Come meet Fergus Bordewich and learn about his newest book, "Bound for Canaan." Using an array of archival sources, Bordewich unfolds the story of the Underground Railroad. He shows how the Railroad was much more complicated than people realize by writing from the viewpoints of various participants in the network­. The author will also hold a book signing at this event. (Tues., 7 p.m., Odyssey Bookstore, South Hadley. Call 534-7307 for more information.)

The Mayo-Smith-Read Trans-Disciplinary Fund offers an event about Buddhism and science. The topic will be explored through two events with Geshe Thubten Jinpa, Tibetan scholar and the Dalai Lama's principal English translator. First a panel discussion will be held with area experts; next, a lecture will be held by Jinpa on the topic "The Life and Education of a Tibetan Monk: Between Buddhism and the West." The talk will outline Jinpa's remarkable life as a monk in India, at Cambridge University and as a scholar in Canada. (Wed., 4 p.m., Merrill 4.)

The Amherst College Creative Writing Center presents a reading by poet Tess Taylor '03. Taylor is currently a Copeland Fellow, and her book of poems, "The Misremembered World," was selected by Eavan Boland for the Poetry Society of America's inaugural Chapbook Fellowship Competition. She has also won the Morton Marr poetry prize from the Southwest Review and the Dorothy Sargent Memorial Poetry Prize. Refreshments will be served. (Thurs., 8 p.m., Fayerweather 117. No admission charge. For more information visit www.amherst.edu/~cwc.)

The Frost-Lankes Connection presents "In Equal Measure," an exhibit that explores the collaborative works of the poet Robert Frost and artist J.J. Lankes. It features the history of Frost's 1935 Christmas poem, "Neither Out Far Nor In Deep," which was illustrated with a woodcut by Lankes. Welford D. Taylor, the author of "Robert Frost and J.J. Lankes: Riders on Pegasus" (1996) and a collector, provided many books, manuscripts, prints, paintings and tools of Frost and Lankes for the exhibition. The exhibit will run until May 13. (Tues., Archives and Special Collections, Frost Library.)

Editors' DVD Pick of the Week

Completely earnest without ever being saccharine, hilarious and cheeky without ever being mean, "School of Rock" is a movie you can watch with your garage band buddies, your 10-year-old kid sister or anyone in between. Dewey Finn (Jack Black) is an irresponsible wannabe rock star who fakes his way into a substitute teaching gig because he needs the money for rent. But when he realizes how talented the kids are, he forms a rock group with them to compete in the Battle of the Bands. Black hits just the right note as the strange, slightly crazy teacher, and he is surrounded by a cast of kids every bit as talented as their fictional counterparts. "School of Rock" also features an impressive soundtrack as befits a movie with such a title.