Mr. Beck, Upper School Math Teacher Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen E. Ambrose Genre: History, Nonfiction (Ages: High school + adult) "Undaunted Courage" is a riveting exploration of the Lewis and Clark expedition with a major emphasis on the life of Meriwether Lewis.
Ms. Bielitz, Kindergarten Teacher Cozy by Jan Brett Genre: Children's (Ages: Pre-k to 3rd) Cozy by Jan Brett is a charming picture book that follows the adventures of a musk ox named Cozy as she navigates the Arctic landscape. With beautifully detailed illustrations and a heartwarming storyline, the book captures the spirit of friendship and resilience in the face of challenges.
Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright Genre: Children's (Ages: Pre-k to 3rd) Sneezy the Snowman is a delightful tale about a snowman who faces a comical challenge of trying not to melt. The story unfolds with humorous attempts to keep him frozen and concludes with a clever resolution, making it a charming winter read for children.
Ms. Bilicska, Head of Lower & Middle School The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats Genre: Children's Picture Book (Ages: 1-6 years old) In “The Snowy Day,” we explore the innocence of a young child, Peter, exploring all the fun and wonder of freshly fallen snow.
Mrs. Callahan Keefe, Director of Admissions Frog and Toad Genre: Children’s Classic (Ages: 4-7) My favorite book series when I was little. Their friendship and adventures in nature were sweet and endearing.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl Genre: Children’s Fantasy (Ages: 6-9) A fantastical story much better told in writing than in any movie.
Ms. Clarrett, 4th Grade Teacher The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters Genre: Mystery (Ages: Adult) An intriguing story that is a bit of a mystery, an intergenerational trauma, and searing truth
After I Do by Taylor Jenkins Reid Genre: Fiction (Ages: Adult) A decent story that tries to answer the question “how do people fall out of love?”
Ms. Coleman, Middle School English Teacher
A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga Genre: Realistic Fiction (Ages: Grades 5-6) This is a book told from the story of a Mars Rover as it is created through his adventure on Mars. At the same time, the daughter of the woman making the rover writes letters to him. It is just a fun story about friendship, growing up, the power of human emotions, and fulfilling your purpose (whatever that may be). It made me laugh and cry and I read it in one afternoon!
Anatomy: A Love Story by Dana Schwartz Genre: Magical Realism (Ages: Grades 8-12) "A gothic tale full of mystery and romance about a willful female surgeon, a resurrection man who sells bodies for a living, and the buried secrets they must uncover together." This books is all about a strong woman following her heart to her chosen career and the man she loves. It is the first in a duology and might start a little slow but ends up being so interesting!
Scythe by Neal Shusterman Genre: Fiction - Dystopian Future (Ages: Grades 8-12) "A world with no hunger, no disease, no war, no misery. Humanity has conquered all those things, and has even conquered death. Now scythes are the only ones who can end life - and they are commanded to do so, in order to keep the size of the population under control." This book has a lot of really interesting moral questions in regard to life. It is the epitome of life being not as black and white as life and death.
Mrs. Giarrusso, Upper School English Teacher These are for adults, but high schoolers could read, too -- I think our parents need book recs! The Splendid and the Vile: A Saga of Churchill, Family, and Defiance During the Blitz by Erik Larson (Age: High School + Adult) Genre: Nonfiction I just recommended this book to Mr. Lombardo. This is a favorite read from many moons ago. Erik Larson’s narrative non-fiction explores the realities of life during the blitz in London. He has many other historical narrative non-fiction books if that is your jam! I love him.
Richard Osman’s series “The Thursday Murder Club” Genre: Mystery (Ages: High school + adult) Solve murder mysteries in the English countryside with a group of capable geriatrics who reside in a lush retirement home in Richard Osman’s series “The Thursday Murder Club.” A fast, fun, somewhat violent read, the series now has four books. You may know Osman from the British talk-show circuit.
Anthony Horowitz’s Murder Series Genre: Mystery, Thriller (Ages: Adult) Anthony Horowitz has a dueling murder mystery series that I bop between waiting for the next one to be published. The first series is my favorite and was featured on PBS as a Masterpiece Theater. “Magpie Murders” introduces us to detective Atticus Pund, a clear send-off of Hercule Poirot. A novel within a novel, we follow book editor Susan Ryeland as she solves multiple mysteries at once. His other series, Hawthorne and Horowitz Mysteries, is a little more indulgent featuring Horowitz as a detective in his own story. There are four in this series with the fifth debuting in April.
Madame Landrevie, French Teacher C’est jour-la by Mitsumasa Anno Genre: Foreign language, Children’s (Ages: All) Here's a fascinating picture book that introduces children and adults alike to European culture. We follow a rider through the pages, where the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland, for example, or paintings by Vincent van Gogh, are cleverly hidden. Japanese illustrator Mitsumasa Anno has created a singular, protean body of work that reveals his passion for Europe. His meticulous scenes, drawn in ink and watercolor, have taken readers of several generations on timeless journeys to the heart of science and a universal cultural heritage.
Mrs. McCarthy, Director of Marketing Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng Genre: Fiction, Mystery (Ages: 14+, including parents) This book is finish-in-one-sitting good, from the prose to the plot: A portrait of a mixed-race Chinese American family living in 1970s Ohio and the layered unraveling that occurs when their favorite daughter appears drowned at the bottom of a local pond. ** Written by an AAPI female author
Ms. McFarlane, Middle & Upper School English Teacher The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness by Sy Montgomery Category: Nonfiction (Ages: Grades 7-12 and adults) Octopuses are complex creatures that are often underestimated and overlooked. Sy Montgomery gets up close and personal with octopuses in the New England
aquarium. The relationships that Montgomery develops with the octopuses will make you laugh, cry, and want to become scuba-certified to meet an octopus in the wild.
Mrs. Melore, First Grade Teacher The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson Genre: Children's fairy tale Ages: 7+ Gerda's love for her friend melts the frozen spell of the Snow Queen.
Mrs. Mielke, Third Grade Teacher
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (Caldecott award!) Genre: Picture book (Ages: K-3rd grade) Dad & child go for a walk in the woods at night to see animals.
In the Snow, Who's Been Here? by Lindsay Barrett George Genre: Children’s (Ages: K-3rd grade ) Two children go for a hike in the woods & find clues to guess which animals were there.
My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George (Newberry Honor Book!) Genre: Children’s (Ages: Grades 3-5) A boy runs away to live off the land in a tree with a falcon.
Guardians of G'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky (made into a made into a movie!) Genre: Children’s (Ages: grades 3-5) Owls band together to face danger & protect the owl world. (Think personification!)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (also made into movies!) Genre: Children’s literature, novel (Ages: Grades 3-6) Little Women is a coming of age story that begins in Civil War America. It follows the lives and growth from girlhood to womanhood of the four March girls: Meg, 17; Josephine (or Jo), 15; Beth, 14; and Amy, 12.
Eragon by Christopher Paolini (also made into a movie) Genre: Fantasy Ages: Young Adult The book tells the story of a farm boy named Eragon, who finds a mysterious stone in the mountains. The stone is revealed to be a dragon egg, and a dragon he later names Saphira hatches from it. When the evil King Galbatorix finds out about the egg, he sends monstrous servants to acquire it, making Eragon and Saphira flee from their hometown with a storyteller named Brom. Brom, an old member of an extinct group called the Dragon Riders, teaches Eragon about 'The Ways of the Rider.'
Mr. Wight, Upper School Science Teacher The Cat in the Hat Comes Back by Dr. Suess Genre: Children’s Literature Ages: 2-6 "All that deep deep, deep snow,all that snow had to go"
The cat in the hat comes into the main character's house and takes a bath. Pretty soon, a pink spot expands everywhere all over the snow!
Dr. Zinman, Director of Inclusivity & Science Dept. Chair The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy (Ages: 13+) In this novel, Scalzi posits a neighboring alternate universe that touches ours and hosts creatures that look like godzilla and need us to help protect them from us.
Anansis Boys by Neil Gaiman Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy (Ages: 13+) In this novel, Gaiman twists the “Anansi the Spider who is trickster” myths into a modern story exploring belonging, identity and familial commitment.