PROGRAM INFORMATION | LANGUAGE ARTS | CURRICULUM HOME | DISTRICT HOME
Grades 8-12 | Submit a review
BROWSE BY GENRE:
Book Reviews:
The
Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals
By: Michael
Pollan
Recommended by: Thomas P.
Plot: In The Omnivore’s Dilemma, Michael Pollan explores the question, “What should I eat?” He examines three different food chains, starting on a corn farm in Iowa, then onto the pastoral agricultural paradise of Polyface Farms, and then finally the forests of northern California as he hunts and forages a meal for himself. By the end of the book, the reader will know just what goes into what you eat (Hint: it’s mostly corn).
Why Read? While entertaining, the book is also very informative, giving you insight into the worlds of the industrial and organic food markets. It acts as an eye opener, as no one in today’s world is really aware of what exactly goes into what they eat. read more reviews
The Ghost Map
By:
Steven Johnson
Recommended by:
Mr. Pellicane
Plot: Johnson describes the 1854 cholera epidemic in London, and John Snow’s struggle to convince the populace that the disease was in the water. This book is rated S (for graphic description of sewage.)
Why read? Makes you glad to have indoor plumbing.
Animals in Translation
By: Temple Grandin
Recommended by:
Ms. Donahue
Plot:
Temple Grandin has autism. She understands cows, not people. She
discovered that her autism is the key to decoding animal behavior.
Why read? The best book I've read in years. You’ll never look at another animal the same way again.
Awakenings
By: Oliver Sacks
Recommended by: Ms. Donahue
Plot: The true story of Dr. Sacks’ discovery that comatose patients in a mental ward could be animated by a new drug.
Why read? Doctors are known for their illegible handwriting. Most people assume that they also can’t write well. Dr. Sacks is an exception. His writing is accessible to the lay person and his compassion towards his patients comes through. We all wish we had a doctor like him to treat us! He's brilliant, funny, and caring.
The Hot Zone
By: Richard Preston
Recommended by:
Ms. Donahue
Plot:
Very scary. This is the true story of an outbreak of Ebola Virus in
Reston, Virginia.
Why read? This is a story that the government hoped would never get out. Fortunately the story did but the virus didn’t!
The Life of the Skin
By: Arthur and Loretta Balin
Recommended by: Ms. Donahue
Plot: The Balins are dermatologists; their book takes the reader on a tour of his or her own skin.
Why read? Virtually ignored, our skin is actually our heaviest organ. What it does on a daily basis as we go about our business is fascinating. Some stories are sad enough to get everyone wearing sun screen.
This free script provided by
JavaScript Kit
Have a book you’d like to see
listed?
Please Note that while movies have ratings to help parents and students make better decisions about what material may or may not be appropriate, there are no such ratings in the publishing world. We trust that our students, with the help of their parents, can make appropriate choices for their grade levels.
Questions? e-mail us
Resources:
Alibris.com - good as new used books
Fiction:
Adventure
General Fiction
Historical Fiction
Humor
Mysteries & Thrillers
Sci Fi & Fantasy
Young Adult
Non-fiction:
Biography
History
Medicine & Health
Memoirs
Science & Technology
Sports
Other