I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Healing, and Finding Your Way Home by Maria Shriver

I Am Maria: My Reflections and Poems on Heartbreak, Healing, and Finding Your Way Home by Maria Shriver What a gift Maria Shriver has shared with readers. She has shared aspects of her personal life that has formed her to become the woman that she is. She also wrote poems as she worked through experiences that she has gone through. A good read and can be relateable.

Faith: A Journey For All by Jimmy Carter

Faith: A Journey For All by Jimmy Carter I've always liked Jimmy Carter. He has made a positive difference in the world, even though things didn't go so well when he was president in some regards but yet was successful in other presidential acts. He was a good man and I enjoyed listening to his audiobook.

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter

A Full Life: Reflections at Ninety by Jimmy Carter If you want to learn more about modern American history, might as well get it from a former president. Learn about Jimmy Carter's life as a young lad to a man in his 90s. It's a good read/listen to. Enjoy.

An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter

An Hour Before Daylight: Memories of a Rural Boyhood by Jimmy Carter A beautiful book of Jimmy Carter's family history. The background and foundtion of how he came to be. His family, friends and the love of his life. A good book to enjoy about a great man who was very humble.

Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr. , Jess Wibowo (illustrator) , Cin Wibowo (illustrator)

Weirdo by Tony Weaver Jr. is a good read. A heads up there is mentioned of suicide. It's contemplative and off page. He sees a psychologist and goes to a school that he makes real friend. A good book to add to any middle school.

Something Lost, Something Gained: Reflections on Life, Love, and Liberty by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Something Lost, Something Gained is a good read and a good audibook. Written and published before the 2024 presidential election, shows a lot of insight in to the world of politics. Hillary Rodham Clinton has worked to help people around the world as well as the United States. I wish more people had read this book before they voted. Just saying.

What It Takes to Save a Life: A Veterinarian's Quest for Healing and Hope by Kwane Stewart

What It Takes To Save A Life is a great book to read. It's good to know that there are people helping others in difficult situations. Kwame brings insight into the world of the homelessness. A very good book to read or listen to.

A First TIme For Everything by Dan Santat

A First Time For Everything by Dan Santat Is a great middle school coming of age book in graphic novel format. Santat's life as a awkward middle school kid from the 1980s is sweet and charming and authentic. Add this one to your middle school library. IT's a great read.

My Lost Freedom by George Takei

 Camp Tule Lake is ultimately where George Takei and his family ended up.  My father was a music teacher at Tule Lake during this time so I have a tiny personal connection to the book.  This is a good picture book to have in the school library.  It teaches about history from the perspective of a child who lived through it.  I am grateful that we have a book that shows what life was like for a family in a very challenging situation.  They may not have had control of situations but they knew how to make the best of a situation.  A good read.  

Chance Escape From the Holocaust by Uri Shulevitz

 An important read of the memoir of a talented man who survived WWII and the Holocaust in Europe.  Some grim stories and touching stories.  Add this one to your library.

The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta

It's an important read because it helps us understand or connect to other people's world.  It's is personally written about the author's life.  It's a good read.

All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson

This is a book that I would say read first.  It's an honest book told by the author based on what he had experienced. 

Nobody Will Tell You This But Me by Bess Kalb

A sweet story of a four generation from Russia to America.  Four women raising their children as told 

by a grandmother encouraging her grand daughter.  Listen to the audio book.  It's told sweetly.  

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

This story is required reading at my high school for seniors.  One student was so affected by the book, they threw their copy of the book in great passion concerning the story.  It's that good.  By the way please don't throw books.  The first book is Half Broke Horses.  Her grandmother's story.  This is her mother and her childhood story.  Written with respect and crafted by a really good writer, we read her personal story.  I can't even imagine how challenging this story was to write.  Great Job Jeannette Walls!