NEHS Book Recommendations
The National English Honor Society has compiled a list to highlight Villa's current faculty & staff's favorite books. Enjoy reviewing their recommendations and reading any works that pique your interest!
Mrs. Bedrosian
Pride and Prejudice By: Jane Austen
I have probably read it countless times. Historical fiction is my favorite genre. The character development and how they learn to overcome their weaknesses always fascinate me.
Mr. Bender
1. A History of the World in 6 Glasses By: Tom Standage
This book is a very easy read. It's only 276 pages in a very accessible language. The main premise of the book is that history can be traced through the importance of 6 specific beverages. Tom Standage takes all of world history and breaks it down into these 6 periods, defined by the corresponding beverages. Beer in Mesopotamia and Egypt. Wine in Greece and Rome. Spirits in the Colonial Period. Coffee in the Age of Reason. Tea and the British Empire. Coca-Cola and the Rise of America. Even for the casual history buff, it's an awesome book.
2. Hiroshima By: John Hershey
This famous book is a Pulitzer Prize-winning look at the aftermath of the atomic bomb drop on Japan at the end of WWII. Instead of one long story, this is a collection of 6 individual stories, each about a particular survivor of the event. The stories range from the immediate aftermath to the 1980s, covering the full impact, both immediate and long-term. It is a compelling look at the horrors of war through a very human perspective. This is also a quick ready, being only 160 pages long, but the emotional weight of each story makes it feel much longer.
3. The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History By: Elizabeth Kolbert
Another Pulitzer Prize entry here. Published only 3 years ago, this book examines the current state of our planet and posits that we are in the midst of the 6th great extinction of Earth's history, the greatest since the meteor that wiped out the dinosaurs. Kolbert compiles information from botanists, geologists, biologists, and more to track the rapid increase in the eradication of species across the planet. The book is a little dense at times, with 319 pages of science, but Kolbert does manage to make it accessible. While you must go into the book with a clear understanding of the author's goal, it is still a real thought-provoking read regardless of one's political views on man's impact on the environment.
Honorable Mention. Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond
This Pulitzer Prize-winning book is probably the most influential things I've ever read. It completely changed the way I view history. It's a really long, dense book, so I only recommend it for fellow history nerds.
Mrs. Brown
My Sister’s Keeper By: Jodi Picoult
It is such an engaging and moving book...It was the first time I ever read a book where each chapter was from a different perspective. It kept me so engaged, that I didn’t even know where the story would take me.
Mrs. Carr
1. The Complete Wizard of Oz Collection By: L. Frank Baum
When Wicked first became a Broadway hit, I decided to read that book. In reading it, I realized that the “Wizard of Oz” I thought I knew was actually a much larger collection of stories. I then decided to read the Complete Wizard of Oz Collection. It’s over 2000 pages, with multiple individual stories of characters I never even knew existed! Some are upbeat and happy situations. Other anecdotes are more dark and disturbing in nature. It is a collection that I read in my late twenties and to this day, I still revisit the stories and characters. It even makes significant connections to characters in the mid 80s film Return to Oz (the Wheelies, Mombi, Ozma, Guph, tikTok, Nome King).
2. A Wrinkle in Time By: Madeleine L'Engle
I read in 6th grade and I believe this was the first book that peaked my interest in the fantasy style settings (Harry Potter, Divergent, Hunger Games, etc.) . The idea of three children traveling through various universes and times trying to save their father kept my interest from the first words “It was a dark and stormy night”. It was the first book (until Lord of the Flies in Ms. McBrinn’s 9th grade class) that I could actually recognize the suggestions of the struggle between light and darkness, good and bad, and character development. Characters like Mrs. Who, Mrs. Whatsit, and Mrs. Which, new terms like “tesseract”, all of these out of the ordinary ideas kept me engaged until the end. I highly recommend it. I was lucky to have a 6th grade English teacher who pushed us to dissect this novel, even completing a semester long “tesseract” project, and I think that is why this book is a standout in my recommendation list regardless of age.
Mme. Childs-Chapman
World Enough and Time: On Creativity and Slowing Down By: Christian McEwen
It does a nice job of blending mindfulness into stories about slowing down to allow our creative minds to flourish. I purchased it as I like to write and thought the topic seemed interesting, though I must admit I have not had enough time to finish it, I was very content reading it at a relaxed, leisurely pace while living in California!
Ms. Chirico
Everyone’s a Aliebn When Ur a Aliebn Too By: Jomny Sun
I would recommend this book for three reasons:
1. It takes conventions of grammar and spelling and turns them on their head, which I think is fun!
2. It speaks really existential truths but through the story of this cute little alien, so you can feel like you're reading a children’s book while pondering the nature of existence.
3. It’s a quirky modern day “Little Prince”, which is one of my other favorite books, and it doubles as a coloring book if you want it to!
Mr. Dennis
A Separate Peace By John Knowles
This is my favorite book of all time. I first read the book as a freshman at St. Joe's Prep and immediately fell in love with its themes a friendship, brotherhood, camaraderie, loss and hope. To this day, it remains my favorite story and one I always recommend to others.
Mrs. Flynn-Hensel
King, Kaiser, Tzar: Three Royal Cousins Who Led the World to War By: Catrine Clay
This is a recent favorite book of mine. It is about the family relationships of the leaders of Great Britain (George V), Germany (Wilhelm II), and Russia (Nicolas II) before, during, and after (kind-of...) the war. The books is filled with their personal correspondence to and about each other as well as neat stories of royal life. For anyone interested in the WWI era as well as courtly life, this book is a must-read!
Mrs. Gorman
The Lunar Chronicles By: Marissa Meyer
Each book entails a new take on an old fairy tale, including Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White.
Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.
**The book art is also very cool and I recommend the whole series: Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Fairest, Winter.
Ms. Gorman
1. H.P. Lovecraft Compiled Stories
To be honest, I have to pick all of his short stories! I love his work because, well, they are short... and spooky! He definitely gives off a Edgar Allen Poe vibe while still absolutely holding his own. He has an eerie ability to create a sense of claustrophobia, despair, and other- worldliness and you can easily finish an entire story in a few minutes to an hour at night (preferably day!)
2. Pedro Páramo By: Juan Rulfo
This short novel was my first introduction to Mexican literature while completing my master's degree so it holds a place dear to my heart. Not only does it involve several ghosts (or not?), flash backs, flash forwards, and a crazy change of tenses that would drive anyone mad, but it also plays on several key concepts of the Mexican Revolution (and I'm a total nerd for that stuff!). This story was the first time I saw the structure and style of a novel take on the role of a "narrator" of sorts. Through the use of a variety of punctuation and tenses, Rulfo is able to give subtle clues as to what year we are in or if the speaker is alive or dead. This is absolutely one of my favorites!
3. Cien años de soledad (One Hundred Years of Solitude) By: Gabriel García Márquez
I adore this novel. The magical realism is just such a beautiful testament to how a subjugated people turned trauma and hardship into something absolutely breathtaking. It was also quite a difficult read both due to its content and the names of the characters. Since the story passes through the generations of the Buendía family, many share the same exact name so context is incredibly important! I was so proud to have finished, and understood, this novel. Definitely one of my favorites!
Mrs. Hoffman
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before By: Jenny Han
This book is a New York Times bestseller. Telling two stories in one, it’s about a unique family and also about romance. This book is a quick read that sends a sweet message about making mistakes and taking risks.
Mrs. Holdren
Tatoos on the Heart By: Father Gregory Boyle
I love this book written by an activist Jesuit priest working the streets of LA and changing the hearts of gang members. He offers them love and compassion, and a chance to start again. It teaches us how love and compassion can truly change the world.
Mr. Kardish
1. Mountains beyond Mountains By: Tracy Kidder
I found the story of Dr. Paul Farmer, as written by the great author Tracy Kidder an accurate and inspiring description of the challenges I see in my travels to Haiti.
2. The Making of the Atomic Bomb By: Richard Rhodes
The history of science is fascinating to me, and the scientific discoveries early in the last century about the elements at the higher reaches of the periodic table were just thrilling! And then, you have the race to use technology to stop evil in a secret program, which is better than any sci-fi thriller.
3. Blue Highways By: William Least Heat Moon
I love to travel - and the chance occurrences by William Least Heat Moon as he travels around the US (off the interstate, hence the title) depict why travel is so much fun (it’s the people!). Also - travel can be a great healer! This book is like modern day Kerouac!
Ms. May
1. Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness By: Susannah Cahalan
This book is a 2012 New York Times Bestselling autobiography by a New York Post writer. The book details Cahalan's struggle with a rare autoimmune disease and her recovery. This book reads like a mystery novel but is a true story — making it quite the page turner! If you have any interest in psychology or neurology, this is the book for you!
2. The Hate U Give By: Angie Thomas
Starr Carter constant switches between two worlds -- the poor, mostly black neighborhood where she lives and the wealthy, mostly white prep school that she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is soon shattered when she witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend at the hands of a police officer. Facing pressure from all sides of the community, Starr must find her voice and decide to stand up for what's right. This is a popular story and has since been made into a movie. I personally think everyone should read this book. Its message is powerful and important and moving. It’s one of my all-time favorite YA novels.
3. Every Last Word By: Tamara Ireland Stone
Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark thoughts and worries that she can't turn off. This book was actually recommended to me by a student. It handles mental health well but also touches on the power of words and finding a sense of belonging. Sam questions who her real friends are and pushes herself out of her comfort zone. I enjoyed, well, every last word of this novel!
Ms. McBrinn
Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass By: Lewis Carroll
I know, I know, you think you know what these books are about. Well, you probably don’t. They’re actually sly allegories and satires. Grab a Bloom book of criticism and read it alongside the Carroll books. This will give a whole new meaning to going down the rabbit hole.
Mrs. McCarthy
The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Anything By: James Martin, S.J.
This book makes faith and spirituality very tangible for young adults and adults alike! Fr. Jim immediately draws you in with his humor and storytelling.
Mrs. McDonald
1. Tattoos on the Heart By: Fr. Gregory Boyle
This book tells the story of Homeboy Industries, an intervention organization in Los Angeles County, CA which works with gang members looking for a way out of the gang system. Short vignettes, recounting Fr. Boyle's experience with these men and women, will make you laugh one minute and cry the next. The value and sacredness of every life is the backbone of the book, which will leave you with a greater comprehension that you, yes you, regardless of your condition, are infinitely loved by Our Creator.
2. The Giver By: Lois Lowry
This book is a science fiction tale of a young man living in a seemingly-perfect society who is selected to carry the memories of his community. Receiving those memories of war, hunger, pain, etc., memories that brought the community to make decisions to create the illusion of perfection, requires the young man to make some important decisions of his own. This book was likely one read by our Jems in 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, but its message remains one that applies to adults, as well.
Mr. McGrath
1. The Name of the Rose By: Umberto Eco
A murder mystery set in a monastery in 1327. It is a fascinating mixture of linguistic codes, imagery, theology, and classical thought all woven into an exciting whodunit.
2. The Revolutionary War By: James Street
The story of the American Revolution told in a casual, conversational style. Street manages to draw the reader into the events and personalities that determined the fate of the 13 Colonies. For fans of Hamilton, Street gives a more nuanced view of the man himself.
Mrs. McKeever
The Alchemist By: Paulo Coelho
“We are travelers on a cosmic journey, stardust, swirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity. Life is eternal. We have stopped for a moment to encounter each other, to meet, to love, to share. This is a precious moment. It is a little parenthesis in eternity.” - Deepak Chopra
(He explains it better than I can.)
Ms. McKeown
1. The Great Gatsby By: F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. Catcher in the Rye By: J. D. Salinger
Mr. Micalizzi
*Fiction:
1984 By: George Orwell
*Nonfiction:
Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption By: Laura Hillenbrand
Unbroken is an unbelievable true story of an American hero. Louis Zamperini shows true perseverance in the face of death as an American soldier home and abroad. He overcame brutal Japanese soldiers as a prisoner of war, survived being shot down in his aircraft and stuck without food or water for nearly fifty days, and overcome severe alcoholism brought on by PTSD. The book also shows the importance of faith as it was a central aspect in his survival. More than being just an unbelievably crafted story complete with a roller-coaster ride of emotions and vivid descriptions so I could feel apart of the experiences, Unbroken is the ultimate story of the human spirit. It inspired me, helped me appreciate our History, and showed the importance of faith. I wish everyone can read this amazing book.
Ms. Oakley
Little Women By: Louisa May Alcott
I love this book because of the message of sisterhood as the backbone of a family. Joe is my all-time favorite literary character. Her journey to pursue her true self in life is inspirational.
Mr. Pacenski
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell By: Susanna Clarke
It is a work of historical fiction set in the Early 19th century in England. The catch? Magic! The book follows two very different men who practice magic for the benefit of the English Empire and try not to make a mess of their lives as they meet up with and/or run afoul of: King George III, the French Army, Lord Byron, a very nasty faerie and an enigmatic vagabond who may be a reincarnation of England's greatest magician, The Raven King. It's a wonderful blend of Charles Dickens and J.K. Rowling that starts quietly and ends with a bang. Enjoy the ride; I know I did.
Mrs. Perez
*Fiction:
To Kill a Mockingbird By: Harper Lee
This was my first real introduction to prejudice and has hence stuck with me since I first read it as a child.
*Nonfiction:
Washington's Spies By: Alexander Rose
I find this story both extremely interesting and inspiring, because I had no idea that there were people working as spies for George Washington and risking their lives, because they were so dedicated to the Revolution.
Mr. Phethean
1. The Road By: Cormac McCarthy
A boy and his father traverse a post-apocalyptic world just trying to survive. McCarthy's unique prose drives a story telling of a deep and emotional relationship between the boy and his father. It is a disturbing vision of society's collapse that shook me and still gives me chills nearly a decade since reading it.
2. Watchmen By: David Allen Moore
This graphic novel is an absolute masterpiece. The story takes place at the height of the Cold War between the United States and the now former Soviet Union. In this alternate universe, not only is Richard Nixon still president, but superheroes are real. Moore's narrative juxtaposes the "hero" archetype to normal, everyday people. It shows readers that when deconstructed, heroes are just as flawed as any average person. "Watchmen" also solidified the graphic novel as a respectable medium of storytelling, helping the genre shake stereotypes and stigmas associated to comic books.
**Two favorite history books (I'm a history teacher! I can't not include these!):
1. The Things They Carried By: Tim O'Brien
In this autobiographical work, O'Brien reflects on his teenage years and his time spent fighting in the Vietnam War. O'Brien tells the story of his youth lost, the the atrocities of war, and how he carries those things with him into old age. I've read a great deal about wars and the history surrounding war but nothing that conveyed the human cost and nuance of war quite like O'Brien depicts in this work.
2. A People's History of the United States By: Howard Zinn
When published in 1980, Zinn's work was lauded by historians but rejected by the masses as an obtuse, liberal interpretation of American History. Some even called it "un-American." In this book, Zinn tells the history of the North American continent from the perspective of oppressed groups like the natives, slaves, immigrants, women, and other marginalized peoples. Now in 2019, Zinn's work is integrated throughout American Studies curricula worldwide (albeit indirectly) by highlighting the plights faced by marginalized groups in American History.
Mrs. Portelli
Perfectly Yourself By: Matthew Kelly
Ms. Preedy
*Fiction:
1. The Hunger Games Trilogy By: Suzanne Collins
2. Divergent Series By: Veronica Roth
3. Harry Potter Series By: J. K. Rowling
4. Coma By: Robin Cook
Being a scientist, I love science fiction and futuristic, utopian stories.
*Nonfiction:
Michael Phelps autobiography (really any biography)
I was a swimmer! And I love reading about people’s lives from their point of view.
Mrs. Ryan
Wins, Losses, and Lessons By: Lou Holtz
Excellent book from a man of character! Fantastic life lessons and quotes to live by!
Ms. Szylejko
Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers By: Mary Roach
Stiff was an interesting read with thorough research about the history and present day uses of cadavers. The book shows the important uses from learning safety in cars to medical students’ studies but also emphasizes the respect that is shown to the bodies.
Ms. Weaver
Desert Blood: The Juarez Murders By: Alicia Gaspar de Alba
It was an excellent book offering a powerful depiction of social justice and serial murder on the U.S.- Mexican border. It is a gripping thriller that ponders the effects of patriarchy, gender identity, border culture, and globalization on an international crisis. It is a combination of social justice and women's studies-- my favorites!
Mrs. Wisniewski
My Life with the Saints By: James Martin SJ
I would recommend this book because it gives a look into how the saints can inspire our daily lives.
Mr. Wisniewski
1. How to Lie with Statistics By: Darrell Huff
We live in such a data-driven world that it is easy for data to be misleading or misinterpreted to serve an ulterior motive. This short work goes into the details of how we can be easily mislead by statistics and gives ways to overcome this in order to critically think through data to make an informed decision.
2. Fermat's Enigma: The Epic Quest to Solve the World's Greatest Mathematical Problem By: Simon Singh
This is a neat book of recent math history outlining the quest to prove Fermat's last theorem, a problem that went unsolved in mathematics for close to four centuries!