Aneesha’s Holiday Reading List for 2020
Thanksgiving break marks the countdown to winter break, which can serve as a great opportunity for us to decompress and relax. After several weeks of tireless studying and an influx of homework, this transition from autumn to winter grants us time to pursue other hobbies and activities that rarely appear on our typical busy schedules. Imagine taking a leisurely walk around the neighborhood, shuffling through the fallen leaves on a cloudy afternoon. Or spending the morning baking and decorating Christmas-themed sugar cookies with your family. If you’re lucky, maybe you will get to experience the first snowfall of the season while you watch a good movie. Or, my favorite activity to do over break, reading a good book by the window while sipping some hot chocolate. In my opinion, reading is by far one of the best ways to spend a break. It gives us a chance to find a cozy spot in our house and just let our minds roam free. Not to mention, we could all use a break from screens. However, choosing a good book to read can be difficult. So, I have compiled a list of the top 10 books that I would strongly recommend for anyone looking to decompress with a good book!
#1 I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika Sánchez
I finished reading this book a few months ago, and I found the writing style refreshingly witty. The story is told from the perspective of a quick-witted, rebellious teenager named Julia Reyes who now lives in a Chicago neighborhood after illegally immigrating to the US from Mexico with her family when she was young. Julia lives with her parents and her older sister Olga, who her parents consider “perfect” and “righteous.” But when Olga is killed in an accident, Julia struggles to take over Olga’s responsibilities and begins to discover secrets of the past, which could explain her and Olga’s relationships with their parents. This coming-of-age story is an excellent read and readers will definitely enjoy the themes of overcoming challenges and defying the odds. Sánchez handles heavier topics such as rape, violence, and suicide appropriately, and overall, I would highly recommend this book for any high schooler. You can find an eBook copy of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter from the KCLS library here.
#2 The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
After reading this book over the past summer, I cannot begin to describe how eye-opening and well-written this book is. The story is told from the perspective of Arnold Spirit Jr. (Junior), a fourteen-year-old Native American boy living on the Spokane Indian Reservation. The school on the reservation is defunded and chaotic, which leads to Junior’s decision to enroll in an all-white school outside of the reservation. Readers will witness Junior’s firsthand experience of feeling out of place both at his new school and on the reservation. Alexie also depicts the alcoholism, gambling, and violence that dictate Native American reservations. Junior’s struggles living on the reservation and going to school are relatable at times and possess themes surrounding perseverance, poverty vs. privilege, and racism. Overall, this is an enlightening read, and I would definitely recommend it. You can find an eBook copy of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian from the KCLS library here.
#3 Enrique’s Journey by Sonia Nazario
Enrique’s Journey is a very well-told story that effectively hooks the reader in. The book is about a young boy named Enrique in Honduras, whose mother left him and his older sister when he was five-years-old to find a job in the United States. Enrique’s mother plans to save enough money to send for both her children to come to the US and stay with her, but as years pass, Enrique begins to lose hope of ever being reunited with his mother. Although his mother stays in touch over letters and sends some money to her family in Honduras, Enrique begins to get frustrated and turns to drugs to cope with his anger when he becomes a teenager. After being evicted by the relatives caring for him, seventeen-year-old Enrique decides to make the 1,500-mile journey to the US to find his mother. Readers view the difficulty of illegally immigrating to the US and feel Enrique’s pain through Nazario’s delicately crafted writing. Nazario addresses relevant topics and her thorough research is reflected in this beautifully written novel. You can find an eBook copy of Enrique’s Journey from the KCLS library here.
#4 They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
Let me begin by saying, my high standard for graphic novels was met and exceeded in this powerful novel by George Takei. They Called Us Enemy is a memoir based upon Takei’s unfortunate experiences in Japanese internment camps during World War II. The illustrations of the graphic novel by Harmony Becker are so powerful, and the attention to detail with the color scheme and sketches of the characters make this graphic novel stand out. The ability to address such a heavy topic in so few words is difficult to achieve, yet Takei pulls it off. Takei takes readers on his difficult life journey, from being suddenly whisked away from his home when he was four and losing his childhood, to struggling to understand the reasoning behind the legalized racism that uprooted his family. This novel utilizes Takei’s own reflection on the events that took place and his childhood perspective, to question the democracy that kept him and his family behind barbed wire for years. With strong family values, undying memories, and experiences that made him who he is today, Takei’s They Called Us Enemy is an excellent read, and a great recommendation to graphic novel fans and all readers alike. You can find an eBook copy of They Called Us Enemy from the KCLS library here.
#5 Trell by Dick Lehr
After I read this book last year, all I can say is that it is an absolutely stunning novel. In the 1980s, when 13-year-old Ruby Johnson became the victim of a gang-related shooting, a young African American man was immediately charged with murder and given a life sentence, despite his innocence. Now, this has been the story that has appeared in newspapers for as long as 13-year-old Trell can remember. Although she was only an infant when her father was imprisoned, she knows he was wrongly convicted. Trell is determined to prove her father’s innocence and persuades a journalist and a lawyer to assist her in revealing the truth. This gripping novel about truth, danger, and justice is incredible in its plot and writing style. Author Dick Lehr, a former reporter for the Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team based Trell off of a similar case he investigated. Trell arouses difficult questions surrounding the fight for freedom, and this is by far an excellent mystery novel to read over the holiday break. You can find an eBook copy of Trell from the KCLS library here.
#6 Wild Bird by Wendelin Van Draanen
Wild Bird is a riveting dystopian novel centering around a rebellious teenage girl named Wren Clemmens. When Wren first fell into the “wrong crowd” in sixth grade, she didn’t think much of it, but as she enters high school, she gets sucked into a world of lies, weed, and poor choices. Her hateful relationship with her sister contrasts with her rebellious nature, and soon, Wren is out of control. When Wren reaches the point where her parents don’t know what to do with her anymore, she is suddenly taken out of bed in the middle of the night by strange officials and marched into the desert. She arrives at a Wilderness Survival Therapy camp which is full of other teens whose parents have given up on them. Wren battles with bitterness and raging emotions, but soon finds that when she has to start campfires, set up tents, cook her own food, and depend on herself to survive, she may need advice from other members in the camp. Draanen accurately captures the feelings of a complicated teenage girl, and her use of flashbacks in the novel is truly exceptional. Wild Bird is a great read and is full of unexpected friendships and the mending of broken bonds. You can find an eBook copy of Wild Bird from the KCLS library here.
#7 Bronx Masquerade by Nikki Grimes
This book has been on my To-Read list for a while now, and unfortunately, I’ve never gotten around to reading this book. However, from the synopses and reviews I’ve read, this book sounds very interesting and creative. The story is about an English class in a high school in Bronx, New York. When the English teacher, Mr. Ward, assigns an essay on the Harlem Renaissance, one student has the bright idea to write poems instead. This sparks the beginning of “Open Mic Fridays,” when students bring their own poems and share them with one another. Grimes gives readers glimpses of the students’ very different lives, with some students aspiring to become famous artists, others conscious about their physical appearance, some who have lost loved ones to drugs, and more. As students continue to read their poems, they begin to feel more comfortable with one another, and their English class becomes a safe-haven for all of them. From what I’ve heard, Grimes takes readers on a beautiful journey of dreams, struggles, and the bonding of a community. You can find an eBook copy of Bronx Masquerade from the KCLS library here.
#8 Sold by Patricia McCormick
Sold by Patricia McCormick is a wonderful story full of hardships, loss of innocence, and familial betrayal. The main character of the story is a 13-year-old Nepali girl named Lakshmi, who lives with her mother and step-father in the mountains. However, when a Himalayan monsoon washes away the remains of the family’s crops, Lakshmi’s family needs a source of income. Her step-father takes her to a city in India and introduces her to a woman who claims she will help Lakshmi find a job as a housemaid. But Lakshmi, eager to help support her family, soon learns the horrific truth: she has been sold into prostitution. The prostitution brothel is full of inhumanity and deceit, and Lakshmi’s unimaginable struggles force her to search for light in the darkness. McCormick handles the heavy, relevant topic of child prostitution and human trafficking, making Sold unforgettable, heartbreaking, and a well-written novel which I would highly recommend. You can find an eBook copy of Sold from the KCLS library here.
#9 The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Although I have yet to finish reading The Help, I recently watched the movie, which was exceptional in both its acting and storyline, and firmly stuck to the plot of the book throughout. The Help takes place in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960s, a time when segregation and racism heavily prevailed in the South. The novel stars Eugenia “Skeeter” Phelan, a newly hired journalist who comes from a wealthy family in Jackson. Besides Skeeter’s point of view, the story is also told through the perspectives of two African American maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson, both of whom work for white families. When Skeeter witnesses the dehumanizing, racist, and harsh treatment colored maids receive from both her own parents and her friends, she decides to write a novel from the point of view of “the help” and asks Aibileen and Minny to share their stories with her, despite the danger that came with colored women speaking out at the time. Stockett’s raw portrayal of racism in the 1960s, newly formed friendships, and the telling of unheard stories make The Help a must-read (and watch!). You can find an eBook copy of The Help from the KCLS library here.
#10 The Imitation Game by Jim Ottaviani
Ever since I saw The Imitation Game movie, this graphic novel has been on my To-Read list. Although I haven’t finished reading it, I would still recommend it based on the synopses, movie, and reviews I have seen. The Imitation Game is based on the life of Alan Turing, a young mathematician who cracked the German Enigma code during World War II. The illustrations in the book by Leland Purvis wonderfully capture Turing’s journey from a curious schoolboy to the hidden hero of the Allies. Turing secretly worked on breaking the German Enigma code and invented The Turing Machine, the first computer in the world, which greatly assisted the Allies in defeating the Germans. As the pioneer of computer science, Turing’s work still plays a role in modern-day technological advancements. Ottaviani’s writing sheds additional light on the brilliant mathematician, accompanied by Purvis’ deep illustrations. Overall, from what I’ve read, The Imitation Game is a great graphic novel to read over any upcoming break. You can find an eBook copy of The Imitation Game from the KCLS library here.
There you have 10 of my top book recommendations for this Thanksgiving break as well as Winter break. Find an eBook or order a physical copy of any books that stood out to you on this list and enjoy some reading and relaxation time in the upcoming weeks. Happy reading!
