Recommended by Mrs. Longstreth
Mr. Jones says, "This nonfiction work explores the thesis that segregation in the US stems not from the actions of individuals, but stems from actions taken by the Federal government and misaction on the part of the Supreme Court. It's difficult to read how oft-lauded programs like the New Deal exacerbated racist outcomes in this country even as they did provide much-needed jobs, housing, and infrastructure for some. The book curiously suggests that the Federal government can solve these legislative and judicial disasters via new legislation and rulings by the Supreme Court, but that this can't happen until we as an American people are all cognizant of the duplicity of our past government. We are all implicated as a democracy, and we all owe it to the idea of democracy to find a way to right these wrongs."
Mr. Jones says: The author starts off the novel (or autobiography) stating he is unsure how he fits into the United States as an adult in the 60s. He's spent various points of his life between two worlds, including between Korea and Manchukuo when they were parts of the Japanese Empire before the Second World War. While there is a great deal of media that tells the stories of people living in the European Theaters of World War II, these memoirs from Kim's childhood give an idea about what it was like to grow up in the East Asian Theater.
Mrs. Moser recommends -- An isolated mansion. A chillingly charismatic aristocrat. And a brave socialite drawn to expose their treacherous secrets. . . . From the author of Gods of Jade and Shadow comes "a terrifying twist on classic gothic horror" (Kirkus Reviews) set in glamorous 1950s Mexico. After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She's not sure what she will find--her cousin's husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region. Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She's a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she's also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin's new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi's dreams with visions of blood and doom. Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family's youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family's past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family's once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind. "It's as if a supernatural power compels us to turn the pages of the gripping Mexican Gothic."--The Washington Post "Mexican Gothic is the perfect summer horror read, and marks Moreno-Garcia with her hypnotic and engaging prose as one of the genre's most exciting talents."--Nerdist "A period thriller as rich in suspense as it is in lush '50s atmosphere."--Entertainment Weekly
Ms. Rodgers says, "A pandemic, you say? Covid-19 is scary, but at least it didn’t accidentally create zombies! In this book, a cure for the common cold and a cure for cancer meet up and bad things happen. I mean, no one gets colds or cancer anymore. That sounds pretty good. But everyone’s infected, so everyone turns into zombies when they die. This isn’t a super happy book but it reflects well on the time we’re living through right now. The story is told from the point of view of a team of bloggers - one who tells you the truth as clearly as she can, one who likes to poke dead things with sticks and get it on video, and one who writes poetry and prose."
Ms. Rodgers says: "This was recommended to me recently by a friend, and it’s gorgeous. Again, not a terribly happy book, but beautiful. Think about the Hidden Figures movie, and the space program, and people working through racism and sexism and antisemitism. Then crash an asteroid into the Earth hard enough to create an extinction event to rival wiping out the dinosaurs, and see how fast the world comes together and goes to space." Recommended for Upper School.
Ms. Rodgers says, "Binti is black. Her people are looked down upon by others, and keep to themselves. She is a mathematical genius. She applied, and was accepted, to the finest university in the galaxy, but going means flying into space and leaving home - perhaps forever. Binti’s journey is not as simple as it would seem."
Dr. Roig says, "This book is a fascinating discussion of what it really takes to perform at the highest level of sports, and one that really made me appreciate how subtle details can have huge impacts, even if outside and untrained observers don’t know exactly what is done behind the scenes. For those who really enjoy baseball, this is also a great way to increase your understanding of what’s really happening and why. It was my introduction as a teenager into the idea of “sabermetrics” (think “Moneyball” if you’ve seen that movie as a more modern version of this) and how to quantify, analyze, and find patterns in enormous data sets – and so if you want to see some uses of scientific approaches in a nontraditional setting, this is a great book to see a bit of that in action!"
Mr. Jones says, "This monumental science fiction work explores the value, or lack thereof, of religion. It also explores empowering one’s self through psychology--but warns that the same can be used to form a cult of personality. You will learn much from the bizarre mythology of the world of Dune, which is based squarely in our more esoteric cultures and institutions. It is a science-fiction that is all about the ideas of people--no technological mumbo-jumbo here! "
Mr. Jones says, "This steampunk science-fiction fantasy explores a world (not unlike our own) where the church has become a supreme power and is obsessed with saving humanity from sin—at any cost. People’s souls are external—animal manifestations of themselves called daemons (making for great dialog and character development opportunities).
We follow our protagonist Lyra, and her daemon Pantalaimon, as they come of age as orphans in the seclusion of a university. Her uncle, a scholar-explorer, returns form the Svalbard with a scientific discovery with religious implications which cause a conniption among other scholars. What sway may scientific ideas have in a world where the State is Religion? What room for spiritual exploration do you have if you live in a Theocracy?"
Mr. Jones recommends for Upper School: "This look at United States History explores difficult questions about how we achieved, or extracted, the primacy we Americans now enjoy. Who would have though bird poop was massively influential to what ended up being our current geography? Or that ‘folk hero’ Daniel Boone was universally reviled during his lifetime? Imagine this: Rand McNally Atlases from the 1930s incorrectly listed Hawaii and the Philippines as “foreign” until some 7th grade girls wrote in to press the publisher on the subject. Rand McNally insisted they were right—until the Department of the Interior stepped in and clarified the girls were in the right. These girls brought up an interesting question that we rarely think about these days: at that time, the largest US minority was Asian, and one of our largest capital cities was Manila! You will likely not appreciate the thesis of this work, until you realize it’s hard to truly be patriotic without an understanding of how the ideas which incapsulate our current national morality have generally improved for the better.
Ms. Hammond says, "a perfect summer suspense novel for Upper School, inspired by real places and events. Sydney is dreading going to stay with her movie star mother in San Francisco for the summer. For one thing, she'll miss her friends and all the summer fun they've planned. For another, her mother has a new boyfriend which means they won't have much time alone together. Sydney has just turned 16, which is exciting. She is also noticing increased and not always welcome attention from men. Her complicated feelings about beauty, power, sexuality, and her relationship with her mother make her feel at times both joyful and enraged. On top of all of that, who is that man in the car across the street, who seems to be watching their house?"
Recommended by Mrs. Longstreth
Ms. Rodgers says, "This is a murder mystery set in Regency England. (If you’re a Pride and Prejudice fan, it’s that same time period!) The world building is excellent and the plot has so many twists and turns! I really like the characters, especially Miss Lily Adler. She realized that the police were doing a very bad job investigating the murder and stepped up to do a better job herself. She’s a lady, and has never tried to investigate a murder before, so she doesn’t get everything right — but she tries!"
Mrs. Davidson Kellogg says "One of the best books I have read in the last year. If you like reading about Historical Fiction and World War II, this is right up your alley. I have enjoyed this more than All the Light We Cannot See. It is a journey of a young boy and the different jobs he had during the war including hiking the mountains, being sent away by his parents to sanctuary in a church (young boy camp), and enlisting in the army. It's hard to explain without giving too much away. Surprisingly I read this on the beach last summer. I know it is not your typically beach novel, but it was too good to put down. My mom ended up reading it within days on the beach also when I finished."
Mrs. Davidson Kellogg says "This is a historical fiction novel about World War II but from the perspective and stories of two sisters. It is nice to read about this perspective as what women endured while they were home (relatively speaking) during the war. It includes relationships with love, friendship, and close struggles with the enemy. This is in the top three I have read in the last year."
Mrs. Davison Kellogg says, "References poverty in the mid-west and coming of age and achieving an education without the support of parents. This is a lovely memoir that shows what some youth face in our country that are not in the privileged realm. I love that it is a true story."
Mrs. Davidson Kellogg says, "References poverty in the deep south and a coming of age novel of a girl alone in the bayou. This is in my top three that I have read in the past year. It also has some mystery/crime drama with an interesting ending."
Mrs. Davidson Kellogg says, "(National Book Award finalist and author of American Street)-I listened to the audiobook and loved this retelling of Pride and Prejudice taking place in inner city NY now. The author that reads the book wrote The Poet X (Elizabeth Acevedo), so it you enjoyed her audiobook you will love this one. This looks like it might be free right now on goldenaudiobooks.com."
Mrs. Davidson Kellogg says, "This is an interesting read about the AIDS epidemic while we are in a current pandemic. It is a short audiobook on the SORA app. Ann Bausum also wrote Stonewall about the LGBTQ+ community."
Mrs. Davidson Kellogg says, "This is great quick read or listen in the audiobook on the SORA app. It is about 3 girls and a day in high school read by multiple voices to really get each girl's perspectives."
Ms. Hammond says, "This book, recommended for Upper School, is so funny and big-hearted I couldn't put it down. Del has had a huge crush on Kiera since elementary school. In order to win her heart after her recent breakup with Colossus, he impulsively joins a group at their church to spend more time with her, getting more than he bargained for. In the meantime, a culture of shame around sexuality is being called out on social media in Del's school and town. Del has to figure out what it all means for him and his own heart, as well as Kiera's."