The Book

Each year, students at Connecticut College engage in a shared summer reading. We are excited to announce that this year's Summer Reading selection is What the Eyes Don't See: A Story of Crisis, Resistance, and Hope in an American City by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. We are again partnering with One Book, One Region and will be joining our community partners in welcoming the author to speak on campus in September 2023.

What the Eyes Don’t See follows the story of how Dr. Hanna-Attisha discovered that the children of Flint, Michigan were being exposed to lead from the contaminated drinking water in their community. The story illustrates how the collaborative work of researchers, parents, friends and community members uncovered the crisis and how they fought to expose the truth to the public in the face of backlash and resistance. Dr. Hanna-Attisha also shares her own story as an immigrant, doctor, scientist and mother whose family’s activist roots inspired her pursuit of justice.

Please visit Additional Resources to read more about What the Eyes Don’t See and discover resources prepared by our staff at Shain Library.

The Author

Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha is the Associate Dean for Public Health and C. S. Mott Endowed Professor of Public Health at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. She is the founding director of the Pediatric Public Health Initiative, an innovative partnership of MSU and Hurley Children’s Hospital in Flint, Michigan.

A pediatrician, scientist, activist, and author, Dr. Hanna-Attisha was named one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World and recognized as one of USA Today’s Women of the Century for her role in uncovering the Flint water crisis and leading recovery efforts. She has testified multiple times before the United States Congress, lectures at dozens of colleges and universities, and frequently contributes to national media outlets championing the cause of children in Flint and beyond.

With concentrations in environmental health and health policy, she received her bachelor’s degree and Master of Public Health degree from the University of Michigan. She completed her medical degree from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and her residency and chief residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.

As part of the One Book, One Region initiative of New London County, author Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha will visit the campus to discuss her work and the book on Wednesday Sept 20, 2023 in Palmer Auditorium.

(Biography courtesy of Mona Hanna-Attisha at monahannaattisha.com)