2025 Common Reader

When My Brother Was an Aztec, by Natalie Diaz

Sigma Tau Delta's Convention Committee and 2025 Convention Co-Chairs are pleased to announce the Common Reader for 2025 is Natalie Diaz's When My Brother Was an Aztec. This collection of heartbreaking, humorous, beautiful, and informed poetry often shines a light on difficult themes of addiction and cultural identity. But the author's voice draws attention from the mere details of daily life. Instead, with her skillful crafting and classical references, Diaz makes us aware of the power of poetry to make us feel in awe of words and of their arrangement on the page.

From the romantic and sensual "Monday Aubade" to the painful beauty of "A Brother Named Gethsemane," Diaz reminds us that every lived moment is both lovely and haunting. And in spite of the humor present in "Hand-Me-Down Halloween," we are left dealing with the need for social justice and cultural equality. This collection of poetry is a gift to every person who loves literature. The powerful experience of reading Natalie Diaz’ work is the reason we have selected it for the Common Reader.

Since the Common Reader began as a way of tying service projects to literature and literary values, this book allows chapters to consider ways they might address particular needs and issues in their own communities. Perhaps the book will be a call to action, inspiring new service projects on your campus. The examination of cultural identity, family relationships, addiction, and love should inspire many opportunities for projects and discussion. The desire to examine particular issues or individual poems will provide endless discussions for community book clubs, campus book clubs, podcasts, or convention papers and panels. With the assistance of our Student Leadership's Book Club and Book Club Kits, chapters now have excellent resources for addressing Diaz's book in a variety of ways. (Don't forget: keep our Student Leadership members and our Service Committee informed of any projects you are doing that are inspired by the Common Reader. We want to acknowledge and celebrate your good work!)

Hispanic Heritage Month Poetry Writing Challenge

Delve into 2025 Convention speaker Natalie Diaz’s powerful collection, When My Brother Was an Aztec. Create a compelling poem responding to one or more of Diaz’s themes, and celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Sigma Tau Delta. This Creative Challenge is sponsored by LULAC. View submission guidelines.

Regents' Common Reader Awards

Chapters can receive $100 for organizing and hosting a local event or activity around the 2025 Common Reader: When My Brother Was an Aztec. Chapter members do not need to attend the convention to apply for a Regents’ Common Reader Award. After the event, chapters simply apply for the award money, following the guidelines posted at english.org. Award applications should be emailed on or before February 15, 2025, to the appropriate Regent. View application guidelines.

Common Reader Convention Awards

Awards of up to $600 will be given at the annual convention for critical essays or other genres of work that deal with the Common Reader. To be eligible, students select in the submission form that their work is on the Common Reader.