Looking for a book to add to a summer reading list? Learn some history or enjoy a romance authored by University of Tennessee alumni and former faculty.
Critical Connections: The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge from the Dawn of the Atomic Age to the Present
By Lee Riedinger, Al Ekkebus, Ray Smith and William Bugg; published by University of Tennessee Press in 2024.
Critical Connections offers a clear, engaging look at how the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) grew together through the secrecy of the Manhattan Project to become world-renowned research partners.
Authors—Lee Riedinger, former UT Knoxville vice chancellor for research; Al Ekkebus, ORNL outreach leader; Ray Smith, Oak Ridge historian; and William Bugg, former UT Knoxville physics department head—worked to capture the University of Tennessee System’s growth as a research institution and how Oak Ridge made that a possibility.
The book traces how faculty supported wartime work in the 1940s, then continued to collaborate with Oak Ridge scientists as the region became a hub for nuclear research, energy innovation and environmental science. Through the decades, that relationship expanded into shared programs, joint appointments and major scientific breakthroughs, shaping both institutions.
By the time UT-Battelle took on management of ORNL in 2000, the two had built a shared legacy of discovery that continues to shape Tennessee’s scientific and economic landscape.
Accessible and rooted in place, Critical Connections highlights how the UT System and Oak Ridge have worked side by side to tackle some of the world’s toughest challenges and how their partnership continues to drive innovation for the state and beyond.
Little Miss Petty
By Sally Kilpatrick; published by Montlake in 2026
Author Sally Kilpatrick (Knoxville ’79) released Little Miss Petty in March 2026, right in time for summer. It is the most recent of a number of books she has written. The audiobook narrator is Amanda Stribling (Knoxville ’00).
After a breakup and a streak of bad luck, Stella Stark accidentally becomes “Little Miss Petty,” offering light-hearted revenge services to women who have been wronged. What begins as a coping mechanism turns quickly into a small-town business and a path toward rebuilding her confidence in this Southern tale about starting over and a found family.
Stella’s new circle of friends and neighbors nudge her toward healing, humor and a little unexpected romance. The novel blends Kilpatrick’s trademark charm with themes of resilience, community and the joy of second chances, making it a feel-good fit for readers who love Southern-rooted stories with heart.
