READING TO FIND MEANING THIS SUMMER

I don’t know about you, but I find one of my favorite summer pastimes is reading. I can read in a big comfy chair when it’s rainy, I can read on the beach or by the pool when it’s sunny and warm, I can read on the porch in the evening…I confess, I probably am reading when I should be doing other things.

This summer, because so many of the “other things” have been canceled, I am reading perhaps more than ever. Usually summer reading has a reputation for fun and escapism that may or may not qualify as “literature,” but this summer there is a LOT going on in the world, so I am thinking about books that talk about the human condition and the particular moment of time in which we find ourselves.

Below are a number of books recommended by past and current ATYP students that you may find meaningful. Some may be younger than you normally read, and some may be more mature…and one may surprise you. But all provide a new way to consider what others live through, offer an opportunity to develop empathy, and allow the reader to grow as a human being.

 Refugee by Alan Gratz – Multiple stories show how the experiences of refugees from three different time periods are interconnected and how history sometimes repeats itself.

Writings on the Wall by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. “Discusses political and social issues in current day America from a refreshing and open perspective” (Julia). Another student called it “eye-opening” and called the solutions offered “achievable” (Alex).

Number the Stars by Lois Lowry. A classic, recommended by multiple students. A story of survival during the Holocaust.

Esperanza Rising by  Pam Muñoz Ryan – A girl from Mexico and her family immigrate to the United States after the death of her father. Takes what you think you know about immigrants and turns it on its head.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak – Another World War II story recommended by numerous students. Heads up: several remarked that this
 story is really emotional and moved them to tears.

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas – A powerful look at racism, oppression, and protest told from the perspective of a teenage girl who witnesses the police shooting of a good friend and is caught up in the aftermath. My daughter describes it as “the best book I’ve ever read.”

Calvin & Hobbes by Bill Watterson – Recommended by a student and by yours truly. Calvin is  one of the world’s greatest unidentified gifted kids, and Hobbes one of the world’s great philosophers. If you want to read about the world from the point of view of a kid who may think like you, Calvin’s your guy. And if you want to feel better or think about humanity, Hobbes is a good go-to. A great way to spend a drizzly afternoon.

Do you have books you'd like to recommend? We'd love to hear about what you're reading that helps to make some sense of the world. Give us your ideas in the comments below!

Til next time,

Ms. Nan