The Boxcar Children is a novel by Gertrude Chandler Warner. This is one of my favorite books of all time and one of my comfort reads. The book is centered around four children, Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny, all of whom are orphans. Although they have their grandfather, they do not wish to live with him as they think he is cold hearted. Instead, they venture out in hopes of finding a place to live.
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library is a novel by Chris Grabenstein that follows twelve year old Kyle Keeley. Kyle and his friends love playing games created by Luigi Lemoncello. Upon learning about an essay writing contest where the prize is the first to visit a grand new library opened by none other than Lemoncello himself, Kyle decides to join despite his distaste for books and writing. After emailing Lemoncello himself to send his essay in, Kyle is announced as one of the winners that get to visit the library.
Othello is a Shakespearean play that is set in Cyprus. The play is about a tragedy where Othello, the protagonist through manipulation by the story’s antagonist, Iago, kills his wife. For some context, Iago is Othello’s assistant and vows to seek revenge against Othello after being passed up for a promotion. He does this by spreading rumors and lies that Othello’s wife, Desdemona is being unfaithful. This jealousy breaks Othello where he finally kills Desdemona, then himself.
The House on Mango Street written by Sandra Cisneros, is a collection of vignettes that follows the life of a girl named Esperanza. Esperanza lives in a Latino neighborhood in Chicago, and throughout the book describes the struggles as well as joys of life. With each vignette telling a different story, Esperanza’s character growth is one to note as she starts off timid and shy and throughout the book journeys to find who she really is.
365 Days of Wonderserves as an add on book to the Wonder series by R. J. Palacio. When Auggie starts his journey at Beecher Prep, one of the teachers Auggie has is Mr. Browne. Mr. Browne always has a different precept for everyday and Palacio has brilliantly compiled them into this book. This compilation of precepts is a wonderful short read that you can pickup everyday. I personally love the variety of quotes used ranging from popstars to famous authors. Given how significant Mr.
White Bird by R.J. Palacio serves as one of the sequels to Auggie & Me, a book based off of the Wonder series. This book focuses on, Sara, who is Julian’s (Auggie’s main bully) grandmere. Sara grew up in France, which at the time was occupied by Nazi Germany. Sara grew up in a Jewish family that was quite well off. She had a loving family that provided her a good childhood. At school, she had lots of friends and was well known. However, in her class she sat next to Julien, who was disabled and constantly bullied.
Auggie & Me is a fiction novel written by R.J. Palacio is a sequel to Wonder. The book is focused on 3 of Wonder’s characters, Julian, Christopher and Charlotte. First off, Julian Albans, the main antagonist of Wonder, or Auggie’s bully, is going to his Grandma’s for the summer and during his time there, learns about his family’s past and tries to better himself. Next, is Christoper, Auggie’s old friend where we learn about his struggles in life.
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton is a fiction novel that is centered around Ponyboy and his Greasers. After the death of his parents, Ponyboy is raised by his fellow Greasers, who are a gang that live in the poor part of town. While Ponyboy does not have a real family, he considers his fellow Greasers his family as they take care of him. The Greasers’ rivals, the Socs are rich and live a much better life. The Greasers and the Socs often have conflicts that often end in violence.
Wonder by R.J. Palacio is a realistic fiction novel that focuses on a boy named August, or Auggie who is born with facial deformities. Undergoing numerous medical procedures, Auggie has been homeschooled for his whole life up until fifth grade, where he finally starts going to a normal school. The book focuses on the twists and turns of his experience at school, as he forges new friendships while also experiencing bullying due to his looks.
Atonement by Ian McEwan is a captivating novel that explores themes of love, guilt, and the consequences of actions. Set in England during World War II, the story revolves around Briony Tallis, a young aspiring writer who makes a false accusation that changes the lives of her sister Cecilia and their childhood friend Robbie Turner forever. The novel delves into the ripple effects of Briony's lie, spanning decades, and the characters' struggle for redemption and forgiveness.
