U.S. Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-5) shared a reading of the children’s book “The Other Side” as part of a  Library of Congress “Read Around the States” video initiative, reports news.psu.edu.

Scanlon, who represents Delaware County and parts of Montgomery County and Chester County, wanted to share the book because of her family’s personal connection with the its illustrator, Philadelphia native E.B. Lewis.

One of Scanlon’s daughters was used as a model by Lewis for one of the characters in the book.

“The Other Side” by author Jacqueline Woodson, tells the story of a Black neighborhood separated by a fence from an adjoining white neighborhood. Two young girls, Clover and Annie, decide to overcome the separation.

In an interview on the video, Woodson talks about whether real and metaphorical fences are being knocked down, or still being built since the book came out 20 years ago.

“Both things are happening. Fences are getting knocked down all over the place. … And then we see the fences trying to get built [around things like] voter suppression…” Woodson said.

Visit the Library of Congress “Read Around the States” to see this and other related videos.

Read more at news.psu.edu about this Library of Congress initiative.