To Kill a Mockingbird

Lee, H. (1960). To kill a mockingbird.  New York:  Warner. 

 I have always loved a good Bildungsroman with a spunky female narrator with a historical context. Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird perfectly fits the bill. I first read the novel while preparing for the English essay portion of the Praxis, then again when I taught freshman. But, to be honest, I didn't truly enjoy Lee's work. I decided to give it another go. And I must say that I am completely in love. Scout is my new favorite character in literature. 

A Separate Peace

Knowles, J. (1959). A Separate Peace. New York:  Secker and Warbug.

This year, I decided that I wanted to teach something new to my advanced sophomore class. I still taught Lord of the Flies, but I wanted something different. As I was looking at the book list, I realized that A Separate Peace is also on the AP list. So I thought, "Why not?  If I don't like it, I won't teach it again."  I am so glad that I decided to give Knowles's novel a chance.

The Poisonwood Bible

Kingsolver, B. (1998). The Poisonwood Bible. New York:  Harper Perennial.

Sometimes I get very tired of reading the mundane and overdone love stories.  I always enjoy a novel with a different perspective.  When two of my colleagues recommended Kingsolver's The Poisonwood Bible, I decided to give it a chance.  Since Kingsolver is a Kentucky native whom I have never read before, I felt even more pressure.  And once in a while the novel appears on the Literature and Composition Advanced Placement exam.  I always want to find novels to recommend to my students that may assist them for the exam.  So, based on the above criteria, I just had to read The Poisonwood Bible.  And Even though it took several months to read (because of my very busy schedule), I'm so very glad that I read Barbara Kingsolver's amazing novel.

The Paris Wife

McLain, P. (2011). The Paris wife.  New York:  Ballentine.

Ernest Hemingway is a name known worldwide for many different reasons.  Hemingway was a known alcoholic and notorious play boy.  He was part of the Lost Generation, which included voices such as Fitzgerald, Stein, Pound, Eliot, during the 1920's.  It was a time of breaking the rules to find oneself.  Hemingway was a love 'em and leave 'em kind of man.  But the first woman who trapped his heart was a woman named Hadley Richardson.  Together, the opposites lived a whirlwind life and tried to find consistency in a world full of chaos.

Paula McLain tells the story of the first of Hemingway's wives in her 2011 novel, The Paris Wife.  The novel is completely fiction but based on actual events of the Hemingways' life together.  McLain assumes Hadley's voice to tell the story through first person.  McLain truly and fully develops Hadley's character to the point that it seems that she's a dear friend telling a story.

The Book Thief

Zusak, M. (2005). The Book Thief. New York:  Knopf.

There have been many, many books written involving stories of children and adolescents during World War II.  Australian writer, Markus Zusak takes a different approach.  He chooses to write about a young German girl, rather than take a Jewish voice.  This fresh perspective is just what I needed for summer reading.

The Help

Stockett, K. (2009). The Help.  New York:    Putnam.

I have to admit, I'm a very bad reader sometimes. Sometimes I watch a movie then read a book, and sometimes I take a long time to read a book. Both of these confessions are true with The Help. I first watched the movie, which I love, then I bought the book on my e-reader, two years ago.  I was never able to read past the first 100 pages or so. I was determined to finally actually read the novel. And since I'm at a training without TV or real responsibilities, I did. And I'm so glad I did. 

The Great Gatsby

Fitzgerald, F. (1925). The Great Gatsby. New York:  Scribner.

I first read The Great Gatsby when I was a junior in high school.  I enjoyed it then.  I have had the wonderful opportunity to read some books multiple times.  But since I mainly teach British literature, I haven't had Fitzgerald shoved down my throat.  I actually had only read Gatsby once until I decided to re-read it before the movie.

Romeo and Juliet

Coville, B. (1999). William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. New York:  Dial Books.

I am a huge Shakespeare fan.  I even wanted to name my son William (my husband said no).  My love affair with Billy goes back to my freshman year of high school.  I was in a rather small English I class with students who should have been in an English II class.  I felt really out of place.  That teacher will always be an important person in my life, because she introduced me to Shakespeare.  We read both Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night's Dream.  I got to read for Juliet and Helena.  My teacher told me that I was a talented reader and truly understood Shakespeare; I'm not sure if she really meant it, but she gave me a lot of confidence.

The Diary of a Young Girl

Frank, A. (1997). The diary of a young girl.  New York:  Bantam.

Anne Frank is a name known throughout the world.  She was not an extraordinary girl, nor did she really live an extraordinary life.  Yet, her diary has been published in countless languages and been read by a large audience.

When Jessie Came Across the Sea

Hest, A. (1997). When Jessie came across the sea. Cambridge, MA:  Candlewick Press.

What would you do if you were told that you were leaving your home to live with a woman you had never met in a country you had never seen?  That's what happens to a young thirteen year-old girl, named Jessie, in When Jessie Came Across the Sea.

Jessie lives with her grandmother in a poor Jewish village.  The rabbi in the village is given a ticket to America and decides that Jessie will travel to New York City and live with his sister-in-law.  Jessie travels on a boat to Ellis Island and meets a young boy named Lou.  Not long after Jessie arrives in New York, she learns English and becomes a success in a dress shop.  One day Jessie receives a letter from her grandmother.  What happens to Jessie's grandmother?  What happens to Lou?  Find out in Amy Hest's wonderful picture book, When Jessie Came Across the Sea.

Buffalo Dance: The Journey of York

Walker, F. (2004). Buffalo Dance:  The journey of York.  Lexington, KY:  The University Press of Kentucky.

Frank X Walker is a professor at the University of Kentucky.  He is known for the creation of the word Affrilachia, meaning "African-American Appalachia.  He even published a book of poetry title Affrilachia in 2000.

The collection of poems titled Buffalo Dance:  The Journey of York revolves around the Lewis and Clark expedition.  York was the name of Clark's slave who traveled with the group.  Walker takes on the persona of York, telling the story of the expedition through York's point of view.  Throughout the collection, there are small descriptions of the events of the expedition.  Walker uses these descriptions to share his inspiration with his audience.

Night

Wiesel, E. (1987). Night.  New York:  Bantam.

Night is a very touching and true story of one teenager's experience during the Holocaust.  Elie was a young boy when his family was forced to leave their home in Transylvania and become prisoners in Auschwitz.  Wiesel was silent about his experience for ten years before he was able to put the tragedy in writing.  It is no wonder that due to the book, Wiesel has so many awards such as the Nobel Peace Prize.