1- Nothing to Fear by Jackie French Koller
Suitable for young adults.
It entails the coming-of-age journey of Danny Garvey, the eldest son of an Irish immigrant family struggling through the Great Depression. It is a tale of endurance and courage, love and growth. The experiences of every character will surely resonate and linger in readers’ minds and hearts.
“Like ‘A Tree Grows Brooklyn’, is evokes the sounds and sights of a poor neighborhood in hard times, conjuring an entire era from the heartaches and troubles of one struggling family.”
– Kirkus Reviews
2- The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Suitable for young adults between the ages of 13 and 18
The Help is an original and timeless tale that takes place during the racial segregation of the 1960s when African American women were hired as maids to raise white children. These women come together to write a tell-all book about their true experiences in white homes, a book that will shake and enrage the small town in which they live. Both humorous and heart-breaking, the Help is a book worthy of a special place in every avid reader’s library.
“If you read only one book…let this be it.”
– NPR.org
3- The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Suitable for young adults.
It is a morbid tale narrated by death as he accompanies the Book Thief, Liesel Meminger through the trials and tribulations of Nazi Germany. It is a treat for history fanatics and lovers of books in all their glory.
“Extraordinary, resonant, beautiful and angry”- Sunday Telegraph
4- The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Suitable for young adults.
A comedic classic, the ‘trivial comedy for serious people’ surrounds the mischievous scheme of the protagonist who maintains a fictitious persona in order to escape responsibilities while pursuing pleasures. This book is sure to amuse all sarcastic readers while also driving them to think of society’s most humorous flaws.
5- The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke
Suitable for children ages 9 to 12
An exciting plot from the renowned storyteller, The Thief Lord portrays the adventures of the mysterious thief lord and his gang of orphans as they live independently in the shadows of Venice and raid its richest homes. The treasure they later seek is one that will illuminate young readers’ imaginations.