Look for your choice in the Arcadia Library Book Catalog
The titles below are hotlinked to further information provided by Amazon.com
“Fascinating, fictionalized account of the Battle of Gettysburg” Bel Canto / Ann Patchett “I loved this book!!!” The Known World / Edward P. Jones “Reading this book about black slaveowners in the American south is like travelling to that time.” Cities of Gold / Douglas Preston “The author journeys on horseback to retrace Coronado’s steps in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola. This is a wonderful book if you love the Southwest.” |
Wendy Farley – Social Studies ALL the Jodi Picoult novels: Harvesting the Heart / Nineteen Minutes / My Sister’s Keeper etc. “Great observations on relationships – complex and riveting” ALMOST everything by Alice Hoffman: Blue Diary / Skylight Confessions / Blackbird House etc. “All beautifully written, readable” Light on Snow / Anita Shreve “An unusual, edgy story – I couldn’t put it down!” |
Lisa Foppe – Learning Resource Center “This story of Americans by Americans is a must read for history buffs and those interested in learning more about this country.” Fahrenheit 451 / Ray Bradbury “Still a favorite of mine. . . Truth or fiction? Maybe a bit of both.” |
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Cindy Golab – English The Charm School by Nelson DeMille--a "must read" suspensefull page turner. Word of Honor, also by Nelson DeMille--just when you think life is good. . . look out!
The Glass Castle by contemporary MSNBC writer Jeannette Walls--a memoir reveal her shocking childhood
John Adams by David McCullough--a biography of our second president
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Paul Hoeprich – Career & Technical Education 1984 / George Orwell I like this book because it reminds us that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and paints a picture of the way the world could be if we as citizens don’t take an active role in politics or our country. The Handmaid's Tale / Margaret Atwood Another “dark future” book warning about absolute theocracy and the danger that gender roles can create. A Clockwork Yet another dystopian novel. I guess you can tell my favorite genre. I love the movie starring Malcolm McDowell, and the book is even better. |
Black and Blue / Anna Quindlen A fictional narrative in which Fran Benedetto, a woman who was abused by her husband, examines the reasons why she stayed in her marriage for so long, and ponders whether leaving was the right thing to do. One True Thing / Anna Quindlen Ellen Gulden begins to resent her father after he asks her to come home and care for her dying mother, and, as Ellen and her mother reconnect, Ellen becomes even more estranged from her father and her former life, until a devastating event causes Ellen to re-examine everything she has ever known. The Art of Racing in the Rain / Garth Stein Enzo, the dog of professional race car driver Denny Swift, recalls the memories of his life and shares his insight into the human condition that he learned from observing his owner. Shawn Huffman – English Ender’s Game / Orson Scott Card “Kids, war. . . c’mon, it’s Huffman’s favorite!” ANYTHING by James Rollins – “A nice mix of Dan Brown and Tom Clancy" |
Lisa Lind - English The Last Summer (of you and me) / Anne Brashares “If you’ve ever lost a friend, you’ll relate to this story.” The Red Tent / Anita Diamant “Every woman should read this book" |
Scott Lovely- Business Marketing and Technology I like Vince Flynn’s books:
These are all great books and I always complete them quickly and have to wait for the next one. I recommend Vince in a BIG WAY!
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A Sand County Almanac / Aldo Leopold “Great essays on science / outdoor topics” Jonathan Livingston Seagull / Richard Bach “For those who hate the rat race and want to be themselves” Atlas Shrugged / Ayn Rand “Lengthy. . . but a great book” The Hunt for Red October / Tom Clancy “Much better than the movie!” Lonesome Dove / Larry McMurtry “You really get close to the characters” Angels & Demons / Dan Brown “Great blend of fiction and science" |
Erica McClurg – Science A Million Little Pieces / My Friend Leonard / James Frey “It makes you feel like you are going through the experience.” Nineteen Minutes / Jodi Picoult “Riveting. . .” My Sister’s Keeper / Jodi Picoult “I love the way it’s written.” Mr. Maybe / Jane Green “Easy, good reading” Ultra Marathon Man / Dean Karnazes “Very inspiring and actually pretty funny" |
Yanira Monreal - English Mrs. Dalloway / Virginia Woolf “One of Woolf’s best known novels which I read during my stay in England. This is a story that will always stay with me because I can relate to the female protagonist who struggles to find her individuality.” From the novel: “She felt very young; at the same time unspeakably aged. She sliced through everything; at the same time was outside, looking on. . . far out to sea and alone; she always had the feeling that it was very, very dangerous to live even one day.” |
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Corinne Mundy – Social Studies Three Cups of Tea / Greg Mortenson difference.” Brave New World / Aldous Huxley Breakfast at Tiffany’s / Truman Capote Golightly. Holly reminds us all that we create our own reality.” Ishmael / Daniel Quinn “Discusses the meaning of life” Wicked / Gregory Maguire “Good fantasy – takes you away from everyday life” Tuesdays with Morrie / Mitch Albom “Teaches you to respect and listen to your elders" |
Anna Patterson – Math and AVID The Count of Monte Cristo / Alexandre Dumas “I read it in the summer when I was 14 and it was the most adventurous, thrilling, twisty-turny book I had ever read. It raised the standard for everything I read after that.” The Great Gilly Hopkins (1979) and Bridge to Terabithia (1978) / Katherine Paterson “I know these books are perhaps for a younger audience, but I don’t care! I love them.” The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency (series) / Alexander McCall Smith “These books are about Precious Ramotswe, a woman who loves her country of Botswana and works as an investigator solving problems that require some common sense, a big heart, and a lot of luck. I have read all 8 books in the series, and as long as the author keeps writing them, I’ll keep reading them.” The Time Traveler’s Wife / Audrey Niffenegger “This is one of the best (and quirkiest) modern love stories I’ve read. It’s a real page-turner, too. I hear it’s being made into a movie, but we’ll see if the movie does the book justice. . .” The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down / Anne Fadiman “What a book! Anyone who works with children and families (Isn’t that everyone?) should read this! It’s well- researched nonfiction about Lia, a Hmong child with epilepsy. She and her parents are refugees from Laos living in California.” |
Jennifer Pennartz – Math The Giver / Lois Lowry “Great for any age – You won’t put it down.” A Time to Kill / The Pelican Brief / Runaway Jury / John Grisham “Exciting legal thrillers. . .” White Oleander / Janet Fitch “Dark – but very good” |
Fran Prather - Library Peace Like a River / Leif Enger. One of my all-time favorites. Brother-sister relationships, responsibility, spirituality, and chases by the FBI, all in one novel. Ender's Game, Ender's Shadow / Orson Scott Card (skip books 2, 3, 4 in the series, read the rest!) Huffman is right, the best book ever. Every student who has ever read Ender's Game says it is now their favorite book. The Book Thief / Marcus Zusak Germans who stand up for what is right during World War II. Writing that heals wounded hearts. An amazing, funny, heart-wrenching novel. To the Lighthouse and Mrs. Dalloway both by Virginia Woolf. Mrs. Dalloway is the one to begin with if you've never read anything by Woolf before. Definitely for those who love to read and those who love to read authors who experiment with writing styles. Woolf uses "stream-of-consciousness." Great choices for those taking AP. |
| Rob Reniewicki -- Science Longitude / Dava Sobel "Anyone alive in the eighteenth century would have known that "the longitude problem" was the thorniest scientific dilemma of the day -- and had bee for centuries. Lacking the ability to measure their longitude, sailors throughout the great ages of exploration had been literally lost at sea as soon as they lost sight of land. Thousands of lives, and the increasing fortunes of nations, hung on a resolution. The quest for a solution had occupied scientists for the better part of two centuries when, in 1714, England's parliament upped the ante by offering a king's ransom (20,000 pounds, or approximately, $12 million in today's currency) to anyone whose method or device proved successful or reproducible. The scientific establishment througout Europe -- from Galileo to Sir Isaac Newton -- had mapped the heaven in its pursuit of a celestial answer. In stark contrast, one man, John Harrison, dared to imagine a mechanical solution -- a clock that would keep precise time at sea, something no clock had been able to do on land." |
Elaine Stone – Math Lean Mean Thirteen / Janet Evanovich “All the Stephanie Plum novels are laugh-out-loud funny. Grandma Masur is a stitch!” The Other Boleyn Girl / Philippa Gregory “A wonderful, historical fiction look at Henry VIII’s England” The Girl with a Pearl Earring / Tracy Chevalier “I loved it – very touching" |
Barbara Thomas – Math The Power of One and Tandia / Bryce Courtenay “The Power of One is my absolute favorite. Both are set in South Africa and deal with a young man’s coming of age.” Winds of War and War and Remembrance / Herman Wouk “Great historical fiction that follows a naval family’s experiences during the build up to World War II” Guns, Germs and Steel and Collapse / Jared Diamond “Thought provoking commentary on societies, and how and why they fail. . .” |
Dena Tufarelli – English Language Development A Prayer for Owen Meany / John Irving “Is there really such thing as fate or does life play out randomly? This is one of my all-time favorite novels. It’s tears-streaming-down-your-cheeks funny, yet equally thoughtful, intelligent – even tragic. The characters are memorable along with a story you’ll never forget.” Troublemakers / John McNally and Brief Encounters with Che Guevara / Ben Fountain “These are two of the best short story collections I’ve read in a long time. Unlike most collections that have one or two standouts, these stories are consistently cool.” Another America / Barbara Kingsolver Yep, from the Author of The Bean Trees (her best book in my opinion) and The Poisonwood Bible is a collection of poems w/Spanish translations. Not interested in the translations? No problema! Read only the right-hand pages and be immersed in the strong imagery and voice connected to “themes from resistance to violence and war to finding one’s inner courage and strength as a woman.” |
Diane Whitmore – Assistant Principal Twilight / Stephenie Meyer “Wonderful voice, superb word choice. . . my students were extremely disappointed we did not read on early release day!” ANYTHING by Barbara Kingsolver: The Poisonwood Bible A “consuming, literary work of art. . . I could not put it down! I’ve read it twice!” Prodigal Summer “One of my favorite books to give friends and relatives for birthdays. It touched all my senses – I could smell the earth.” |
Jeanne Yeager – Learning Resource Center I Am the Messenger / Marcus Zusak “A mysterious adventure of a nineteen-year-old finding out how it feels to help others” Stargirl/ Jerry Spinelli “A 10th grade new student appears very odd. . . slowly others begin to appreciate her uniqueness” Al Capone Does My Shirts / Gennifer Choldenko “This story is about a boy living on Alcatraz Island at the time of Al Capone” The Five People You Meet in Heaven / Mitch Albom “An interesting story of a man’s introduction to five people after his death who help explain the meaning of life” ALMOST anything by Walter Dean Myers: “Monster and Hoops seem to be the favorites of male students. . .” |
Richard Yeager – Physical Education Absolute Power, Total Control,Camel Club / David Baldacci “ANYTHING by Baldacci is great – I also enjoy books by Phillip Margolin or Robert Crais.” |
