# data[].attributes.headline
Hooper Humperdink...? Not Him! | Written by Theo LeSieg and Illustrated by Charles E. Martin | (1976) Random House

# data[].attributes.subject
Hooper Humperdink...? Not Him! | Written by Theo LeSieg and Illustrated by Charles E. Martin | (1976) Random House

# data[].attributes.body
When I was very young, my mom would read this to me - at my request - rather often, making it part of our rotation of picture and board books. I loved the sound of her voice, the repetition, and the intricacy of the illustrations.

This book taught me to enjoy both the adventures and the familiarity of reading.

--

A factoid about Theo LeSieg: It was the pen name Dr. Seuss would use when writing books that others illustrated! A biography of Dr. Seuss with this and other facts can be borrowed through Internet Archive.

# data[].attributes.headline
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Written by Roald Dahl and Illustrated by Quentin Blake | (1964) Knopf Inc.

# data[].attributes.subject
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Written by Roald Dahl and Illustrated by Quentin Blake | (1964) Knopf Inc.

# data[].attributes.body
In the third grade, my teacher read this book in its entirety to our class over the span of a quarter. She would ask comprehension or critical thinking questions as she read, one of which seemed to stump the whole class.

I could never forget it: “What are ‘Square Candies that Look Round?’” I remember thinking, “What could this possibly mean?” (In the end, it meant candies that had eyes that could look around the room!)

That said, I loved this book, and could sense my classmates loved it, too. It taught me to listen carefully, to think colorfully and imaginatively as another person read, and to enjoy the experience of listening alongside others. There's no one quite like my third grade teacher, but there are videos in which people read the book aloud, for those looking to capture the experience.

--

Although first published in 1964, the 2010 version included here features illustrations by Quentin Blake, who has illustrated 18 of Roald Dahl's works and hundreds of other children's books.

# data[].attributes.headline
Flowers for Algernon | Written by Daniel Keyes |  (1966)  Harcourt, Brace, & World

# data[].attributes.subject
Flowers for Algernon | Written by Daniel Keyes |  (1966)  Harcourt, Brace, & World

# data[].attributes.body
In the eighth grade, my teacher assigned us Flowers for Algernon, and I remember it being one of the first books I had read that evoked a strong emotional response from me and my classmates.

The class as a whole devoured the read, and as a collective we cried a lot. It dealt with emotional intelligence, introspection, and intellectual disability, and was therefore an intense read.

This had been one of those reads that drove home the complexity of the human experience, its shades of gray, and the idea that there is no guarantee of a happy ending.

--

There are several book trailers and reviews on YouTube, but I think this one is short and sweet.

# data[].attributes.headline
I Am The Cheese | Written by Robert Cormier | (1977) Pantheon Books

# data[].attributes.subject
I Am The Cheese | Written by Robert Cormier | (1977) Pantheon Books

# data[].attributes.body
In the summer before a high school psychology course, we were asked to pick a book from a set reading list, and I chose I Am The Cheese based on the interesting title. I struggled to understand its timeline and the events of the plot, but loved its eerie sense of impending danger, particularly towards the end.

I remember sitting out on my family’s deck in the summer sun, reading page after page because I had to know how it concluded.

I have since re-read I Am The Cheese in the last five years, and have a better understanding of its story. However, I wish I could recapture that urgency I felt when reading it for the first time.

--

This Goodreads user review of I Am The Cheese captures my sentiments without giving too much away, for those interested!

# data[].attributes.headline
The Road | Written by Cormac McCarthy | (2006) Alfred A. Knopf

# data[].attributes.subject
The Road | Written by Cormac McCarthy | (2006) Alfred A. Knopf

# data[].attributes.body
During the final summer of my undergraduate degree, I read many books for pleasure, some of which remain my favorites. This is not to say that the years before were devoid of good books, or books at all, but this summer was a golden age for me.

Now that I've said that, The Road was the first book to give me recurring nightmares. I remember staying up late to read it, and then staying up later because I was too afraid to sleep. It remains far from frightening and bleak than any horror movie I've seen. But I loved reading it all the same. I had to knew how it would end - if there was something to hope for.

--

As described in this review from The Guardian,

The initial experience of the novel is sobering and oppressive, its final effect is emotionally shattering.

# data[].attributes.headline
The Bell Jar | Written by Sylvia Plath | (1963) Harper & Row

# data[].attributes.subject
The Bell Jar | Written by Sylvia Plath | (1963) Harper & Row

# data[].attributes.body
That same summer, I also read  The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath. In it, I saw parallels to my own struggles with mental illness. I resonated with the fig tree quote from The Bell Jar in particular:

I saw myself sitting in the crotch of this fig tree, starving to death, just because I couldn't make up my mind which of the figs I would choose. I wanted each and every one of them, but choosing one meant losing all the rest, and, as I sat there, unable to decide, the figs began to wrinkle and go black, and, one by one, they plopped to the ground at my feet.

The main character's emotional pain was a direct parallel to my own. It was cathartic to read and be recognized. While my other reads that summer were often bleak, this novel ended on an optimistic note. I needed that.

--

I was also rather fond of Plath's poetry at the time. You can hear her read the poem "Daddy" here on YouTube!

# data[].attributes.headline
The Phantom Tollbooth | Written by Norton Juster and Illustrated by Jules Feiffer | (1961) Random House

# data[].attributes.subject
The Phantom Tollbooth | Written by Norton Juster and Illustrated by Jules Feiffer | (1961) Random House

# data[].attributes.body
In my final semester of my undergraduate studies, I felt burnt out and lackluster. I needed humor and fun and hope, and at times, brain candy. Both The Phantom Tollbooth and the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series helped me through.

My friend lent me a copy of The Phantom Tollbooth. It was after reading it that I began to take book and media recommendations from others seriously. I was touched by young Milo's journey throughout the book, and cried often at its lessons.

One of my favorite quotes is listed here:

And remember, also," added the Princess of Sweet Rhyme, "that many places you would like to see are just off the map and many things you want to know are just out of sight or a little beyond your reach. But someday you'll reach them all, for what you learn today, for no reason at all, will help you discover all the wonderful secrets of tomorrow.

--

Norton Juster's thoughts on his work can be found here on NPR's All Thing's Considered.

# data[].attributes.headline
Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Written and Illustrated by Jeff Kinney | (2007) Amulet Books

# data[].attributes.subject
Diary of a Wimpy Kid | Written and Illustrated by Jeff Kinney | (2007) Amulet Books

# data[].attributes.body
The Wimpy Kid series lifted my spirits, as well as my desire to read, when I felt I no longer had time or energy to spare.

After reading some of these books to myself, I also fell into the habit of reading the best snippets aloud to my partner, and she loved it.

--

My favorite joke in the series is about Shel Silverstein, and is explained on this Diary of a Wimpy Kid Wiki. Here is the best part. Hahahaha!

# data[].attributes.headline
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas | Written by Yoru Sumino | (2015) Seven Seas Entertainment

# data[].attributes.subject
I Want to Eat Your Pancreas | Written by Yoru Sumino | (2015) Seven Seas Entertainment

# data[].attributes.body
While I would still read in the years immediately following graduation, as I worked at the public library and was exposed to new releases and coworker and patron suggestions, I wouldn’t experience a “reading renaissance” until I began in the MI program. In the cold winter months between courses, my love for reading touching YA novels was reignited.

I love this book. If I could recommend anything from this curated autobiography, it would be this one, hands down.

Based on the peculiar title and my brother’s glowing recommendation, I chose the last copy at the bookstore. As I began reading, I found that the language surrounding love, connection, and duty was beautiful, and the pacing of the story kept me hooked. I sobbed several times while reading this. It is in my top five of all time.

A beautiful quote from the novel:

All my choices in life lead me to you.

It is also available as a manga and an animated film. Honestly, the trailers for the movie do not do the intricacies of the story justice, so I don't feel right linking them here.

# data[].attributes.headline
On A Sunbeam | Written and Illustrated by Tillie Walden | (2018) First Second

# data[].attributes.subject
On A Sunbeam | Written and Illustrated by Tillie Walden | (2018) First Second

# data[].attributes.body
I'll begin by saying that On A Sunbeam was originally a web comic by Walden, and can be read here.

That said, this graphic novel inspired me to write my first physical letter to an author. I am pleased to say that she responded with a typewritten letter of her own - a now prized possession of mine.

The illustrations, the coloring, and the expansive universe are captivating. But more importantly, in my opinion, are the relationships that are built and maintained between characters throughout the story. On A Sunbeam celebrates all the different kinds of enduring love.

I felt closer to those around me for having read this graphic novel.

# data[].attributes.headline
Paper Girls | Written by Brian K. Vaughan and Illustrated by Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson | (2015) Image Comics

# data[].attributes.subject
Paper Girls | Written by Brian K. Vaughan and Illustrated by Cliff Chiang and Matt Wilson | (2015) Image Comics

# data[].attributes.body
Sometimes, I just want an adventure. This series took me through space and time - at times humorous and at times gritty, like many of Brian K. Vaughan’s works - and I enjoyed the ride. I’ve found that reading comics and graphic novels eases me back into reading when I’m low on energy or motivation.

In short, Paper Girls was my cure to the reading blues. The first issue can be read online through Image comics here.

# data[].attributes.headline
This Is How You Lose The Time War | Written by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | (2019) Gallery Saga Press

# data[].attributes.subject
This Is How You Lose The Time War | Written by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone | (2019) Gallery Saga Press

# data[].attributes.body
My friend sent me this book as a gift over the holidays. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read.

Normally, it takes me a while to warm up to epistolary novels or hard science fiction, but this was as if I was reading poetry. It was a five star meal for my mind. Absolutely beautiful. I highly recommended it to all of my reading friends, and recommend it to you all, as well!

--

Here is an NPR book review that describes the plot in greater detail. However, I went into this book entirely blind, on recommendation alone, and think you should, too.