "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot (Broadway)

Locations and times of the giveaway are posted at http://store.cornell.edu/t-world-book-night.aspx.

There may also be individuals not affiliated with The Campus Store giving out other titles. All told, 30 titles were chosen for free distribution.