How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water by Angie Cruz

Cruz’s How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water was chosen as one of the Common Reader texts because of its delivery of “a sense of the enduring worth of relationships, life experiences and determination” (Washington Post). The text, which won the Latino Book Award (2022) is the first NEHS Common Reader authored by a Latina author and provides much overdue recognition of the Latinx community.

The novel follows Cara Romero, a Dominican woman in her mid-fifties navigating job loss and personal hardships during the Great Recession of 2007 – 2009. Told through a series of government-mandated job counseling sessions, the novel unfolds as Cara recounts her life story with wit, resilience, and unfiltered honesty. Through Cara’s voice, Cruz explores themes of immigration, displacement, economic struggle, and the pursuit of dignity in an unforgiving system.

How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water received rave reviews upon publication. Kirkus said it was “a poignant portrayal of one fallible, wise woman, and a corner of one of New York’s most vibrant immigrant communities.” Often compared to NEHS Honorary Member, Elizabeth Acevedo, because of their shared use of vibrant, voice-driven narratives to explore the complexities of Latinx identity and womanhood, in How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water, Cruz makes good use of humor and oral storytelling traditions.

With its unique structure and deeply human storytelling, the NEHS Advisory Council hopes that How Not to Drown in a Glass of Water will offer students a powerful meditation on survival, identity, and the strength found in community.

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library is a thought-provoking novel about a woman, caught between life and death, who discovers a magical library that allows her to explore the infinite lives she could have lived, ultimately leading her to a deeper understanding of regret, possibility, and the value of her own existence. Chapter Advisors felt that this text “is a beautiful look at what success means in life—how we all need to appreciate the good and bad” and “is an inspiring and uplifting text that comforts readers: It pushes them toward a bright future regardless of their circumstances.”

The Midnight Library was released in 2020 and immediately became a Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller. Indeed, the Sunday Times described it as “a beguiling read, filled with warmth and humor, and a vibrant celebration of the power of books to change lives.” The Guardian suggests that “contrary to the fantastical premise, the novel turns out to be a celebration of the ordinary: ordinary revelations, ordinary people, and the infinity of worlds seeded in ordinary choices.” It is an excellent introduction to the world of speculative fiction.

The Midnight Library‘s accessible yet thought-provoking narrative will encourage critical discussions on choice, resilience, and the philosophical question of what makes a life meaningful, all of which aligns with NEHS’ mission to promote deep literary analysis and personal growth through literature.