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I have to say two things before I start my list: 1) I have terrible taste in literature, and 2) I have never had a favorite book because there is always something new and better to read. The list below contains books I've read over the past 15 years or so that I have particularly enjoyed and re-read one or more times.

1. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
I discovered this book/series during the absolute lowest point in my life, and I read the entire thing in a day and a half. As this was the author's first book, it's the weakest from a technical writing standpoint, but it also has the best story. I'm a sucker for historical fiction, and the time period(s) used in this book is (are) super interesting. Also: yes, I have seen the tv series, and no, I don't like it.

2. Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh
Any other historical romance fans out there? This is the sixth and final book in Ms. Balogh's regency-era Bedwyn Saga, and it is the best. The plot is an adaptation of Pride & Prejudice, and the book features the mysterious oldest Bedwyn sibling, Wulfric, who is a minor character in the other novels. If you're a romance fan and haven't read this one yet, I don't know what you've been doing with your time!

3. The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn.
Dear reader, I have adored the Bridgerton series since long before it was cool. It is a bit surprising that I love this series as much as I do because I discovered the books during the same aforementioned low point when I discovered Outlander, and then I re-read the entire series when I was sick in bed for months with hyperemesis gravidarum. The Viscount Who Loved Me is widely regarded as the best book in the series, but they're all worth reading, especially if you like historical romance.

4. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness
This is the second book in the All Souls Trilogy and it follows A Discovery of Witches. Diana and Matthew travel back to Tudor England, and the book is so fun! It is by far best book in the trilogy, and if you like historical fiction, you should read this one.

5. Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Look y'all, it's the only book in my list that takes place after 1950! This book is a romance novel, and the plot centers around two young men who fall in love. It's unusual to see a relationship between two men in the romance genre (though it is becoming more common), and this one is especially fun. The ending is a tad predictable (read: obvious), but I liked this book so much I had a hard time finding something else to read after I was done with it.

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1. We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - I read this book when it first came out, around 2014, because I received an advanced copy from one of the librarians at my local library. I read it very quickly and loved the crazy twists and turns of the plot. I reread this book about once every year and my copy is now super worn. I'm also very excited to read the prequel that just came out and see if it holds up against the original.

2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - When I read this book in high school for class I did not appreciate it at all, but then I had to reread it for a class in undergrad and the whole thing just clicked. I think Elizabeth Bennet is one of my favorite literary heroines and I'm so glad to have tried it a second time because this book was like a gateway to the rest of Austen's books.

3. The Martian by Andy Weir - I'm not usually a sci-fi person but this is one of my favorite books. I actually saw the movie first, it came out while I was in high school and my math teacher let us watch it as a reward at the end of the year. I loved the movie and as soon as I learned it was a book first I knew I had to read it. I was surprised by how close the movie actually follows the book. I've reread this one a few times and I'm always delighted by how strong the voice and how funny some of the scenes are.

4. Princess Academy by Shannon Hale - I first read this book when I was probably still in elementary school, it's a fairly long chapter book but I remember powering through because the story was so sweet. It has a great folktale feel to it and it was an early adopter of the finding love in sisterhood storyline.

5. If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio - This is the book on this list that I have read the most recently. It's a "campus novel" similar to something like The Secret History by Donna Tartt. It's got a mystery plot to it but the real focus is the characters. They're developed so well it feels like they might walk right off the page. Reading this book felt like running a marathon, it took a while but I was fully engaged the whole time.

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1. Goosebumps  by R.L. Stein.- First loved series that got me reading. I started in second grade before I could really understand it and devoured them.
2. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card - This was the first book I read in school and liked. It was also first book I got signed.
3. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley - This book gave me a love of dystopias and their ability to reveal the present by imagining the future.
4. Chronicles of Narnia by CS Lewis - I didn't read these as a child, but as an adult after loving his other fiction and non-fiction. I picked this for the list because it is my favorite to read aloud to my kids.
5. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown. This is my favorite bed time book for small kids. I think it's rhyme scheme is so pleasing and nice to hear.

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I recently moved to a new house and made the formal dining room, that would probably be used only once a year for Thanksgiving dinner, a library. I have a narrow bookshelf with our favorite books on it, all the other books are organized alpha by author. I have my five faves on the top shelf. The four shelves below it each feature other favorites such as Harry Potter, Shakespeare, and Jane Austen.

1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Nelle Harper Lee - As a freshman in high school, this book was required reading in my ELA class. I did not complete the assignment. I wasn't a good student. When I was about nineteen years old, I realized how ignorant I was, so I went to the library and began devouring classic books. I fell in love with TKAM. I read it almost once a year, so I've read it a lot of times! For Christmas last year, my significant other gave me a signed copy of the book and a signed 8X10 of Harper Lee. He made it the best Christmas of all time!!

2. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery - First published in French then translated, I don't remember how I heard about this book, but the characters quickly made it one of my favorite books of all time. The two main characters are female and hide their intelligence from everyone around them. That fascinated me. I loved the characters in this book so much. It has a tragic ending that shocked me and left me depressed for days.

3. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak - My son and I read this together when he was ten years old and fascinated by anything having to do with WWII. We both loved it, but I think for different reasons. I fell in love with Liesel and Papa. We could hardly wait for the movie to be released and were not disappointed. The movie version of Liesel taught us about pajama sweaters! In 2016, just before Mother's Day, my son confessed that he sent my copy of The Book Thief to Australia to Marcus Zusak's publisher to have my book signed. I was so mad! I ripped him a new one over it and told him that's not how it works and my book is gone forever. I remember he bought me a new copy, but the dust jacket had different artwork than "mine" and he apologized for that. I was so mad. Just about a year later, we received a package from Australia. It was my book signed by Marcus Zusak with a note telling me not to be mad at Murphy. He had just found out that the book was at his publisher's office. He inserted a postcard to Murphy explaining the delay and apologizing. It was amazing.

4. Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier - All of my top five favorite books have been made into movies and all five are as good as the book. I guess it's easy to make an excellent movie when you have excellent material. Cold Mountain is no exception. My favorite genre is historical fiction and this book is a love story set during the Civil War. The love story is incredible. The way Frazier writes about the war makes me feel like I was there. Don't get me started about the tragic ending. I bawl every time I read the book or watch the movie.

5. Atonement by Ian McEwan - This story is so intriguing because of the false accusation made against one of the main characters. His life is ruined because of it. It's also historical fiction, my favorite, because it is set in England and France during WWII. I learn so much about historic events reading historical fiction. The events are factual, but having characters live through them makes a connection for me.

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I had a really hard time coming up with my list of 5 books. It became a great conversation topic when I asked my own children what would be on their lists. It’s interesting to see their different personalities through their selections. For my list it would be:

1. Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown:  I have so many memories of both my late husband and I reading this book to our children. The board book pages are worn, and it has been placed in my 19-yr old daughter’s display cabinet next to pictures of her dad and her most prized possessions. Recently my oldest daughter’s best friend sang this book as part of her (college) senior Opera recital. It was beyond amazing and brought tears to my eyes!
2. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder: I remember reading this when I was younger and loved the whole series. I still have my books with the 1971 copyright date. My daughters also loved the stories when they were in middle school and there’s a second set with a more recent copyright on our bookshelves.   3. Percy Jackson and the Olympians – The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan I have never read any of the Percy Jackson books but this was on 3 of my 4 kids list and we’ve watched the movies, so if I’m stuck on an island, I figure it’s a great time to finally read at least one of the books they’ve been telling me that I “had to read!”
4. Nicholas Sparks: I’ll just grab one from the stack of books I have from this author. I always bring one of Nicholas Sparks books with me to the beach for an easy, lighthearted read while on vacation. It’s my go-to beach book author (or a book by Debbie Macomber).
5. Bible:  The last spot on the list was the hardest one to decide. I couldn’t decide if my daughter’s suggestion to bring a survival guide was the way to go, or another book I love from my list of favorite books. Instead, I decided to bring my Bible. It is filled with stories and lessons that can continue to learn. It is something that I never take the time to read but wish I did. In days that were the darkest or brightest, I found comfort in the verses that I read from it.

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Depending on the day a few of these might change BUT here's my list:
1. The Baby-Sitter's Club #1 by Ann M. Martin - I loved this series and it's my first memories of needing to go to the library to see which books were available that I hadn't read yet. My dad and I went into NYC to meet Ann M. Martin and have her sign my copy! I still have it sitting on a shelf in my home today. Once the Netflix adaptation premiered, it has become something that my daughter and I both loved and watched together. We're so disappointed it was cancelled!
2. Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds - heart-wrenching story from one of my favorite authors (and he lives in DC!). This is one of my go to books for students who tell me they don't like to read.  I've had many wonderful conversations with students after they've devoured this book.
3. With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo - I love this book! Before the pandemic, my library hosted Elizabeth Acevedo for a visit and it was such a memorable day. I love Emoni's story and the complexity of her journey. I could smell the food she cooked coming out of the book -- her descriptions are so vivid and so rich.
4. I Want to Thank You by Gina Hamadey - before the pandemic I read an article by Gina Hamadey (via Cup of Jo) regarding her thank you letter journey and it was incredibly inspiring! I started Thankful Thursday during the lunch blocks at my school and the shared culture of gratitude is infectious.  Gina came to visit me at my library and watched and interviewed a few teachers and students who participated.  Now that her book has published, it takes me back to a very specific and joyous moment shared in our library.
5. Llama Llama, Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney - both of my daughters LOVED this book and I have such fond memories of reading it night after night after night to each of them. Although I may love the version by Ludacris even more!

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Caroline Cook Buechle's 5 Books that have Shaped Me

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Caroline Cook Buechle's 5 Books that have Shaped Me

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When I first read the prompt "5 books to bring to a deserted island" I felt stumped because I would want amazing books that I'd never read. How to select only 5?  But, I can much more readily answer the prompt "Which Books Have Shaped You?"
1. Anastasia Krupnik series by Lois Lowry.  I related so much to Anastasia and enjoyed all her antics so much when I read the whole series in 3rd to 5th grades. I have so many fond memories of my mother reading this series to me as a child.
2. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry.  Lowry is a favorite author with a wide range; this book is very different from the Anastasia series and they are both wonderful in their own ways.  I first read this in middle school, when it was newly published, and now read it aloud every year to my 4th grade students during our historical l fiction unit.  It is such an incredibly inspiring story and contains lovely figurative language and symbolism. My students are always enthralled by the tension and suspense.
3. A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park. This tells parallel nonfiction/ fictional stories of a lost boy from South Sudan and a young girl in a village with no well. Incredibly compelling and another amazing read aloud for my students.
4. Bel Canto by Ann Patchett.  Patchett is one of my favorite authors of books for adults. She is such a talented story teller.  It has been a long while since I read this gripping tale of a terrorist heist of an upscale party and the relationships that are formed among the hostages as a result. Perhaps I can reread it after I finish this class!
5. Berenstain Bears series by Jan and Stan Berenstain.  A world away from #4 but I include this because my daughters, aged 3 and 6, adore this series.  I read one of these books aloud to them nearly every day. Each story contains thoughtful lessons for children about the importance of values like gratitude, love, compassion, and curiosity.