Staff Recommendations

August 23rd and 24th, 2022: Mrs. Ruddy's classes

Ms. Barrett recommends Dashka Slater's 57 Bus, Steve Rinella's Meat Eater, and Mindy McGinnis's Heroine

From Ms. Barrett: The 57 Bus is an amazing exploration (and a true one) of what one choice can do to two lives, even if that choice began as a "prank." It's also an enlightening tale about how young people explore who they are and how families navigate their loved ones being able to live as their true selves. This book taught me a lot about both bravery and forgiveness.

Meat Eater is the memoir by the same person who is on the Netflix show. The book catalogs several different animals Steve Rinella has hunted in order to have food for his family. The reflections on his experiences, his knowledge of both hunting and conservation, and his thoughts on the activity of hunting were all really interesting and enlightening to me, though I am not a hunter myself.

Heroine is a tough book on a tough topic. Following someone down the gaping hole of addiction, even in a fictional way, was something that was hard for me to read, but also important to me so that I can better understand the challenges people can face (and particularly teens, as this story begins innocently enough with an athlete injured in a car accident and spirals into a nightmare).

Mrs. Bauer-Sanchez recommends Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See

From Mrs. Bauer-Sanchez: All The Light We Cannot See tells the story of two teenagers during World War II, one a blind girl in Nazi-occupied France, the other a bright German orphan who dreams of a better life and with the help of his knowledge in radio technology gets accepted into military school and soon sent to the military. The two characters stories end up intertwining culminating in the battle of Saint-Malo. The book really highlights how the brutality of War shapes the fate of each individual no matter what choice is made the effects can be monumental.

Click the covers to read more on Goodreads.

January 13, 2022: Mr. Fabiano's Class

Ms. Barrett recommends Robert Edsel's The Greatest Treasure Hunt in History

From Ms. Barrett: Books about heroism in war are widespread; this particular type of heroism is one I'd never really thought about before, but after reading the book the depth of my appreciation for this handful of men and women will remain for a long time. Edsel tells this story in powerful ways and includes many anecdotes and moments where I was overwhelmed with how the true twists and turns of this odyssey to reclaim many of the treasures of Western Civilization could have gone differently and how that would have changed what I know of today.

Mrs. Trujillo Recommends Daisy Hernandez's The Kissing Bug: A True Story of a Family, an Insect, and a Nation's Neglect of a Deadly Disease

From Mrs. Trujillo: It has been very interesting to learn that because of the demographic of people affected by this illness, that not many doctors even know about the disease. Because of this lack of knowledge people are not receiving the available treatment that rids the body of the parasite.

Click the covers to read more on Goodreads.

November 29, 2021: Mrs. Ruddy' Class

Ms. Barrett recommends Helene Wecker's books, The Golem and the Jinni and it's follow-up, The Hidden Palace.

From Ms. Barrett: Every once in awhile I come upon a work of historical fiction that is perfect for me, and Wecker's books are an example. I have a degree in American history, and my favorite time period to think about is the Gilded Age, around the turn of the 20th century. One of the places this time period is most interesting is in New York City, where incredible changes were taking place. Both of Wecker's books are set in this time, and incorporate two culture's versions of legend at the same time, making these magical and engrossing reads!

Click the covers to read more on Goodreads.