Thanksgiving Break Book Recommendations!

Posted on June 21, 2016 by nobles

              Hello! It’s almost time for Thanksgiving break! And if you are looking for ways to fill all your extra time, try one of these books recommended by your librarians and co-leaders of the Upper School book club! Recommended by Ms. Tragert You Can’t Touch My Hair: And Other Things I Still Have to Explain by Phoebe Robinson This is a hilarious and smart memoir from comedian and actress Phoebe Robinson.  The essays in this book cover everything from the challenges and triumphs of Robinson’s career as a black female stand-up comedian, to her thoughts on beauty, pop culture and sports, to wise, funny advice to her baby niece.  A fun, silly read that still makes you think–and the audio book is fantastic too! The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane Macfarlane is one of my favorite nature writers, and he doesn’t disappoint in this lyrical book of essays about his search for what he calls ‘genuinely wild’ places across the British Isles. This lovely, thoughtful book mixes history, literature and the author’s own travelogue to beautiful effect and is a great read for lovers of nature and the outdoors. Recommended by Mariama-Alexis Camara Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr Anyone looking for a great read with action and romance, where you’ll fall in love with all the characters (whether you want to or not) should read Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr. This book is about a girl who has always been able to see fairies, but not your average fairies who help people and grant wishes. Aislinn watches these fairies trip people and cause accidents but she can’t react because if they knew she could see them she would be in danger.  Her secret doesn’t stay hidden for long when she meets the Summer King, who believes Aislinn is the first love of his life in his 900 year existence. This book follows her struggle to choose which guy she should be with, and whether she should prioritize her own emotions or the lives of millions of people who don’t even know they’re in danger from these unseen creatures. This book sent me on an emotional roller coaster and I loved every minute of it! Recommended by Ms. Sokoll Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan Continuing in the mythological reinterpretation tradition of Riordan’s other series, this series, based on Norse mythology follows Magnus Chase, the son of Frey, the god of fertility. A huge fan of mythology, I love the way Riordan weaves in different cultural traditions to create a thoroughly modern tale. This series is particularly thrilling, as Magnus and his friends hunt down Mjölnir, the hammer of Thor, while trying to outwit a seemingly never ending band of people who want to kill them, most terrifyingly, Loki, the parent of Magnus’ best friend Samirah. Additionally, the novel is set in Boston, so it was super fun seeing all of my favorite locations (including Anna’s Taqueria!) pop up over the course of the novel. Recommended by Ms. Twohig-Canal Trigger Warning: Short Fictions and Disturbances by Neil Gaiman I have two confessions. 1.) I’m not a huge fan of science fiction and fantasy and 2.) I like short-stories. I know, gasp, short stories. Surely I’m not alone? I recently read the perfect mix of tales for on-the-fence SF and fantasy non-ish fans: Neil Gaiman’s Trigger Warning.  A great book for a winter’s eve, Gaiman takes readers on a journey around the world (Isle of Skye, anyone?) to a time that is almost like our own but ends with a magical twist, a haunt, a “could that really happen?” My favorites are “The Truth is a Cave in the Black Mountain” about a daughter who has gone missing and a cave that contains tainted gold; “An Invocation of Incuriosity” – a tale of time travel; and “Orange” a story that involves a lot of tanning lotion. Read them, if you dare, and then let’s discuss! Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson One of my favorite novels of 2016 is Another Brooklyn by Jacqueline Woodson.  This is a beautiful poetic story about friendship and adolescence that takes place during the 1970s in pre-hipster Bushwick, Brooklyn. Woodson allows you to be part of the neighborhood – you’ll feel the summer sun on your face, the water from the fire hydrant spraying at your feet, and hear the soft hum of Stevie Wonder’s song “Sir Duke” floating through the air. This is a quick read but requires one to read between-the-lines. Recommended by Ariana Wasret ’17 Pinehurst by Nicole Grane Pinehurst is about a 16 year old girl brought to a school for students with magic.  It rapidly becomes apparent that her magic is far more advanced than her peers. She works to become the only female Slayer with the help of her personal trainer, Antonio. When her father goes missing, Antonia becomes her best ally and love interest in her quest to find her father. Pinehurst is a fun and imaginative book, you will fall in love with all of the characters as they each have their own depth and fun personalities.