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Introduction: Carla Tannehill

I enjoy reading  variety of books in both English nd Spanish. Having a minor in English literature gave me the opportunity to explore a diversity of literary works.  This semester I decided to take American Sign Language introductory course because I would like to learn about my students who are part of the deaf culture. I used to be a paraeducator and, although my students tried to teach me ASL, I did not have the background education to understand them as much as I would have wanted to.  I read the book ¨�A Loss for Words¨ by Lou Ann Walker.  The target audience is the community Hearing community, including those who may know someone who is part of the Deaf community. The main character is Lou Ann which draws from her experience in being a child of hearing with two deaf parents and two siblings that could also hear.  She shares the journey she had from from childhood into adulthood and how her experiences gave a new perspective. Although I am not deaf, I experienced similar challenges in being an an English learner in that I struggled to communicate with native speakers.  I also recall some of the prejudice others had towards my grandmother who could not speak or understand English either.  This book opened up a new perspective for me and I hope that it will help me to understand my students better, including students that are part of the Deaf community.

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I wasn't always a reader until I was in the sixth grade. I had a teacher who encouraged me to read and introduced me to the Harry Potter series. I enjoyed reading the Harry Potter series when I was in sixth grade and therefore, I believe that the audience would be sixth graders and up. There was a time when I was sick and I had the Prisoner of Azkaban book at home, I finished the book in 4 days! Over the years, I grew an interest for reading and began reading more books, many from different genres.

My other favorite books would be by Nicolas Sparks. Although, they are romance novels, I love the way he describes the scenery in North Carolina. These are some of the books that I enjoy in my spare time as I got older.

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Growing up I have always enjoyed reading books both in English and Spanish. Although I have many favorite books, one books that I read back in high school has always stood out to me because of the perspective it gave me on the harshness of life. This book is The Bluest Eye which is a dark heartbreaking story which shows child abuse, racism, and the neglection of children of color.  This story is about a young African American girl who is in an abusive home. She did not realize she was African American until a certain age because she was always surrounded by people of white color. This made her pray every day to be beautiful because she believed you could only be pretty if you had blue eyes.
This book is intense and may be hard to read, but the story overall gives you a different perspective of children of color and how they feel towards society. It can also relate to today where children feel as if they need to be a certain way in order for them to be beautiful or accepted in society.
Reading this book has helped me keep an eye out especially for the children whom I work with and making sure that they are coming from a healthy environment.

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One of my favorite books is a book called Ida B. It is by Katherine Hannigan and is a Young Adult Fiction book. It is about a young girl who has a vast imagination and a wonderful life. I first read this book when I was young and getting into chapter books. I simple fell in love with this book because it transported me to another place. I could relate to Ida B who described her household in color, visited the willow behind her home and spoke with the trees to solve all the problems of the world. She is a girl that cannot sit still, until her mom is diagnosed with Breast Cancer and she has to slow down her life to stay quiet at home, so her mom can rest. Ida B experiences her personal challenges and understands her mother's mood swings and father's anxiety surrounding her mother's diagnosis. Nonetheless, her exuberant personality and quirky attitude is not diminished and the trees continue helping her solve all the problems in her little world.

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One of my all-time favorite books is “The Little Prince” by Antoine de Saint-Exupẻry. I read this book in elementary school and fell in love with it. As a child, I can remember imagining myself as the little prince; traveling the universe meeting new people, and plants and animals that talk. I also remember not wanting to grow up because I did not want to be narrow minded and lose my sense of imagination. As an adult and having read this book to my children, I see that my connection to it is lined up with some of the morals that Exupéry embeds in his book. One of his quotes that has resonated with me all these years was “It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”  What is essential in life is often what you cannot see. Lasting joy, fulfillment, friendship, compassion, integrity, trust, hope, and love, is what gives richness to peoples’ lives. Staying true to oneself is the key to fulfillment. Exupéry was well versed in explaining to his readers that each person is unique in their own special way.  In other words, you are one unique person in this universe and this is why it makes you special.

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When I was younger I enjoyed reading, and my favorite books were the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. I think I hold these books close to my heart not only because of the writing, but the memories that were created because of a shared love of the books. My sister and I spent many hours talking about the characters. I also look forward to the day when I am able to share these books with my daughter.

I think it is special when children are able to find stories that allow them to escape reality. I also think it is wonderful when books, such as the Harry Potter series, are able to spark a love of reading and storytelling.

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I love reading and I love reading a variety of different genres. Lately I have been reading more thrillers and mysteries. My current favorite book in The Turn Of The Key by Ruth Ware. Its a thrilling novel that will keep you guessing. Also I recently read Little
Women by Louisa May Alcott which was a classic in its own right. I loved the story and all the characters (especially Jo) This is a must read for everyone who loves a family dynamics and classics. I love how books can take you out of your reality therefore these two really transform you out of your everyday life and into a new world.

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I am currently reading “The Bear and The Dragon” by Tom Clancy, I really like the books that I have read so far in the series. This is the fourth book of his that I have read, his books involve different aspects of the United States government and its interactions with other world governments. They tend to have a military theme as well which I find myself drawn to as I recently retired from the military in June of 2019. The books follow how the complications of one action can spiral into different nations react and ultimately end up in conflict in one for or another. I also enjoy the “A Song of Fire and Ice” books by George R. R. Martin, I really started after watching the first season of “Game of Thrones” on HBO and Have not stopped. I am eagerly awaiting the last two books of the series that were supposed to already be released but have been pushed back again and again due to scheduling conflicts with the TV show.

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I am a very avid reader and love to read new stories, as well as re-read favourite books. However, my all-time favourite books are The Chronicles of Narnia and The Lord of the Rings. I read The Chronicles of Narnia for the first time in the second grade and was charmed by the fantastic stories of a magical land, mythical creatures, good vs. evil, and the many adventures of the Pevensies. However, as I grew older, the stories took on a deeper meaning. My uncle was a Lutheran pastor in a small town in Canada, and he fell in love with the books enough that he decided to get a portrait of Aslan tattooed on his arm. When I asked why he loved the books so much, he explained that the message of faith in them kept him coming back to the stories. At this point, I was in middle school, and decided to re-read the series, to understand what my uncle meant. In this second reading, I discovered that the fairytales were making faith more accessible. For instance, Edmund’s betrayal of his siblings was an allegory for sin and forgiveness within the Christian Faith. Finally, in high school, my uncle died of cancer and at his memorial service the pastor read a passage from The Voyage of the Dawntreader. The passage told of Reepicheep the mouse’s journey to Aslan’s country, an allegory for heaven, and how difficult it was for the rest of the ship’s crew to carry on without him. However, they ultimately found comfort in the knowledge that they would be reunited with their friend one day, on their own journeys to Aslan’s country. Similarly, in his last letter to our family, my uncle concluded his wishes for us by saying that he would be waiting to welcome each and every one of us home.

Likewise, my love for The Lord of the Rings has evolved over time. I first tackled the books in sixth grade, and was determined to listen to my dad’s advice and muscle through the first 100 pages, because once they finally left the Shire, he assured me the book would pick up. Sure enough, with the Shire behind me, I began to feverishly read the rest of the first book and finish the series within a month or two. During these years, the books were a source of joy and watching the movies with my family became a holiday tradition. However, during my sophomore year of college, my dad passed away unexpectedly, and the books began to have a deeper meaning. As his most beloved book series, I looked to them for comfort in the months after his passing. During this re-reading, I found peace and understanding in the adventures of Frodo and the Fellowship, and especially in the wisdom of Gandalf. Just as Reepicheep’s journey helped me come to terms with my uncle’s death, Frodo’s sailing on to the Gray Havens reminded me that when we lose people we love, we meet them again one day. Now, I endeavor to re-read the series every fall during the anniversary of my dad’s passing as a new tradition.

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One of my favorite works of literature is the graphic novel "Watchmen" by Alan Moore. I was never a big reader growing up so when I found this collection of comic books it really appealed to me. The author blends real historical events with fantasy which makes for an awesome read. Due to its dark tone the target audience for this graphic novel is probably late teens which is around the same time that I came across this book. Some of the themes from the graphic novel that I strongly connect with are the idea of perception creating reality, and the lengths that one is willing to go in order to sacrifice themselves for the good of others. As a young man I could not put this book down. The idea of superheroes who did not act very morally and just was mind blowing to me. It cynical tone challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and asked that I reflect on my moral character as an individual living in this society. This graphic novel continues to be one my favorite works of literature that I own and it will always have a special place in my bookshelf.

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I was never an avid reader until recently. As a child, I struggled with reading and found myself avoiding it at all costs. In college I continued to struggle, however, when I had children something changed. Reading to them caused an unexpected curiosity into the power of written words. Today, I enjoy reading and do it frequently. I find myself making intentional time in my schedule to read. I even bought a hammock to enjoy both the outdoors and books. This season, which has caused us to be homebound,  allowed me to venture out and read different genres. The genre I most favor is non-fiction and the book I recently fell in love with was, Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. Her book highlights her struggle to attend college and the difficulties she endured in reaching her goal of being educated. As a result, she experienced much success as a scholar and now an author. I found myself relating to her story because growing up in a Mexican household, education was never emphasized.  It was not discouraged, however working to support the family was the overarching narrative. Fast forward to today, I am grateful for pursuing education, with my family's blessing, because of what it has allowed me to pursue and experience.

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When I think about the books I have enjoyed reading for school, “Rain of Gold” by Victor Villasenor always comes to mind. This book describes the stories of Villasenor’s parents who were undocumented immigrants escaping the Mexican Revolution to safety in the United States. Many themes are covered in this book including prejudice, discrimination, culture, love, and the importance of family. One of the significant reasons why this book is memorable to me is because it is very relatable to my own life. Being a daughter of Mexican immigrants myself, I appreciated learning about the history surrounding my own family’s experience during the time of the Mexican Revolution. It was not often that I was assigned to read a book that I could connect to so personally. Although I read this book in high school, I think is appropriate for any readers beyond that age. I would recommend this book to those who love hearing generation stories or those who enjoy learning history by reading a novel.

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While I have loved reading my entire life, it is always hard for me to pinpoint my favorite book(s). However, the one book from my childhood that has always stood out to me was "Gathering Blue" by Lois Lowry. This heartbreaking story follows the life of an orphaned girl with a physical disability (that isn't accepted by the dystopian world around her) while she learns to weave and dye fabric and clothes. The primary thing I remember about this book was the emotional impact it had on me as a young reader. As an adult, I tend to read psychological thrillers and fantasy books. However, one of my favorite books that I read about 4 years ago is "The Girl With All the Gifts". This book is about a girl born into a zombie apocolypse...as a half zombie child. This book takes this genre of literature and re-imagined it as an emotional, moving, and incredibly interesting story of overcoming circumstance and making sacrifices. I would highly recommend both of these books, and I look forward to reading those that others have recommended as well.

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One of my all time favorite books I actually read for one of my classes for undergrad was Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks. This book follows a young girl's diary and all the complications she goes through with substance abuse issues. I think this is a great book to read for high school students. This book is heavy and deals with a lot of real life issues a young teenager can face. I usually do not read so often but with this book I could not put it down. I really felt for this young girl and everything she went through at such a young age. This book is a really good read for anyone and I hope you all will check this one out.

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Presently, I like to read a lot of motivational books, self-help, biographies, but one story that is stuck with me for many good reasons is Stephen King's "11/22/63" because I love the concept of time travel. I did read the book in my early 20's, but I feel it is a good book to read for anyone in high school or older. Although it is a lengthy book, I really loved it because it was outside of his horror novel genre. I prefer to watch horror movies instead of reading horror novels as the psychology doesn't torture me as much as a well written horror book. This book tells the story of time travel well and addresses the moral question of if you were to go back in time, would getting rid of baby Hitler be the answer for humanity. King takes a similar route to that moral question, but instead takes the path of preventing the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The story follows English literature teacher Jake Epping who is presented with the information of a time portal in a diner owned by a man named Al. Al has been trying to use the portal to stop the assassination of the president, but since he gets sick and brings this challenge to Jake. He tells him that every time he steps into the portal he will exit the same date and time every time, 5 years before the assassination and that the past will fight him on changes every times he tries to make one. Five years is a long time to fill in for a book, but the pages flew by. I appreciated the way King wrote the book, presented characters, and their stories. I was excited, nervous, felt the love between characters. Its an overall well rounded book for me.

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One of my most favorite books is actually a series of books. These books are "The Magic Tree House" by Mary Pope Osborne. Although I have not read these books since middle school, they are one of my most favorite books. These books are not that long and are usually only about 80 pages long or so. I love the way the author is able to describe the scenery. I could actually imagine what it would be like to the be in the story. The author also does a great job of building the suspension needed in order to keep the readers engaged. I introduced my niece (who is in 4th grade) to these books and she loves them. This book I believe would be intended for the upper elementary and middle school ages. But if you are looking to read something of a shorter length I would recommend this series.

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I love this question because I have been reading an absurd amount of books lately and it gives me an opportunity to talk about them. I got my undergraduate degree in English/Creative Writing from APU back in 2017, and for the longest time, I was not doing any reading or writing at all post graduation. This was something that was really discouraging for me, I felt like I wasted my time in college, and would never actually use my degree moving forward. However, one good thing I can say that has come out of this pandemic, is I have had so much time for words again! Not only just ones that I read, but my writing has slowly been coming back--and if nothing else this year, that is something I can be grateful for!
That being said, I think my favorite book I've read recently is "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine," by Gail Honeyman. This book in particular stands out to me because the main character, Eleanor, is so awkward and complex. The readers are put on a journey with her at a time in her life when she is forced to face extremely painful realities from her past and move forward with her newfound realizations. It is about deciding to keep pushing on when everything feels impossible, and letting people in to help you carry the weight. I think that is something we all can relate to on some level, especially after a year such as this.

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As a daughter to a former bookstore manager and an avid reader it is hard to pick a favorite book.  I do have a favorite series.  I started reading A Culinary Mystery series by Josi S. Kilpack while I was in my early twenties, but I feel it as a good book for anyone in high school or older.  There is one thing I did not like about the series and that was when I started reading it the series was not complete so I had to wait six months for the next book to come out.  I enjoy this series for multiple reasons.  I like solving puzzles and I was able to try and solve the mystery along with the characters.  This series is not only a mystery series.  Yes, each book has a different mystery to be solved but I was also able to follow the characters in their personal and professional growth.  The books follow two characters that happen to meet in the first book and develop a relationship with each other.  I like that this series has a little bit of romance, but the series is not a romance.  I feel it has just enough romance without it being a sappy romance series.  I also like that the series is a culinary series.  Each book is tied to food.  In the middle of a chapter there will reference to a dish and at the end of the chapter you get the recipe.

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I read a lot, so picking a favorite book is hard. I'm on book number 32 for the year and one of my favorites out of that group is Contact by Carl Sagan. It's a realistic science fiction about trying to contact beings from another planet. What I live about this book is all of the science embedded into the story. The author is a scientist and truly brings his passion into the story. He goes great detail of outer space. If anyone is really into space this would be a great book for them. I am not a big science fiction person, but what stands out about this book is how cemented into reality it is. One of the best things about the book is the ending. I don't want to ruin it for anyone who wants to read it, but the ending is left open ended for the reader.

I read this book this year, but I would say that it would be a good book for 11th grade and up. I aim it at the older high school students because of how much science is in it. It could go over the head of younger students.

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One of my top favorite books hands-down is "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society" by Mary Ann Shaffer & Annie Barrows. It's a historical fiction set just after the War that really did its research, and gives intriguing insight into the German occupation of Guernsey Island (English Channel) during WWII. I would say it's appropriate for 9th grade and above due to some of the mature topics it addresses.

I love this book because it's told entirely through letters, telegrams, and postcards making every storyline personal to the reader. Because of this, everyone can find a theme which speaks to them -the power of friendship & laughter in surviving trials, finding your way after tragedy, the potential of books to work change, the cruelties of war to both sides -and of course a dash of adorable romance. They made a Netflix movie version recently which did an okay job of it, but please do yourself a favor and pick up the book first!

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One of my favorite books that I have ever read is Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Anne Brashares. I read this when I was younger around sixth to seventh grade so I feel it would be appropriate for this grade level. I loved the book so much that I have seen all the movies as well. What made this book so special to me was the fact that my best friends and I all read this together. We all shared clothes like the characters did in the book so we felt like we related to them a lot. The clothes we shared all had meaning behind them because we would wear them to different events and places so there were stories behind our shared outfits just like the characters had in the book.

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One of my favorite books that I read is She’s Still There by Chrystal Evan Hurst. I read this book about 3 years ago but I go back to it from time to time. This book is empowering and has helped me through difficult moments in my life. Chrystal uses her life story to find direction, purpose, and beauty when living in a life that wasn’t expected. She gives words of encouragement and refers to bible verses to back up what she is talking about. At the end of each chapter she has something called Reflections to the Rescue, which gives things to remember, reflect, and respond to. She boxes quotes that are important and to focus on. Chrystal talks about rescuing the girl inside and that even though many unexpected things occur in life we can move forward. It is a wonderful and powerful read.

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One of my favorite books of all time is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. I first read this book in high school and have read it a few times since then. I love it because it feels like several novels in one book. It has a great mixture of historical elements combined with fictional characters to make a great story. This book was written 176 years ago and is an absolute timeless classic. Today, people binge-watch television series or something on Netflix (and there is nothing wrong with that). I like to think of The Count Monte Cristo as the equivalent of a long-running and persuasive television series in the 19th century. The book is about 1,200 pages long and focuses on a wrongfully imprisoned man, who escapes from jail, gains a vast fortune, and sets about exacting vengeance on those responsible for his incarceration. It is dense and is not meant to be read through fast. I would say the target audience is high school level and up. I love history and connected with the historical aspect of the novel. The Count of Monte Cristo begins just before the hundred-days period in which Napoleon arrived in Paris after escaping from exile on Elba. I absolutely love how the historical element is the fundamental bedrock of the book.