Welcome to the Twelve Days of Books! Once again, former students and friends have come through with their book recommendations from the past year. There have been many recommendations, so if you are looking for a great book, look no further!
1. Lost Boy by Christina Henry. Lost Boy is the story of Peter Pan from Captain Hook's perspective. "Peter will say I'm a villain, that I wronged him, that I never was his friend. But I told you already. Peter lies. This is what really happened." Find out the true story! (Recommended by Jessica, friend and colleague)
2. Born a Crime: Stories from a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah. Trevor Noah's birth was a crime. He was the son of a white Swiss father and a black Xhosa mother. At the time, such an offense was punishable by five years in prison. Read the story of how this comedian got his start and ended up at The Daily Show. (Recommended by Jessica, friend and colleague)
3. Make Your Bed: Little Things that Can Change Your Life and Maybe the World by William H. McRaven. In 2014, Admiral William H. McRaven gave the commencement address to graduates of the University of Texas at Austin. He started his speech with these words: "If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed." He goes on to explain basic lessons that can make the world a better place. (Recommended by Brian, former student, friend, and colleague)
4. Wonder by R.J. Palacio. 'My name is August. I won't describe to you what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.' Auggie wants to be normal, but he was born with a facial deformity. Can his classmates see who he really is? (Recommended by Lita, friend and colleague)
5. The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe. This is an historical novel which is based on the true story of Anita Hemmings. Hemmings was the first black student to attend Vassar because she was able to pass as a white girl. How long can she keep her secret? (Recommended by Tara, former student and friend)
6. Coach Wooden and Me: Our 50 Year Friendship On and Off the Court by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and David Fisher. "Abdul-Jabbar reveals the inspirational story of how his bond with John Wooden evolved from a history-making coach-player mentorship into a deep and genuine friendship that transcended sports, shaped the course of both men's lives, and lasted for half a century." Goodreads (Recommended by Lora, friend)
7. The War That Saved My Life and The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. "This masterful work of historical fiction is equal parts adventure and a moving tale of family and identity—a classic in the making." Goodreads (Recommended by Lynn, cousin)
8. State Bird Provisions: A Cookbook by Stuart Brioza, Nicole Krasinski, J.J. Goode. "This is a wonderful book about a fabulous restaurant in San Francisco." (Recommended by Michael, friend)
9. The Discoverers by Daniel Borstin. "A history of humans' discoveries from fire to email. Genius." (Recommended by Austin, my kid and friend)
10. The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. "Amazing book. I couldn't put it down. It's a story about sisters, war, and love. It is set in France 1940 to present." (Recommended by J.Y., former student and friend and seconded by LuAnne, cousin)
11. The 100 Year Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared: Top 50 Facts Countdown by Top 50 Facts and The Baker's Secret by Stephen P. Kiernan. "A tale of courage, determination, optimism, and the resilience of the human spirit, set in a small Normandy village on the eve of D-Day." Goodreads (Both recommended by Erin, former student and friend)
12. All the Ugly and Wonderful Things by Bryn Greenwood. "A powerful and shocking love story between two unlikely people that asks tough questions, reminding us of all the ugly and wonderful things that life has to offer." Goodreads (Recommended by Brittany, former student and friend)
13. The Librarian by Christy Sloat. "He's from 1892 England; she's in a small library in 2017. And that's just the start of their troubles." Goodreads (Recommended by Brittany, former student and friend)
14. I am not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sanchez. "This is the diary of Julie, the daughter of undocumented Mexican immigrants living in Chicago. Julia's sister dies in an accident, and Julia becomes the sole focus of her parents' expectations. This was a perfect way to read outside my normal worldview and see some commonality in the challenges a young woman faces as she tries to find her place in the world." (Recommended by Sadie, former student and friend)
15. The Last Tudor by Phillipa Gregory. "Phillipa Gregory's The Last Tudor is the final story in her successful series that began with Anne Boleyn." Goodreads (Recommended by Phoebe, friend and colleague)
**Also recommended by Phoebe: A Column of Fire by Ken Follett and A God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson.
16. The Bourbon Kings by J.R. Ward. "If you ever enjoyed the night-time soaps of the 1980s, get ready for the next generation of big-money, family dynasty drama. The Bradford family made its fortune in bourbon, not oil, but all of the major elements are in place: a southern palatial estate, high end cars, private jets... class divisions, a spoiled daughter, and a dastardly patriarch that could put JR Ewing to shame." Goodreads (Recommended by Sara, friend and colleague)
And last, but not least, I have two of my own that I want to add...
17. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. Starr is a sixteen year old who is riding home from a party with her best friend from childhood. The two are pulled over, and her friend, Khalil is killed in a police shooting. Khalil was unarmed. Starr has to make a decision. Does she speak out for her friend, Khalil and all of the other innocents who have been killed by police shootings, or does she remain silent? What consequences will speaking out have for Starr, her family, and the community where she lives? This book will make you laugh, but it will also make you cry because we as a society have so far to go. This book can help start the conversation.
18. The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay. The Sea of Tranquility was the site where Apollo 11 landed in 1969. It is not a sea at all, but rather a dark spot on the moon. Nastya is looking for her own Sea of Tranquility as she enters a new school. She wants to get through school without making waves, and she wants to find the boy who did terrible things to her and hurt him like he hurt her. Josh and Drew befriend the new girl and find out that she is full of mysteries, and they may never know the real person behind her masks.
"I live in a world without magic or miracles. A place where there are no clairvoyants or shapeshifters, no angels or superhuman boys to save you. A place where people die and music disintegrates and things suck. I am pressed so hard against the earth by the weight of reality that some days I wonder how I am still able to lift my feet to walk."
The characters are well crafted, and even though they experienced what no one should ever have to experience, they discover that there is a family out there for each of them. They just had to find it.
Thanks for all the suggestions from some pretty awesome people in my life. I love you all, and I especially love the fact that you are reading some amazing books! This English teacher, media specialist, technology integration specialist knows that you travel to distant regions, become open to other views and cultures, and strive to make the world a better place.
"Whenever you read a good book, somewhere in the world a door opens to allow in more light." —Vera Nazarian
Have a wonderful 2018.
