I thank #read15in15 for inspiring me to keep track of the books I read throughout this year. Since my last update, I have read 10 more books. I keep updating this list for my own future reference, but I’d love new book recommendations from my readers – please add comments with your suggestions! After this round, it is my goal to read more YA books.
22. Remember Mia by Alexandra Burt- This was a mystery about a mother suffering from postpartum that was both engaging and heartbreaking at times, with various twists and turns. I enjoyed the story!
23. I Suck at Relationships so You Don’t Have To by Bethenny Frankel (I listened to the audio version of this)- This was an amusing book to listen to on my commute for a week or so, with insight into the differences between men and women.
- Side note: I also recently discovered the podcast Undisclosed, going into more depth about the case from the Serial podcast. I have enjoyed listening to all of these stories during my daily commute! I anxiously await a new episode each Monday afternoon!
24. Silent Girls by Eric Rickstad – This was a mystery recommended to me by a work friend who is a prolific reader (Thanks Melanie!). I enjoyed the darkness to this and am happy to have discovered a new mystery author.
25. 61 Hours by Lee Child- I have been a fan of the Jack Reacher series by Child for years. I’m just now going through a stack of paperbacks my father gave me after he finished reading them. I have enjoyed every book in this series! If you are a fan of mysteries, check it out!
26. Overcoming the Achievement Gap Trap: Liberating Mindsets to Effect Change by Anthony Muhammad – Our district leadership team has been reading this book after we had the privilege of hosting Dr. Muhammad as our keynote speaker in July. What I appreciate about his newest book is the realities he confronts (racism still exists) and the clear lists of indicators for schools working to creating a liberation mindset. Our schools do need significant transformation on behalf of the students we serve.
27. Furiously Happy: A Funny Book about Horrible Things by Jenny Lawson- I have loved Lawson’s hysterical, real, honest blog for years. I also loved her first book and couldn’t wait to get my hands on her newest book. I wish I had listened to this one on Audible instead of reading it, because some of her stories are meant to be enjoyed audibly! There were funny parts to balance out the more serious elements, where Lawson bravely addresses her mental health challenges. I recommend this book to anyone who suffers from depression and anyone who loves anyone who suffers from depression.
28. Nothing to Lose by Lee Child- I never get tired of the Jack Reacher series. Each book has it’s own setting and new characters, with only Reacher as a commonality. His larger-than-life persona make for an interesting read every time!
29. What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship and Love by Carole Radziwill. A good friend recommends this book to me and though it was heartbreakingly sad, I’m glad I read it. Carole married Prince Anthony Radziwill, who was a cousin and best friend of John F. Kennedy, Jr. Carole became good friends with Carolyn Bissette. Kennedy and Bissette died three weeks before Carole’s husband. Despite the tragedies that impacted her marriage and life (and the fact that one of Anthony’s first doctors was the same doctor who treated my mother’s cancer at Memorial Sloan Kettering), Carole’s writing paints a moving story.
30. George by Alex Gino. I set a goal to read more YA books and found this on my shelf (thanks Dad!). This is a very sweet story about a fourth grade child born as a boy who identifies herself as a girl. Before this book, I had never read/ heard of a transgender story about a child so young. It was well-written and something that I would have in my classroom library if our class or school needed to understand the transgender experience.
31. The Good Girl by Mary Kubica. This was recommended to me by a friend, who has the same reading taste as me, so of course I bought it and read it right away. I loved this book! The chapters are told by various characters, flashing back and forward frequently. You learn bits and pieces of the stories from different points of view and I was captivated through to the epilogue. I highly recommend this if you like mysteries at all!
What books do you recommend?
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Reflections on Leadership and Learning 