The kids are headed back to school and you finally have 6 minutes to yourself. Time to grab a bag of chocolates (or Red Vines, or Skittles…I’m not picky), one of these books, and settle in for some of the best school reading you’ll ever do.
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is the story of a young girl, Francie, fighting her way into adulthood as she pushes herself through a hard-earned education in the classroom and on the streets of turn-of-the-century Williamsburg. Betty Smith is a not only a wordcraft genius, but the pictures she paints are powerful and honest, subtle and beautiful. READ. IT. NOW. I’ve never regretted any of my dozen plus forays into its spectacular pages.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
There will never a bad time to get on the HP wagon, but why not begin just in time for the 20thanniversary of Harry’s first year at Hogwarts? I’d only need to tell you about the plot if you’ve been living under a rock in Siberia since the late nineties, but suffice it to say, J.K. Rowling’s depiction of Hogwarts will make you wish you could start middle school all over again. Maybe. ;)
Think Annie, but at college-age and sans the red curls. The story is of Jerusha Abbott, an orphan-turned-writer whose education is being funded by an unknown sponsor who has requested monthly letters as repayment. It’s a light-hearted, easy-to-read love story that will keep you turning pages.
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This is one of those everyone-is-different-but-really-we’re-all-the-same kind of lessons. Plus, we have the added bonus of it being set in Dublin, while you learn Italian, so you’ve basically got every school subject covered. A+
If you’ve ever seen the movie, you know the power of the written word…and why you now need to read the book. There’s just something different about watching the story unfold on pages instead of the screen, and doubtless, you’ll be just as inspired by Jamal and William’s journey to learn from each other outside the classroom.
A classic that’s always worth another read. And if it’s your first go, you’ll fall in love with Mr. Chips and his gentle way of shaping generation after generation of students. And hopefully remind you of a Mr. Chips or two in your life.
If you’re late to the party on Wonder, don’t worry, you’ll catch up quick since you’ll never actually put it down. Told in parts from many of the characters’ perspectives, it’s a triumphant story of coming together in terribly difficult circumstances by putting into practice the most important of Mr. Browne’s precepts: Choose kind.
