1st Quarter Reading Ladder

My reading "wall of fame." If we want students to love reading, we've got to show them that we do, too.

Before I erase my list from the board and start with a new, clean slate for second marking period, I'm putting the books on the pictured list in order of their challenge to me as a reader. Beyond the ladder itself, a few trends to note:

Trend #1: My interest in YA literature is narrowing. I still love YA, but it has to be of substance. And my latest high standard is Everything I Never Told You. The other three YA books from this marking period are much lower on my list.

Trend #2: More diverse literature. I didn't intentionally set out to read multicultural literature, but now that I have read more titles like this, I am intentional about putting more diverse literature on my read-next list, and to tapping into the reading lives of my colleagues in order to populate that list.

Trend #3: Illness and death. Several of the books I've read this marking period underscore the truth that death meets us alone. And when illness strikes, we discover who we really are and the strengths and weaknesses of those who claim to love us.

Trend #4: Infidelity. What's up with all the cheaters in the books I read?! We all know cheating ruins relationships, but I was intrigued by how authors went in depth in their study of this theme, and to see how many different approaches and responses there are to infidelity. Some couples are forever broken. Others can heal...

Trend #5: Look at the horizon. This one relates more to the nonfiction than the fiction, but when in doubt, time and perspective will always help guide people to make the best choices.

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

Inside the O'Brien's by Lisa Genova

Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You by Courtney Maum

Still Alice by Lisa Genova

The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe

Never Broken: Songs Are Only Half the Story by Jewel

The Wife by Meg Wolitzer

I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson

The Rosie Effect by Graeme Simsion