1. Ordinary People, by Judith Guest ***Oh wow! Yes, an oldie, Hello, Amy but eye opening and tremendously insightful! Read this book now even if you read it 20 years ago b/c NOW YOU ARE A PARENT OF A TEEN. Love the narrative, love the author’s insight into the serious influence of outside factors on kids. I learned from this book and especially learned a ton from my amazing New Trier seniors during our class discussion. Thank you Judith Guest, and thank you dear students. You clearly know more than me on these issues.
2. The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt **Noted as one of the best works of fiction in the past decade! This book captures the attention of thousands of men and women! Could have an intellectual conversation with your spouse about this one!
3. Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes ***Totally awesome book. My friend Jennie gave this to me the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and although I was hosting the big meal for 10 hungry guests, I could not stop reading this book. Tears, smiles, a lot of thinking. Grab it and read. 4. The Girl You Left Behind, by Jojo Moyes **I loved Me Before You so much, I craved another work by Moyes. Liked a ton and enjoyed the movie I created in my mind of the two women, separated by time and by location, yet bound together by love and art. 5. The Other Wes Moore, by Wes Moore ***Makes you think. Held some EXCELLENT New Trier sophomore class discussion. What parts of our life really do hold the strongest influence on us? Please provide textual evidence. smile kids 🙂 6. Traps, by Mackenzie Bezos ***My friend Whitney’s cousin wrote this book! So cool! I liked it a lot; however, another friend of mine, JoAnn, who reads more than the professional English teachers I work with, ranks this as one of her fav reads: four unique woman connected together and how resiliency pushes us to believe in hope and love. 7. Where’d Ya Go Bernadette, by Maria Semple ***Laugh out loud & wipe the tears from your eyes: a winner. Read it! 8. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak 9. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green ***Wonderful. Joy and sadness and can’t-put-this-book down excitement: protagonists are teenagers whose humor, tragedy, and love will forever remain in your hearts. 10. Looking for Alaska, by John Green **Wowee – Might be BANNED by some parents. What do you think? Can read this one quickly. 11. An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green ***My dear former New Trier SILC, and wonderful family friend, Elisabeth got me hooked on John Green and told my class of sophomores she loves this book b/c number one, she has a lot of family members named Katherine! Light hearted and well written. You’ll enjoy this one too. 12. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrow ***Sweet and memorable characters. Don’t you just like the title of this book? 13. The Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, Rachel Joyce **Heart warming 14. Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter 15. Wonder, by R.J. Palacio **Both my 10 year old and I loved this book. Please read. Reminds us of how important kindness remains and how love strengthens our character. 16. The Sandcastle Girls, by Chris Bohjalian **Yikes, get ready: Turkish genocide on the Armenians but a beautiful love story, feel thankful for your life while reading this treat. Please email me at totalwritingenrichment@gmail.com for any more coold book recommendations for you or your teen!
