“Stories can cross the barrier of time, past, present, and future, allowing us to experience the similarities between ourselves and through others, real and imagined.”
— Andrew Stanton, Pixar screenwriter
One of the highlights of summer is the light, which extends well into the evening and allows for more time to sit outside and read! Included below is a list of books recommended by staff at Options; each grade level has a selection of titles from different genres. Here’s to the beginning of long, sunny days filled with books!
Grade 8
Fiction
Escape from Aleppo by N H Senzai
Since the civil war began in Syria, the conflict has devastated the lives of millions. Twelve-year-old Nadia narrates Escape from Aleppo; through her, we learn about the social and political developments, which led to the revolt in 2011 and its disastrous aftermath.
Ghost by Jason Reynolds
When Ghost is one of four students chosen to be a member of his middle school track team, he is excited but, understandably, apprehensive. His coach recognizes the incredible potential he has, but before Ghost can achieve his goals, he must confront what he has been running from his whole life.
Non-Fiction
All Thirteen – The Incredible Cave Rescue of the Thai Boys’ Soccer Team – by Christina Soontornvat
In 2018, a young soccer team and their coach were trapped by floodwaters in the Tham Lang Nang Non cave in Thailand. All Thirteen chronicles the seventeen days they spent underground. Soontorvat movingly details their harrowing experience and remarkable rescue.
Grade 9
Fiction
The Marrow Thieves by Cherie Dimaline
This dystopian fiction imagines a world devastated by global warming. In North America, Indigenous people are being persecuted and hunted for their bone marrow, which will enable people to dream, an ability everyone else has lost. This haunting novel won the 2017 Governor General’s Award for Children’s English Literature.
Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saenz
When teenagers Aristotle and Dante first meet, they appear to have very little in common, but circumstances bring them together, and they soon discover that they share a connection. Saenz’s novel won multiple honours including the Stonewall Book Award and the Pura Belpre Award for Writing.
Non-Fiction
I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai (Young Readers Edition)
In her autobiography, Malala Yousafzai recounts memories of her childhood growing up in Pakistan. When the Taliban took control of this once peaceful region, they restricted the freedoms of girls and women; Malala bravely began advocating for educational rights. In 2012, on her way to school, she was shot in the head. After a remarkable recovery, Malala has continued her campaign for peace and education; she is the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize.
The Pocket Change Collective
This engaging series of books discusses a range of critical topics such as environmental activism, sustainability, the relationship between art and peaceful protest, and political movements.
Poetry
milk and honey by Rupi Kaur
Kaur’s prose and poetry compilation reflect on subjects such as love, loss, femininity, and hope. Self-published in 2014, this is Kaur’s first collection of writing; since then, she has authored a second collection: the sun and her flowers.
Grade 10
Fiction
The Life of Pi by Yann Martel
After a shipwreck crossing the Pacific, sixteen-year-old Pi finds himself sharing a raft with the only other survivors: a hyena, zebra, orangutan, and a Bengal tiger. As the passengers establish order and routine to the days, what initially appears to be an implausible story, becomes a possibility.
Non-Fiction
Becoming (Young Readers Edition) by Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama’s memoir is characteristically funny and honest. She vividly describes her childhood growing up in Chicago, her parents’ support of her goal to become a lawyer, and her calling to work in public service. During her time as First Lady of the United States, she passionately advocated for the rights of girls and women, becoming a much-needed voice of hope and inspiration.
We Are Displaced by Malala Yousafzai
In the past decade, millions of people around the world have been displaced. In this moving book, Malala Yousafzai hopes to raise awareness by providing an opportunity for these courageous women to tell their stories. All have been forced to leave their homes because of economic, social, or political conflict. Despite the incredible hardships that they have had to face, their message is one of determined hope for the future.
The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose
When Germany occupied Denmark at the beginning of WW2, teenagers Knud and Jens Pedersen, along with several friends, established a secret club named in honour of the British Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Determined to assist in the fight against the Nazis, they executed many acts of sabotage. Hoose provides a compelling recount of their courageous resistance efforts; in 2015, The Boys Who Challenged Hitler won numerous awards, including The Boston Globe-Horn Non-Fiction prize.
Grade 11
Fiction
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
When Liesel discovers her love of books, she is aware that it may come at a great price. The Nazis have risen to power, many authors are banned, and book burnings are common. Inspired by the selfless bravery of her foster parents, who are hiding a young Jewish man in their house, Liesel realizes there is a story that needs to be told and begins writing her own manuscript.
Non-Fiction
Born A Crime by Trevor Noah
In this incredibly funny memoir, comedian Trevor Noah describes his childhood and adolescence in apartheid, South Africa. At the time of his birth, his parents’ relationship was considered a crime; as a result, he spent his early years often hidden away. Despite this, and growing up in abject poverty, Noah reflects on his childhood with pragmatism and humour.
Victory Garden for Bees by Lori Weidenhammer
Bumble, Honey, Mason, Carpenter, every day we are surrounded by many varieties of bees all working diligently to pollinate; yet we are often unaware of them. Thankfully, there is increasing understanding and appreciation of the critically important role bees play in the production of all our food. Weidenhammer, a Vancouver-based educator, encourages everyone to think about how they can help ensure the survival of bees by digging up our grass and planting a victory garden for these incredible pollinators!
Grade 12
Fiction
We are not from here by Jenny Torres Sanchez
When three teens Pulga, Chica, and Piquena decide to make the perilous journey from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States, on the train La Bestia, they are aware of the dangers; however, their fear of what they leave behind outweighs the risks. As a child of immigrants herself, Torres Sanchez was inspired to write this novel after hearing news stories about unaccompanied minors who had to flee their homes. These children often face prejudice and detention upon their arrival. Torres Sanchez hopes that by telling this story, she raises awareness about their plight.
My Family and Other Animals by Gerald Durrell
Gerald Durrell’s semi-autobiographical account of his years as a boy living in Corfu before WW2 is poignant and wonderfully descriptive. Encouraged by his family and locals, Gerald began studying local wildlife, eventually establishing a small zoo in his garden. His descriptions of the antics of both the animals and his family make for an incredibly funny and moving novel.
Non-Fiction
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings – Maya Angelou
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a hauntingly beautiful autobiography that recounts Angelou’s childhood. Her memoir describes the abandonment she and her brother felt when their mother left them to live with their grandmother. After experiencing years of prejudice, Maya found her voice and a sense of hope; she became a renowned poet, writer, and civil rights activist.
Penguin Bloom by Cameron Bloom and Bradley Trevor Greives
In 2013, while on holiday with her husband and three young sons, Sam Bloom fell from a rooftop in Thailand. She was left paralyzed and severely depressed until a most unlikely friendship was formed with an orphaned Magpie. While the Bloom’s nursed the bird (Penguin) to health, Sam found renewed strength and purpose. This story, which runs parallel to a stunning collection of photos, taken by professional photographer Cameron Bloom, chronicles a remarkable story of survival.
The Good Immigrant UK by Nikesh Shukla
In this insightful collection of essays, 21 writers talk about their experiences living in the United Kingdom; Shukla’s anthology discusses topics such as race, equality, and belonging.
Poetry
Passport to Here and There by Grace Nichols
In Nichol’s ninth collection of poetry, she poignantly reflects on her childhood spent in Guyana and her move to England. These poems celebrate the connection between our past and present.
