The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Recommended by: Aparna T.

Plot: Liesel Meminger's life has just been taken away from her. Her brother died and her mother left her in the care of foster parents. Now she stands at the doorway of 33 Himmel Street, not knowing what awaits her behind the door. What she finds is a harsh, but loving mother, a caring father, and one eccentric best friend. Despite being haunted by the memories of her dead brother, Lielsel's life is changing for the better. Her unusual habit of stealing books has taught her how to read and playing soccer on the streets has made her new friends. However, with the start of the Holocaust and an unexpected visit by a stranger has thrown her life into secrecy and chaos, all the while opening her eyes to new ideas and change.

Why Read? The narrator of The Book Thief is Death, who is personified throughout the book. The novel is cleverly written, revealing critical points of the plot at times, which builds suspense and the reader's curiosity. If you’re interested in learning about the Holocaust, The Book Thief is perfect. It is historically correct and gives you great insight into the lives of the people living during the time. Definitely a MUST READ!

Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut

Recommended by: Gavin P.

Plot: Howard Campbell begins this narration as he is in jail and will tell you his experiences in World War 2 and his life after. He was a nazi in Germany but also an American spy. He tells you his journey of escaping the war and his problems in America.

Why Read? I read this book in two days. The story was very interesting and extremely creative. Vonnegut is an American genius with a legacy we cannot forget. His books should be celebrated. Especially one of his most famous ones, "Mother Night." You get to hear the story of a nazi and his hate for everyone else and everyone else's hate for him.

Plot: This book focuses on Tim’s experiences during and after the Vietnam War. Instead of telling one story in a linear fashion separated by chapters, the book is divided into episodes in non-chronological order. During the course of the book, O’Brien focuses on himself and several other members of his company including Jimmy Cross, Kiowa, and Norman Bowker. Although The Things They Carried presents itself as a work of non-fiction, many of the events did not actually take place.

Why Read? On a pure entertainment level, this is one of the best books written about the experience of war. Chapters shift effortlessly from the horrific to humorous, from philosophical to heartbreaking. The Things They Carried will captivate you with its memorable characters while raising several intriguing questions like, What is truth? A finalist for the 1990 Pulitzer Prize, The Things They Carried will interest all readers and not just fans of war novels.

Reviewed by: Ms. Cerrito

Plot: A friendship develops between a boy, Amir, and his servant, Hassan, in 1970’s Afganistan. Eventually, their relationship changes as they grow older amid the changing politics. The reader gets an intimate look into Afgan culture and family life. The characters are engaging and the ending is terrific.

Why read? This book educated me about a different culture and helped me to understand the situation with the Shiites and the Kurds in the Middle East. The character development is intriguing. This is also an easy book to read—and everyone to whom I have recommended it has thanked me because they enjoyed it, too. read more reviews

Why read? With her vivid prose, Cather spins a timeless tale of human relationships tightly woven into the fabric of the fleeting frontier landscape. The result is as rich and clear as the cloudless prairie sky.

Why read? You’ll be the only kid (or adult!) on the block who’s read the greatest novel ever written. read more reviews

Miracle Game By: Josef Skvorecky
Recommended by: Mr. Pellicane
Plot: The greatest underdog chess game ever played (and it’s based on a true story). The novel is set in Prague in the days before the Velvet Revolution.

Why read? It's historical, spiritual, mysterious, and unforgettable.

Plot: King John takes over England upon the death of his brother, Richard the Lionheart. His young daughter, Joanna, is married off to Llewellyn of Wales. Their stormy relationship progresses against the backdrop of medieval England.

Why read? While it is historically accurate, it is also an enthralling romance. The characters will become part of your lives.

Recommended by: Ms. Kim

Plot: This novel is written in the form of the memoir of Valentino Achak Deng, a Sudanese "lost boy" who was able to come to America after a harrowing boyhood in Sudan. He talks about his ten years wandering in the wilderness in the midst of hundreds of boys who lost their families when civil unrest broke out in Sudan.

Why read? This book gives a first-hand account of a country and issue we hear a lot about, but don't necessarily know much about. Through Deng's voice, Eggers offers a historical perspective on Sudan.

Recommended by: Mrs. Aufiero

Plot: Meet Chaucer, endure the Black Death and feel a part of the Peasants’ Revolt—all while being immersed in the majesty and brutality that was England in the 14th century. This is the true story of Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt. They shared a life-long love that changed English history (their descendents include Henry VIII).

Why read? Katherine has an international following and is considered one of the great historical novels for its excellent character studies as well as its depiction of time & place in medieval England. Castles, cathedrals, knights, and their ladies fill the pages. But mostly, this a timeless story of forbidden love. Katherine and John will remain with you long after the last word is read.

Plot: Sophie is now in America, having lived through the concentration camps of Nazi-occupied Poland. She is supposedly one of the lucky ones, having survived the camps, but what she has lived through is almost too much to bear: she is hiding a horrible secret.

Why read? Not only does this book shed light on a lot of details about life during the second World War in Poland, it is also the story of how people continued to struggle to survive AFTER the camps.

Girl With A Pearl Earring By: Tracy Chevalier
Recommended by: Mr. Wolk
Plot: In 1664, Griet leaves her family to work in the household of the Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer. Overcoming personal conflicts and social barriers, Griet gains the artist's trust and provides him with more help and inspiration than she could have anticipated.

Why read? Chevalier has created a fictional tale worthy of the masterpiece that inspired it. She transports the reader to a long forgotten world and makes it impossible for us to view the painting again without revisiting the lives of her characters.

Burning Bright By: Tracy Chevalier

Recommended by: Mr. Wolk

Plot: After a family tragedy, young Jem Kellaway, his sister and their parents try to escape their grief by leaving the English countryside for the big city. In 1790’s London, they encounter adventurous Maggie Butterfield, circus life, political unrest and (most notably) their new neighbor, William Blake.

Why read? When I was a kid, I wanted to live next door to Jim Morrison. Back in the 1790's, living next to poet/painter/printer/pundit William Blake offered similar possibilities for excitement. Though it’s not quite a Pearl Earring, this novel still has its inspired moments.

Recommended by: Ms. Larrea

Plot: In Flint’s novel of time travel and alternate history, a six-mile square of West Virginia is tossed back in time and space to Germany in 1632, at the height of the barbaric and devastating Thirty Years’ War. Repelling marauding mercenaries and housing German refugees are only the first of many problems the citizens of the tiny new U.S. must face.

Why read? I truly never thought I would be interested in a historical fiction novel, but after months of my husband telling me I absolutely had to read it, I gave in. It was an amazing read; the way Flint creates his characters and storyline is amazing and it’s such an enjoyable book that it’s hard to put it down. I've gone through 1633 since, and am waiting impatiently for a friend to finish with the copy of 1634 that came out recently.

Recommended by: Mr. Pease

Plot: A great tale of a time traveler who journeys from today to Gilded Age New York City where he meets and falls in love with a 19th century woman. How does he tell her his truth? Can he bring her “back” with him?

Why read? The book offers wonderful illustrations of 19th century NYC. It also features descriptions of the Gilded Age which is an important part of 9th grade history.

The English Patient By: Michael Ondaatje
Recommended by: Ms. Vaks
Plot: In the last months of WWII, in a villa in Italy, a young American nurse, Hana, cares for her single patient, badly burned and seemingly suffering from amnesia, whom she assumes to be English. The villa becomes home to Kip, an Indian Sikh trained as a sapper, or bomb-defuser, in the British army, and to Caravaggio, a thief turned spy for the British Intelligence. With time, the story and identity of the English Patient becomes clear.

Why read? This book explores the changing power war has on the lives of those caught in its grasp. Structurally it is superbly written, with both narrator and time changing through the book. More importantly, you’ll fall in love with the fractured characters and become addicted to discovering both their and that of the English Patient’s past.

Fateless By: Imre Kertesz
Recommended by: Mrs. Franco

Plot: In 1944, 14-year-old Gyorgy is taken from his home in Hungary and sent to a concentration camp. His happy childhood ends suddenly, and he is faced with daily atrocities in the camps and the possibility to die at any time. Yet Gyorgy doesn’t give up. In this novel, he leads us through his struggle for survival by insisting that even in captivity, life has meaning as long as your imagination remains free.

Why read? Many books have been written about the Holocaust, yet this novel by the Nobel-prize winning Imre Kertesz offers a new perspective. While it is very difficult to describe the horrors of the Holocaust, not only to young readers, this semiautobiographical novel manages to give a rational account told from the innocent perspective and in the language of a 14-year-old. The young narrator doesn’t represent a specific group of victims; in fact, he often feels isolated due to his personal background. Despite the brutality and seeming “fate” of his life, he attempts to overcome daily degradation and the terrible trauma of our modern experience, by never giving up hope and the desire to be free.

A Farewell to Arms By: Ernest Hemingway

Recommended by: Becky S.

Plot: While fighting overseas in World War I, Lieutenant Henry, an American, faces many new challenges. He experiences love and loss throughout a time of turmoil. Soon, events start to turn serious for not only himself, but mostly those around him.

Why read? “A Farewell to Arms” makes the reader feel like he or she is greatly involved in what is going on throughout the novel. It is also interesting to learn about what life was like in a time of war, as well as the hardships that are faced and how they are dealt with. The turn of events that takes place is also easy to catch onto. Overall, it is very well-written and enjoyable.

The Samurai’s Garden By: Gail Tsukiyama
Recommended by: Ms. Collins
Plot: Shortly before World War II begins, a young Chinese man is sent to a small seaside town in Japan to recover from tuberculosis. He meets a Japanese girl and falls in love with her. The clash and prejudices of their two different cultures cause a great deal of turmoil for the two young lovers.

Why read? This story is beautifully told. I savored every page and learned a lot about a time and place that I had never really thought about before... what it was like to live in Japan and China leading up to World War II. The story is not fast paced, but full of description and feeling. You won’t be sorry you picked up this book!

A Hundred Secret Senses By: Amy Tan
Recommended by: Nicole M.
Plot: Olivia, the narrator of this story, was born to an American mother and a Chinese father. She meets her 18-year-old Chinese half sister, Kwan, for the first time shortly after their father's death. Kwan speaks often about Chinese superstitions, spirits, and reincarnation. Now in her mid-30s, Olivia, a photographer, is still seeking a meaningful life.

Why read? The meshing of a contemporary plot with late 19th century Chinese culture is interesting.

The Killer Angels By: Michael Shaara
Recommended by: Mr. Nieskens
Plot: A look at the pivotal battle in the most pivotal war in American History. Novel stays true to the facts as it takes the reader effortlessly through the three days of Gettysburg. Events are personalized through the eyes of the major military players including Lee, Longstreet, Pickett, Buford, Hancock and Chamberlain.

Why read? The book is worth ten textbooks in what it teaches the reader about the Civil War. One need not be a student of Civil War military history to appreciate and follow this book. And the story of Joshua Chamberlian is one worth learning.

The Caine Mutiny By: Herman Wouk
Recommended by: Mr. Moran

Plot: In the thick of World War II, Captain Queeg rules the Caine like a tyrant. When his rule becomes unbearable for the sailors under his control, they attempt to “remove him from command.”

Why read? Although long, the book is very easy to read and the action moves very quickly. If you enjoy courtroom drama, you’ll love this book; the court martial of the mutineers is a great set-piece.

I, Claudius By: Robert Graves
Recommended by: Dmitriy Y.
Plot: I, Claudius is a fictional autobiography of Tiberius Claudius Drusus Nero Germanicus, an emperor of Rome. It follows his life, his family, and a fascinating fraction of Roman history. Claudius retells his story as he lived through the reign of Augustus, Tiberius, and Caligula. He reveals the inner workings of the empire and the complex relationships between famous historical figures. You get a taste of what Augustus (Octavian), Livia, Caligula, and Claudius might have been like. Robert Graves exposes these monumental historical figures as regular human beings, people with weaknesses and insecurities.

Why read? It dips into everything Rome is remembered for—military, money, war, power, assassinations, marriages, etc. If you have ever watched the show Rome, this is the perfect summer reading book.

Soldier Boys By: Dean Hughes
Recommended by: Brittany A.
Plot: Set during World War two, two teenage boys on opposite sides of the war want the same thing: a chance to fight and prove themselves. One in Hitler's Youth and the other a paratrooper for the USA, they both end up going through the war.

Why read? It’s a brilliant way to learn about World War Two and how the soldiers felt. It makes you feel as though YOU are in the war fighting beside them.

Reviewer’s note: This story may be a little difficult to follow because it keeps switching back and forth between characters every other chapter. There are also a lot of names to remember.

Troy By: Adele Geras
Recommended by: Brittany A.

Plot: This is the story of two teenage sisters during the Trojan War. One sister is the handmaiden of Helen while the other tends wounded soldiers. This is a story of love and war where gods have total control...

Why read? It tells the story of the Trojan War from two points of views at once from someone other than the high class.

The Great Stink By: Clare Clark
Recommended by: Mr. Wolk

Plot: During the 1850’s, the River Thames smelled so bad that the British Parliament had to close up shop. In Clark’s novel, William May is a shell-shocked Crimean War vet wandering London’s sewers to engineer a solution to the problem. Meanwhile, Long Arm Tom is a scavenger, who survives by searching the same passageways for “treasure.” Their activities lead to a murder mystery and illegal games involving large numbers of rats.

Why read? The Great Stink is the kind of dark, “stripped of the sentimentality” novel that Dickens would write about the Victorian Age if he were alive today. Clark takes the reader on a journey—both literal and figurative—into a Victorian Underworld, where the most significant relationship is between a man and a dog.

A Tale Of Two Cities By: Charles Dickens

Recommended by: Joshua Y

Plot: Set in the dangerous, bloody times of the French Revolution, Dickens takes any reader through a time of love, loss, and tyrants. You are taken through a story with Dr. Manette, a physician who is imprisoned for a long time and his daughter Lucie. Lucie’s beauty and kindness makes young Charles Darnay and a cynical lawyer named Sydney Carton fall for her. However, with grudges around every corner, and the stirring tide of revolution awakening, NO ONE IS SAFE. This story is filled with everything, from twists, to romantic love, to extreme bloody violence, and dangerous pasts. Explore one of the bloodiest and revolutionary time periods of European history, and who knows, maybe you’ll be caught up in THE FRENCH REVOLUTION!!!!!!!

Why read? This book has everything any reader could ask for. I read this in class, and it has become one of my favorite books of all time. A timeless classic that should not go unread. This book has left a mark in my heart and I will remember it forever. Plus, this will students learn a bit about what we are going to learn a little bit of in World History next year (French revolution), so it’s good to get a head start. Enjoy and get started reading this book.

Malinche By: Laura Esquivel
Recommended by: Mrs. Cerrito
Plot: Cortez conquers Mexico & the Aztecs with the help of his interpreter/lover Malinalli, who thinks she is freeing her people. Lauara Esquivel, author of Like Water For Chocolate, writes with beautiful imagery and simplicity.

Why read? If you loved Like Water for Chocolate as I did, you will definitely enjoy this new piece (2006) as well.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress By: Dai Sijie

Plot: Through the very eyes of a Chinese high school student during China's dramatic era of The Cultural Revolution, this book highlights the fulfillment of dreams amidst provincial life on a rural mountain.

Why read? It brings light and nostalgic feelings to readers. Recommended to all seeking to experience a far-away feeling, sort of away from society. This book at first dims the light for a bit, and gradually a light glows as readers uncover the two main characters’ journey.

Avalon High By: Meg Cabot

Recommended by: Elaine M.

Plot: A girl finds out that all the people at her school are related to people from medieval times.

Why read? It's a mystery. It’s good.

For Whom The Bell Tolls By: Ernest Hemingway

Recommended by: Jasmine C.

Plot: This book is about a group of people who are planning to blow up the bridge so their enemy wouldn’t cross over. The people are like an army but not disciplined or trained but knows how to shoot. There is a little bit of romance in this book and talk about life!

Why read? This book is worth reading because it’s full of excitement and also Hemingway puts some humor into it so the book isn’t all boring!

Grimpow - The Invisible Road By: Rafael Abalos
Recommended by: Vinamra S.

Plot: While the entire plot is fabricated by the author the details are impeccably accurate. The book deals with passion, innocence, and knowledge as they are revealed to Grimpow on his search for the cosmic truth. The book takes place during the time of the Knights Templar, more specifically during the time they are hunted and prosecuted. A dead knight starts the story by providing Grimpow with the stone that will forever be entwined with his destiny, the Philosopher’s Stone - the ultimate alchemical treasure.

Why read? This book will take you in from the first few words and will keep you till the last. It will make you question the accepted truths about history as the author finds new and hidden messages that are imparted to you in the form of the story. A MUST READ book.

Night By:Elie Wiesel
Recommended by: JB

Plot: The book takes place during World War II. The main character is a young jewish boy living in a newly Nazi occupied Hungary. The main character's name is Eliezer. One day the Nazi's came into his home and moved their whole jewish community to a ghetto, from then on they lived in a small closed off area of poverty. Eventually the jewish population in the ghettos are then taken on train cars without any known destination. When they got off the train, they arrived at Auschwitz, one of the worst death camps during the war. The events of the camp are filled with detail about how the prisonors were made inhuman, giving them numbers, shaving their heads and putting them in raggy prisoner's clothes. As months pass and the war continues, the nazi's move the prisoners to another came in fear that the allies will becoming soon. The prisoners were moved to a new camp named Buchenwald, in this camp Eliezer faces troubles that he would never think he would have seen with God behind his back.
Why read? Anyone who is big on history or about the holocaust would love this book. You really get an understanding about what happened to those prisoners who were captured and thrown into camps by the Nazi's. With that, it is just a great read in general because of how the story flows so well and the style used to express the feelings are a great blend of excitement and depression. I really got to connect with this book because of the stories I have heard about my family who were faced with similar problems and experiences.

The Forger By: Paul Watkins
Recommended by: Sergio U.
Plot: During WWII, an American artist travels to Paris to learn from one of the best painters. Everything changes when he finds out that he was brought to Paris to forge some of France's most famous paintings before the Germans take them or burn them
Why read? Yes, it gives you a take on Paris during the invasion in WWII.
Reviewers Note: Long book, but worth reading. Don't stop in the middle, the book really is worth reading.
 

East of Eden By: John Steinbeck
Recommended By: Adam H
Plot: A modern retelling of the story of Cain and Abel, East of Eden tells of mankind's struggle between good and evil through the family of Adam Trask.
Why read? An amazing book from a famous author, East of Eden is truly a classic, and Steinbeck's philosophies really capture the reader.