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1. It involved basketball!! 2. It's really easy and fun to read. 

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

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This book explores themes of self- discovery, making your mark on the world and the longing to be truly understood.  The book is about being free but also about making human connections.

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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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It's such a heartwarming story about a woman who befriends an octopus in captivity at an aquarium. As the story unfolds, it is clear that they both need each other. Each chapter starts with a excerpt from Marcellus, the octopus!

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https://nehs.us/for-students/common-readers/

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Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed, by Dashka Slater

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Dashka Slater’s Accountable: The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed was selected as a Common Reader text because of its urgent exploration of “the real-world consequences of online behavior that young people face in our digital age.” The text blends investigative journalism with narrative storytelling, and the book invites readers to consider what accountability, harm, and growth mean for young people and their communities.

The text centers on a racist Instagram account created by a group of California high school students, and the ripple effects caused by the account’s exposure. Slater traces how the incident impacted not only those directly involved, but also the broader school community through reportage and interviews. The book examines the intersections of race, privilege, social media, and justice, offering a thoughtful and thought-provoking portrait of teenagers navigating the consequences of their actions.

Accountable has been widely praised for its “balanced narrative that illustrates the nuances inherent in all interpersonal interactions, whether in person or online” (Shelf Awareness). Critics have highlighted Slater’s ability to humanize all individuals involved while not minimizing the harm caused. By presenting multiple perspectives, she challenges readers to consider how systems of discipline, forgiveness, and education can (or should) function in moments of crisis.

The NEHS Advisory Council hopes that Accountable will encourage students to engage in meaningful conversations about accountability, complicity, ethics, empathy, and responsibility, both online and offline, while gaining a deeper understanding of how individual choices can shape entire communities.

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https://nehs.us/for-students/common-readers/

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The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah is a historical novel that explores resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Set in Nazi-occupied France during the Second World War, the story follows two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, whose very different paths reveal the many forms of courage, sacrifice, and resistance that define women’s experiences during wartime.

Chapter Advisors have noted that the novel is “a masterclass in how personal narrative can bridge the gap between history and heart” while also emphasizing that it “moves past basic historical facts to explore the complex moral ‘gray zones’ that make for incredible discussion.” Through Vianne’s struggle to protect her family and Isabelle’s involvement in the French Resistance, Hannah illuminates the moral complexities and personal costs of war.

Since its publication, The Nightingale has become an international bestseller and has received widespread critical acclaim. Reviewers have praised its “beautifully written and richly evocative examination of life, love, and the ravages of war, and the different ways people react to unthinkable situations” (Sara Gruen), with many highlighting Hannah’s ability to bring historical events to life through intimate, character-driven narratives that provide a “moving, emotional tribute to the brave women who fought behind enemy lines during the war” (Booklist).

The Nightingale invites NEHS members to reflect on themes of courage, sacrifice, love, and resilience. It’s an accessible but also deeply moving text that provides ample opportunity for discussions about history, ethics, and the strength of the human spirit.

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https://bookshop.org/shop/englishhonorsocieties

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This selection offers an incredible opportunity for readers to familiarize themselves with the works of the shortlisted authors for the NEHS Common Readers.

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The English Honor Societies comprise the ELA Honor Society for middle schools, National English Honor Society (NEHS) for high schools, Sigma Kappa Delta for two-year colleges, and Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society for four-year colleges and universities. Each program recognizes students for excellence in English and language arts and promotes literacy, scholarship, and service, offering exciting leadership opportunities, scholarships, and recognition to members dedicated to academic achievement and a love of literature.

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2026 Summer Reading Letter

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Read for yourself, not just the assignment. #readlikeyourfav

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Grades 9-12 (rising) ACP, Honors

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Summer Assignment for Rising 9th - 12th Grade ACP, Honors

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You will read at least two books in the summer, but you can read as many books as you like, and you are not required to select one from the 🕶️THS Summer 2026 Reading List—it is just a suggested list to inspire you. https://sites.google.com/trumbullps.net/ths-english-department/summer-reading

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AP Language and Composition

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Summer Assignment for AP Language and Composition

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AP Literature and Composition

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Summer Assignment for AP Literature and Composition 

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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

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I tell everyone I know that this is easily my favorite book of the past decade. It has just about everything you can ask for in a 21-st century story - love, drama, video games, and some really creative storytelling techniques. I quote this book regularly in my house. Must read!

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tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow by gabrielle zevin

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This book will tear your heart out, stomp on it, put it back, and then tear it out again. It is a BEAUTIFULLY written roller coaster of joys and sorrows weaving a tale of love and loss. The reader is led into the backstory for one of Shakespeare's most famous plays and the rest, as they say, is history. It is so, so good.

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It tells a powerful story about courage, sacrifice, trauma, and the women whose service in Vietnam was often overlooked or dismissed. I think this book will connect with a lot of students because Frankie is trying to figure out who she is while the world around her keeps telling her who she is supposed to be. She wants to matter. She wants to do something meaningful. She wants people to see what she has been through and take it seriously. That part feels really real. Even though the book is set during the Vietnam War, so much of it is about growing up, friendship, pressure, courage, heartbreak, and learning that being strong does not mean you are never scared or never struggling.

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The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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It is a strange adventure full of interesting characters and extremely quotable.  It also gives you the answer to life, the universe, and everything.

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The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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This is a great book for sci-fi fans, comic book movie lovers, and gamers who love characters like Master Chief from the Halo series. This science fiction novel about soldiers in the future features Iron Man-like armor, fighting bug creatures, and also focuses on growing up and leaving high school. This science fiction classic, I'm sure, will become somebody's new favorite book this summer.

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Whoever Fights Monsters:  My 20 Years of Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert Ressler

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I love true crime documentaries and shows like Criminal Minds and books about criminal who done its.  This book is written by one of the OG members of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and is great for background on this genre.  The book inspired Netflix's show, "Mind Hunter."  So if you like true crime documentaries, this is a must read!

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Whoever Fights Monsters:  My 20 Years of Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI by Robert Ressler

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Great read about learning who you are and learning how to think for yourself.

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Where the Crawdads Sing is a heart wrenching thriller that will keep you hooked until the final page. The story follows Kya Clark, a girl growing up in a North Carolina costal marsh, as she navigates a world that is not so welcoming to young adults like her. For me, summer reading is the time for books that you just can't put down and Where the Crawdads Sing is one of these stories.

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I read this book when I was in high school and fell in love with it. The book encompasses friendship, whimsy, coming of age, political events of the time, mystery, and religion/belief. I loved how every aspect of the book comes together by the end - everything had a purpose. It's such a fun, funny, tragic, thoughtful, and good read!

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“Forgiveness, which takes you back to the person you were and lets you reset them. Hope, which exists in a future in which you are new. Forgiveness and hope are miracles. They let you change your life. They are time-travel.”

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The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet by John Green

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I've worked my way through John Green's young adult fiction novels like Looking for Alaska, The Fault in Our Stars, Turtles All the Way Down, etc. and I also enjoy his Crash Course and TikTok videos. But my favorite of his books is his 2021 nonfiction collection Anthropocene Reviewed, which originated as a podcast and features Green’s reviews of various elements of humanity, all on a scale of 1 - 5 stars. He reviews everything from Monopoly, scratch-n-sniff stickers, Diet Dr. Pepper, The Plague, and Mario Kart. His essays mix personal narrative with research and social commentary making the collection an interesting, compelling, and fantastic example of creative nonfiction. It's a great read for someone who wants to try reading nonfiction since it reads as a narrative story. 

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The Iliad / The Odyssey (trans. Emily Wilson) by Homer

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Are you pumped for Christopher Nolan's take on The Odyssey this summer?  Do you love epic stories, Greek mythology, and heart-wrenching tales of gods and mortals?  Then do yourself a favor and read The Iliad and The Odyssey!  There is so much life and loss packed into these pages, backstories and lore to comb over, and mortal warriors who take their lives and struggles so seriously only to be upended by the whims of the gods.  If possible, read the recent translations by Emily Wilson: they are superb. Enjoy!

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I have read this book multiple times and enjoy how this book links not just to the Dark Tower series but to other books that King has written.  If you have read any of Kings works you need to reads this book!  King makes tons of subtle references to characters from other books you may have already read.  You can read this book as a stand alone or it will suck you in to the series and may cause you to read kings other books as well.

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I haven't read it yet! It is arriving July 3rd (new release). It is a look into the life and accomplishments of Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports. The memoir will detail his career, the creation of his media empire, and his "unapologetic approach to fame, controversy, and public scrutiny."

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It's a true story of a 16 year old who spent 5 years sailing solo around the world. The book encompasses the adventures of exploring countries, the drama of sailing through major storms, battling the hot sun, windless days and finding love along the journey.

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A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

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I'm not usually one to laugh out loud while reading a book, but this one made me laugh on page after page.  The protagonist (a ridiculous, dishonest sloth) is so awful in every way, you can't help but root for him!

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It resonated with me because it reminded me of the goodness in our world. Life is hard as it is and negative vibes seem to permeate so much. Even when situations are not ideal or even close to good, even when there seems to be no reason to be positive, there is still goodness. Plus, the writing is beautifully quiet--the characters' voices are clear and distinct.

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A great WWII historical fiction novel placing female spies in the center of the action.

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Chronicle of a Death Foretold (for Spanish speakers/readers: Crónica de una muerte anunciada) by Gabriel García Márquez

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I read it in my teenage years and I suffered so much for the main characters. It is a book about love, gossip in a small town and family honor told with the touches of magic realism (which may be lost in the translation)  

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One of my favorite books is The Women by Kristin Hannah because it tells an emotional and powerful story that stays with you after you finish reading. The book focuses on women who served during the Vietnam War and shows how difficult life was both during and after the war. I liked how realistic the characters felt and how the story explored friendship, bravery, and overcoming challenges. I think the book connects well with high school students because it deals with finding your identity, handling pressure, and trying to figure out where you belong while going through difficult experiences.

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Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams

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There's a mystery, some humor, the start of life and the end of one.  I read it as a teen and re-read it every few years.

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Reminds me of the stories my grandmother told me about growing up poor and Irish.

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Powerless is the first book in The Powerless Trilogy. This romantasy novel features a strong FMC named Paedyn Gray, an Ordinary who is anything but ordinary. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the romantasy genre.   

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This historical fiction novel follows thirteen-year-old Leni Allbright after her family moves to the Alaskan wilderness in the 1970s, hoping for a fresh start. As they try to survive off the grid, Leni must navigate the beauty and isolation of Alaska alongside her father’s struggles with PTSD from the Vietnam War and the growing tension within her family. The novel explores survival, resilience, love, and the complicated realities of family life in an unforgiving environment.

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Foster is a critically acclaimed novella by Irish author Claire Keegan, and is a required text of the Irish curriculum. The story is about a young girl sent to live with relatives, the Kinsellas, on a farm in rural Ireland for the summer. She experiences love and care for the first time but must eventually return to her neglectful family.

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This book teaches lessons in empathy, the importance of slowing down and really "seeing" others and how ordinary acts of generosity can create a deep and meaningful community and connections.

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"If you could redo any moment in your life - would you?" This book makes you think and challenges the idea of needing to be perfect in every aspect of life. 

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Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

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This is a tale of history, adventure, redemption, revenge! 

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The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

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It's a how-to for surviving times like these.  Mass displacement due to climate change, the rise of an authoritarian government, and how communities come together in the face of challenges.  Or don't.

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The Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

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Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt by J. M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck

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This is a Spider-Man story that could easily be a Batman story! If you like both characters and you'd like to read one of Marvel's best villain stories, you should check out Kraven's Last Hunt!

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Spider-Man: Kraven's Last Hunt by J. M. DeMatteis, Mike Zeck

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This is a really compelling story of a young woman struggling for control in her life. It examines multiple mental health challenges that young people face today, highlighting the need for support, connection, and empathy amongst people. The novel tackles some tough topics but ultimately offers hope and resilience. 

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This a memoir that demonstrates extreme resilience while overcoming a very difficult childhood to find success as an adult.

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The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard

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I love adventure stories, as well as stories that show people who are uncommon, even amongst uncommon people. This is a great book for those who want to experience the harrowing thrill of a real adventure without getting the mosquito bites of the real deal. I read it last year for the first time in the summer as a mental vacation from suburban life. It'll resonate with teens because it eases the angst of feeling trapped by conformity, and allows for the mind to wander into a bohemian setting. 

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The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Darkest Journey by Candice Millard

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The movie was popular, sure, but the book is so much better! If you're interested in the sacrifices made by people who serve, this book is for you. It details the tragedy that befell a Seal team unit in Afghanistan during Operation Red Wings. It is a true story of heroism, brotherhood, and perseverance. You don't have to love military-oriented stories; this can resonate with anyone who appreciates the power of relationships and the extent people will go through for the people they love.

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All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker 

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All the Colors of the Dark is a compelling mystery that explores teenage resilience, intense trauma, and lifelong friendship. Readers will connect with the complex characters and the book's hopeful message about growing up. This was my favorite novel of 2025!

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I read it at some point in high school at the recommendation of my father. I recall being surprised at how the story grabbed my attention and drew me in. 

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I love reading Kristin Hannah novels - she incorporates romance with historical fiction.  I enjoyed reading about the women of the Vietnam War having only heard about the men of the war while growing up.  

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Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams

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If you like this sentence, you’ll love this book: "In the beginning the universe was created. This made a lot of people very unhappy and has widely been regarded as a bad move.”

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The story of America’s Western Frontier.

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I've always been motivated by sacrifice and hardship (as a motivator) that leads to success and perseverance. I believe kids (as I did) are drawn to these stories as well. 

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It's about a teenager who becomes the youngest Rolling Stone journalist to ever be published. He graduates high school early and gets to interview Led Zeppelin, David Bowie, the Allman Brothers, and many more. It's a great book for anyone who is a fan of classic rock or is interested in music journalism. 

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This book was fascinating the entire way through and it flew by. I read the entire thing in one day. A great quote that gives some insight into the plot is "Time is an illusion, a construct made out of human memory. There’s no such thing as the past, the present, or the future. It’s all happening now.” It is a fun sci-fi read. 

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One of the most memorable reads of my high school experience. It's a gripping character-driven narrative that invites readers into a genre they wouldn't otherwise pick up. It made a lot of teen boys cry. 

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Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy (Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, Death's End) by Cixin Liu

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Cosmically high-stakes hard sci-fi for fans of the genre. This is a great series for someone who loves sci-fi for its big philosophical questions about humanity’s future. The second book in the series, The Dark Forest, is my favorite of the three (but they’re all good).

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Remembrance of Earth's Past Trilogy (Three-Body Problem, The Dark Forest, Death's End)

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A beautifully written coming of age novel that will particularly appeal to high school boys. The story takes place in nearby Brewster, New York during the Vietnam War era. Students will connect with the struggles and triumphs of the characters' teen lives as well as the challenges they face as their high school days come near an end. 

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I just finished reading this book, and I really enjoyed it. I liked how Sepetys used the backdrop of a real-life event during WWII, and she also drew me in with the relationships between the characters and their backstories. Through the short chapters of varying perspectives, I felt attached to all of the characters by the end of the book. I couldn't put it down!

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Firefly Lane is a great book for readers who enjoy reading about a friendship that survives decades of challenges in life. Despite the characters' differences, they know they can always rely on one another.

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An easy and proven way to build good habits and break bad ones.

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<img src="https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81ANaVZk5LL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg" alt="Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones">

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Stories of Your Life and Others by Ted Chiang

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I'm a huge sci fi fan, and this collection of stories was fantastic - it's not the stereotypical futuristic space war between intergalactic species. It's more speculative and realistic, and my favorite of the short stories in this collection is the basis for the movie Arrival.

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Great writer, non-fiction but a very interested and unknown story, the author incorporates some very thorough research to support the information and story he tells.  One of, if not my favorite, book of all time!

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"It's a biographic story where the author discovers the beauty of learning during his senior year after hating school for all his life. He had dyslexia but it was not diagnosed (back in the days it was totally different). This book changed my point of view about school and also encouraged my son in a particular moment of his life when he was a teenager and all was dark. I think that it's a book that every student and teacher should read. 
if you don't know, the author became a famous writer of childhood books (and they are very funny!)"

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This book is a perfect blend of personal, historical and comical content that will keep you intrigued and entertained throughout. 

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The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud

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This is a great book that takes a creative take on Camus' best seller "The Stranger". It asks the question of who is the arab that Meursault killed in the Stranger. This book was mind blowing to me when I first read it after having read "The Stranger" several times in school over different classes. Daoud actually won the le prix Goncourt in 2015 which is an amazing accolade.

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The characters are relatable for teens. 

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I read this when I was in high school during the summer between my sophomore and junior years, and it was so good. It's about a family who moves to the jungle in Central America and tries to make a new civilization. You won't be able to put it down! 

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I loved the story of this boy from a world that i knew nothing about. He was inspiring and I think about him still even though I read the book a year ago .Made me see that part of the country differently.

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A young man, who has experienced tragedy, navigates his new life in NYC and Las Vegas, while in possession of a stolen painting. Everyone should have a best friend like Boris.

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This book took me on a journey! It was an emotional trip into our true identity and how to find our way to it. There are so many topics intertwined beautifully and tragically also. Loved it!

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The Atomic Weight of Love by Elizabeth J. Church

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It's a story of love that was surprising and effortless versus a love that was expected, all set in the times and secrecy of the Manhattan Project.  It includes drama, science, and profound wisdom about being a woman in the world.  This is a GREAT book for anyone who enjoyed "Lessons in Chemistry". Favorite quote - “We have to take flight. It's not given to us, served up on a pretty, parsley-bordered platter. We have to take wing. Was I brave enough to do that? Or would I be content to remain earthbound?”  

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This book is heartbreaking in the most beautiful way. Some of my favorite quotes are: “and perhaps it is the greater grief, after all, to be left on earth when another is gone” and “he is half of my soul, as the poets say".

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“Handle with Care” is one of my favorite books because it’s a story I read in high school that really stuck with me. It explores the complexities of family and the unconditional love we have for each other. The story of Willow, a child with a rare condition, made me reflect on what it means to care for someone, especially when life doesn’t go as planned.

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Whistling Past the Graveyard by Susan Crandall

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A novel about a 9-year-old white girl in Mississippi who runs away from her strict grandmother and is taken in by a poor black woman. The girl sees for the first time life as it really is.

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I loved reading about of her childhood which to most was not ideal and full of hardship.  She was resilient and achieved success as she took learned valuable lessons while growing up. Beyond that she was able to heal and come to peace what she had gone through.

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The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver

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I read this book and listened to the audiobook several years ago and it still resonates with me.  Within the really enjoyable story, it has SO MANY messages and reflections of the human condition and philosophies of life, without hitting you over the head. Each story within the story is a microcosm of past and current events.  The way the author pulls everything together at the end of her stories is amazing and beautiful, and makes me cry.  I can't wait to read it again - I think that's going to be my summer read!

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Football themed and connects to your team, coach, and life lessons. 

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"Lose Well' is one of the banners on my classroom wall - a that you're going to lose sometimes and that's okay. But in doing so, you can still surround yourself with community and find meaning and growth in adversity, all while being true to yourself.

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This is a modern war story about an American battle in Somalia.  I relate to this because I remember where I was when this was actually happening, it wasn't from a long time ago before I was born.  I liked it because it gave an in-depth account of what happened from both sides.

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I Was a Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones

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Honestly, I just finished this book, but I can't stop thinking about it.  The novel is gross, gory, and Jones upends and re-interprets the slasher genre and horror-at-large in interesting ways.  Read it if you dare!

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All-Star Superman is the perfect stand alone Superman story that boils down the essence of the character for those who have never read a Superman comic book.  Hopeful and fun. 

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Ultimate Spider-Man (2000) by Brian Michael Bendis

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I was 16 when this Spider-Man series started, so this version of Peter Parker was about the same age as me when I was reading these comics.

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I always recommend the Night Circus because it's uniquely and beautifully written...and I always love the idea that magic exists! Picking one book is too hard so I will also throw in here that along the same lines of the possibility of magic in our lives...I also loved the Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab. This is a lighter read but equally as enjoyable.

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A somewhat fictional wartime experience that is very accessible and powerful. It will certainly impact your perspective on what it must be like to serve in a war.

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Zauner, a musician for the band Japanese Breakfast, is half-Korean and half-white. When her Korean mother gets sick and dies, she realizes how disconnected she is from her culture and seeks to learn more. The writing is raw with emotion as she struggles with losing a parent, but uplifting as she seeks ways to find peace of mind, sometimes through cooking and eating traditional Korean food.

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I love the way Reichl writes about food, the recipes she shares at the end of each chapter, and getting an inside look at what it takes to be a restaurant critic. 

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The psychological thrillers engage me. Marrs, McFadden, Patterson. They challenge the reader to figure out what the ending is!

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I first read this book in high school and as I re-read it at different times in life, my take aways are different. Not better or worse, just different. 

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I love the friendships and the choices the characters have to make. I always say ''make good choices'', as life is all about the choices you make. 

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It is great book with a lot of action.  I am able to make the point that the book is always better than the movie.  This movie has led to a sequel and a series on television many years later.

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Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman

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I probably read this series a half dozen times! If you like fantasy, world-building, magic, or dungeons and dragons, then you'll love this series. My favorite character? Raistlin. He might be overly cranky or whiny, but I just gravitate to darker characters!

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If you love true crime and richly written characters, In Cold Blood is a must-read. Truman Capote takes the brutal 1959 murder of the Clutter family in rural Kansas and turns it into a chilling narrative that reads like a novel. Fun fact- Capote spent almost six years interviewing townspeople, investigators, and even the killers themselves as part of his research. His commitment to detail captures every nuance of the story with unsettling accuracy. If you’re looking for psychologically complex characters… This is your book!