I just recently finished "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak. I had no idea what this novel was going to be about going into it; all I knew was that our 10th grade English class study it. Right off the bat I noticed that our narrator was not your average Joe. The narrator is death. When I realized this I said to myself, "Oh this is going to be good." The novel is all about the Holocaust and it is shown from a German point of view. Leisel Meminger's mother gives her away to a foster German family. On the trip to this new family, Leisel's brother dies. So right from the start death is there. I'm not going to give you a synopsis of it, because I think you should read it for yourself. Just know that a German family hides a Jew in their basement for a while, and death is around every corner. That last line of the novel really got me though..."I am haunted by humans."
One of my precious students brought me her favorite book, so of course I had to read it. The book is "Holding up the Universe" by Jennifer Niven. I read this book in the four hour drive to Branson. It was a super easy and fast read. It wasn't broken up into chapters, but little snipets of the two main characters lives. This book encourages acceptance of not only your own body and mind, but others as well. It addresses the harsh world of bullying in high school and how to overcome it. 10/10 will recommend to my students!