The Ruins of Gorlan

 

The Ruins of Gorlan

John Flanagan

Meira.Elena

Ages: 10-14

Lexile: 920L

 

                In this first book in the The Ranger’s Apprentice series, John Flanagan builds a world of suspicion, history, and duty, where one boy’s journey to find himself isn’t so different from our own. Written with humor, engaging and dynamic characters, and cultures reminiscent of our own, The Ruins of Gorlan is a must read for all fantasy and historical fiction lovers!

                Young, orphan Will has dreamed of joining Redmont’s Battleschool and becoming a knight of Araluen. Instead, Will’s curiosity and penchant for mischief get him thrown into a mysterious new craft with a taciturn and sarcastic mentor. To make matters even more complicated, , the exiled Lord Morgarath, who dwells in the Mountains of Rain and Night, is preparing to attack Araluen and overthrow King Duncan. Taking place in the fictional, English-reminiscent Araluen, Will must learn to handle being ostracized for his “black magic” craft and protect his country from the power-hungry Morgarath, all at the age of fifteen. Could you do it?

                This book is humorous, well-written, and an easy read. I’d recommend it for anyone who enjoys tales of knights, heroic characters, and acceptance. Over the course of the entire series, Will and his companions grow from shy, ignorant children, into worldly and courageous adults.  With friends, family, an honest and endearing personality, and innocence yet untainted, you’ll fall in love with Will time and time again.

                John Flanagan has written twelve books in this series, along with two companion series the Brotherband Chronicles and The Royal Ranger.

All American Boys

 

All American Boys

Jason Reynolds

Meira.Elena

Ages: 12-17

Lexile: HL770L

 

In this novel, Jason Reynolds tells the tale of protest, equal rights, and two boys’ complicated relationships with what is easy and what is write. Written with poignant characters, an engaging writing style, and an extremely relevant plot, All American Boys will grip you from the very first page.

Rashad was just reaching down to pick something up, and suddenly, he’s another name on a list of victims of police brutality. Quinn was just playing basketball and trying to make his family and community proud, but now he doesn’t know what to do or feel. As the school community—and the city community at large—throws out ugly words, like “racism” and “police brutality”, both boys find themselves swept up in the history of hundreds of years of oppression and injustice. They must find their places in these movements, or others will do so for them. And they may not like the results.

Not only did this make my “couldn’t put it down” list, this is one of the most engaging and important books I have ever read. As a white person, I often struggle to know how I can support people of different races and ethnicities appropriately—how do I speak with minority groups without speaking for minority groups? This novel may not answer that question, but I felt more connected to these movements for equality through this book and through these teenagers struggles than in any lecture or seminar I have attended so far.

          Today, racism and inequality are at an all time high. Morally, these issues go beyond politics—it is a fact that Black Lives Matter, not a political stance. This novel brings that fight to life for those who have not experienced it for themselves. This novel explains why it is vital that we stand up—or lay down—for others.

I recommend this book to literally everyone! Young or old, of any gender, of any skin color, of any religion—this book will fill you with a sense of ability and passion to step out into the world and find your place and your way of contributing.

Bitter Melon

 

Bitter Melon

Cara Chow

Meira.Elena

Ages: 14-18

Lexile: HL730L

 

Using the fictional character Frances, Cara Chow explores the world of cultural identities, the complexities of maternal love, and a young girl’s struggle to find herself at one of the most precarious moments in her life. Well-written, poignant, and relevant, Bitter Melon explores the contrasts of Chinese and American culture. This coming-of-age novel will leave you breathless!

Frances is a Chinese-American senior at a competitive high school in San Francisco. She struggles to manage her advanced courses while also study for the SATs so she can get into a pre-Med program at Berkley, her mother’s ultimate dream for her. Frances also struggles to live up to her mother’s expectations of behavior, beauty, and obedience. But then Frances discovers speech and debate. Through writing, speaking, and new friends, Frances begins to discover herself. And now, she must reconcile herself with her mother and their culture.

I read this book several years ago, and it topped my “couldn’t put it down” list, along with a novel of a similar vein, Girl in Translation. This book was culturally powerful and so well-written! I felt a strong connection to a culture not my own, and at the same time this novel renewed my own cultural connections as I reflected and reconciled myself with my home culture.

          Today, the ideas of maintaining one’s cultural heritage while also assimilating into the culture of the country one lives in is highly relevant, especially for young people finding their own identities as well. This novel teaches us the power of the individual and the power of the collective, and how strong and enduring the bonds of family can be.

I recommend this book to anyone exploring culture, family, motherhood, or identities. Frances is a relatable character who encourages reflection, independence, and respect.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

 

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Stephen Chbosky

Meira.Elena

Ages: High School

Lexile: 720L

 

Charlie has just begun his high school career. With two older, more social siblings, Charlie has to navigate high school his own way. But high school—emotions, friendships, relationships, people—its complicated. And Charlie needs someone to talk to, someone to whom he can express himself, someone who can validate him. But don’t we all? Written by Stephen Chbosky, in epistolary style, this novel is a powerful, gripping, and passionate read from start to finish.

Charlie is not a very sociable person. He had two friends in middle school, and now he has none. He does not have very good relationships with his siblings. He only has his books and his English teacher. Overall, Charlie stands to the side—a wallflower—watching the world move along without really acting in it. But then, he makes friends in seniors Sam and Patrick, who show him a new side to life he hadn’t witnessed before. And now, Charlie doesn’t just want to witness, he wants to experience.

This is the first book in a long time that has gripped me to tightly, I finished reading it in one day. I literally could not put it down—anytime I tried, I was drawn right back in! the characters are well-developed, the plot is engaging, and the writing is very accessible. Overall, an excellent book, and one of my favorites!

          Today, many of us struggle to fit in to what we call “normal” society. We see on TV and in movies how we’re “supposed” to act and feel, behave and think. Charlie’s struggles—his triumphs and failures—help us see that being different isn’t wrong, and that all of us have our place in the world. We just have to act to find it.

I highly recommend this book! While it concerns a teenager—and I recommend all high school and even college students read this book—I think this book has a lot to say that even adults can understand, so don’t let age stop you!

A Death of No Importance

 

A Death of No Importance

Mariah Fredericks

Meira.Elena

Ages: 14+

Lexile: 1000L-1200L

Journey to New York City, in 1910, to the scene of a gruesome murder with all too many probably suspects. Jane Prescott, maid to the Benchley sisters, must put together the clues and solve the murder to protect the innocent- but who is innocent? And can innocence be easily defined? Written with stunning details, engaging language, and well-developed characters, Mariah Frederick’s novel will grab and hold your attention from the very first chapter!

 

Jane Prescott works for Charlotte and Louise Benchley—newcomers to New York City’s high society. With her charges at the center of a scandal, and with everyone out to fulfill their own agendas, Jane Prescott must become a detective herself, to solve such a conspicuous murder before the wrong party takes the fall. With an engaging Irish reporter, new discoveries in the science of crime, and rising tensions between the anarchists fighting for worker’s rights and unions and the upper class men and women determined to retain their positions in the human hierarchy, Jane Prescott doesn’t have much time or support. But then again, what lady’s maid ever succeeded at the first signs of hardship?

I read this book in one afternoon, it was delicious! While I suspected the murderer, I did not know for certain until they were revealed, just as it should be in a well-written mystery novel! Prescott’s character was engagingly imperfect, and Fredericks wove issues of worker’s rights, women’s rights, child labor, sexual assault, and class differences into the story with both grace and honesty. And as other reviews have said, you will truly feel as though you have stepped into 1910s America.

          Today, this book reminds us that not all cases are cut and dry; not all villains are truly evil; and life is not black and white. There are nuances and circumstances that make judgment difficult, and there are rarely easy answers. Definitely a book that is relevant to today.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves mysteries, histories, and well-written characters.

Becoming

 

Becoming

Michelle Obama

Meira.Elena

Ages: 14+

Lexile: 1170L

 

Written by former First Lady Michelle Obama, Becoming is her journey to who she was, who she is, and who she may one day be. Obama tells her audience about her childhood; the struggles she faced in college and at her first job; falling in love and starting a family; and the realities of being the spouse of a politician and President of the United States. Obama’s honest and accessible prose invites readers to think about their own journeys and encourages them to become.

 

Growing up in the South Side of Chicago, Obama was surrounded by love, music, and encouragement, but also by disparities and inequities. She explains the differences and similarities she witnessed among her neighborhood, her family, her classmates, and her teachers. She goes on to explain how spite—against a school guidance counselor who told her she couldn’t—got her first into Princeton and later into Harvard. Obama honestly writes how she struggled to find a career that would support her and her family while also leaving her feel fulfilled and able to make a positive change in the world. She explains her distaste of politics and the sacrifices her family made in order to support her husband as first a state Senator and later as the President. Finally, she tells her journey—from the wife of a Senator to the wife of a President to an active, powerful First Lady, eager to use her position to better the lives of others.

Obama created programs, such as Lets Move!, which supported student physical activity and healthy exercise. She created the Reach Higher program, to encourage students from low-income, high-risk areas to use their education to push themselves further towards success. Obama started the Let Girls Learn program to support girls across the world get access to education. Finally, Obama and Jill Biden, wife of former Vice President Joe Biden, created the Joining Forces program, to support military veterans and spouses.

I read this book because I only knew Michelle Obama as the wife of Barack Obama, and I wanted to know her as an independent person. This was a fantastic book! The writing style was engaging and accessible; her story was honest and thought-provoking; and the way she told her story allowed her to connect to readers of all ages and backgrounds. Truly a well-written book for all!

          In today’s world—amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, a countdown to the next election, and an unknown future for thousands of Americans—Michelle Obama’s novel inspires hope in both the American democracy and, more importantly, in her people. Obama recalls those who fought for change and succeeded with the support of others. She epitomizes her own phrase “When they go low, you go high”, focusing on all the positives this country has to give.

        I recommend this novel to everyone. To high school readers heading off to college; to college readers looking for their first job; to new parents and older ones; to newly weds and those who are single. I recommend this book to readers across the world, as an example of how to remain strong, graceful, and dignified in the face of international scrutiny and judgment.

Eviction: Poverty and Profit in the American City

Matthew Desmond

Meira.Elena

Ages: College+

Lexile: 1010L-1200L

 

In Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, American sociologist Matthew Desmond follows eight families living in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as they face the challenges of living in poverty in the early 21^st century. A fascinating dive into one of today’s most prevalent challenges, Desmond reveals the truth of poverty and the economic exploitation of those living in poverty, making their experiences understandable and accessible to a more privileged audience. It’s no wonder this book won a Pulitzer!

 

Desmond follows eight families: Arleen and her two boys; Lamar and his boys; Larraine; Pam and Ned; the Hinkstons; Scott and Teddy; Sherena and Quentin; and Crystal. Each family has their own definition of family, their own challenges and histories, their own hopes and dreams. What all these families have in common is their poverty—their struggle to put food on the table, pay the rent, find good jobs, and maintain stable homes for their children to grow and develop. Each chapter reads like a narrative, with invigorating sociological research to provide context to each character’s story.

This is one of the most important books I have ever read. I was ashamed and astonished at how little I understood poverty and the daily struggles those living in poverty must deal with. The very fact that these people can’t trust their landlords, social workers, bosses, extended families, or even churches to support them as human beings reveals the true isolation they face even as they are surrounded by a city facing the same struggles they do. Well-written, educational, enticing, and emotional, this novel is fantastic and a must-read for everyone!

          In today’s society, as we bandy back-and-forth terms like “privilege”, “poverty”, “wage-gap”, “minimum wage” and “poverty line”, it is even more vital for those of us who are fortunate enough to live in economic security to take the time to step into the shoes of those without our stability and understand exactly what they need to survive and what we need to do and change to make that happen.

I recommend this novel for everyone, but especially those going into politics, policymaking, social work, education, sociology, and anthropology. This book will change the way you view America!