MSU Announces ‘Maroon Edition’ Book

STARKVILLE, Miss.–When homeless drifter Denver Moore met visionary advocate Debbie Hall in 1998, little did Ron Hall realize that his life would change forever.

The real-life characters become the cast of players in Mississippi State’s 2015 Maroon Edition “Same Kind of Different as Me: A Modern-Day Slave, an International Art Dealer, and the Unlikely Woman Who Bound Them Together.”

The 245-page novel, released in 2006 by HarperCollins Publishers subsidiary Thomas Nelson, is the university’s 2015 selection for the university-wide common reading program. Maroon Edition activities are held through the academic year for students at all class levels, along with interested administrators, faculty and staff members.

Incoming MSU freshmen who participate in spring and summer orientation sessions receive a copy and are encouraged to read the selected book before they begin fall-semester classes. Also, the book is available at the Barnes & Noble at Mississippi State Bookstore and other book retailers.

“This is a groundbreaking, innovative book that I believe will challenge our students. We hope that all of next fall’s incoming freshman class will read the book before the semester begins,” said MSU President Mark E. Keenum. “We also encourage participation in the many related activities planned during the school year.”

Co-authors Moore and Ron Hall were assisted by best-selling writer Lynn Vincent in chronicling their unlikely friendship.

“‘Same Kind of Different as Me’ is a powerful story of personal experience that describes how two very different people found common ground,” said Linda Morse, Maroon Edition committee chair. “The book explores difficult situations and challenges to one’s beliefs that will give our students a lot to reflect on as they read the book over the summer.”