The Winning Books of the Summer Reading Challenge
By Jean Bonnyman - FF/S
Fifty-six Upper School students read four books each this summer from a reading list that included 20 additional choices. As I met with them to talk about the books, and as they made recommendations to each other, I noted that some books were chosen more than others.
The book “The Other Wes Moore,” written by Wes Moore, stood out from all the others as the most popular selection. Across all grade levels, students loved it! This is a true story of two men with the same name; one went to jail for life while the other gained fame and success in college, the military, business and politics. The stunning part of the story is the two Wes Moores grew up barely a block from each other in the drug-infested inner city of Baltimore. The author, Wes Moore, was able to get out of this bad neighborhood early enough to be turned around in a military school, while the other Wes Moore was stuck. As the author got to know the other Wes Moore, it struck him that their fates could have been reversed. This drove him to write a book about their stories in an effort to bring attention to the needs of children in the inner city, and the potential of these children if given a chance to succeed. The students who read this book will have the exciting opportunity to hear the author speak at Berry College in September!
“Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie” also got rave reviews from everyone. This is a really fun mystery with outstanding vocabulary. The star of the story is a fearless and hilarious 11-year-old girl who loves poisons and chemistry. She is determined to solve the mystery of the dead man in her back yard and has many adventures that cause a reader to burst out laughing as they read.
For the second summer, Lisa Sea’s historical fiction was a hit. “Shanghai Girls” was enjoyed just as much this summer as “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan” was last summer. Lisa Sea fans are excited to read the sequel “Dreams of Joy” and see “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan,” soon to be released as a movie.
“The Pursuit of Excellence,” by the famous sport psychologist Terry Orlick, was a big hit with our “reading athletes” no matter what their sport. Mental skills provide a winning edge when practiced, and readers represented a good spread across football, volleyball, cheerleading, tennis, swimming, baseball, running and riding. Several students became interested in the profession of sport psychology!
This year, I offered several books that provided easier reading (but more mature content) for international students who were still building their English skills and Middle School students who were not yet used to reading larger books. “Hope Was Here” and “Grayson” were big hits in this category.
Other books receiving high praise are “Devil in the White City” (second year in a row and soon to be a movie), “The Miracle at St. Anna,” “The Art of Racing in the Rain” and “Modoc.”
I always have so much fun talking to students about books! Students enjoyed meeting off campus (Barnes & Noble, Panera Bread Co. and Starbucks will miss us) or chatting on Skype. Students benefit tremendously if they read in the summer, but I always learn so much from them, too. They always have great insights I never think of, and even look things up I never thought to check out. I’m already working on great books for next summer!
