The Art of Secrets by James Klise

I picked up this book for two reasons: James Klise is a local Chicago author (more about that below) and I have enjoyed his sister Kate’s writing and was therefore curious about reading a book by him. The Art of Secrets was a fun and intriguing read, told mainly in documents, including letters, newspaper articles, interviews and texts/emails.  I enjoyed that style of writing with its multiple perspectives. The novel, set in a contemporary private school, deals with issues of acceptance and social status. There’s an element of mystery with plenty of misunderstandings and … secrets.

In The Art of Secrets Saba Khan’s apartment is destroyed in a suspicious fire and her classmates pull together to arrange a fund-raising auction which gets very interesting because of the high value of some found art.  Along the way, Klise discusses immigration, fitting in and several moral/ethical questions concerning hate crimes and greed.  Who is using whom? The list is long and ranges from free rides to/from school… to college application essay material… to free host family and luxury housing… to insurance payments … to more popularity at school… to better office furnishings. Opportunities for misunderstandings abound and the reader is able to see events from many [some not so comfortable] sides.  The Art of Secrets is worth the read, especially for students in late middle school and early high school as they try to develop their own identities and learn to build empathy for peers and adults.

And how about **Free Pizza** for lunch this Saturday, May 31st, at the Bookstall in Winnetka?  Call 847.446.8880 for more details about this midday Teen Pizza Party. Since James Klise is a local author, he will be joining Philip Siegel (The Break-up Artist) to talk about books and the writing process, as well as answering questions and signing copies of their novels. The program is free and designed for readers age 12 and up.  See you there!

We are the Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

We are the Goldens by award-winning author Dana Reinhardt starts as a very quick read, although it slows down a bit when one of the main characters is making poor choices and the other seems unable to take decisive action.  BUT isn’t that actually very realistic?  How many of us have hesitated to tell a sibling or good friend that we are concerned about their choices?  How many have tried instead to pretend that it would go away or resolve itself?  That is the situation in which Nell, high school freshman, finds herself in when Layla, her older sister and a high school junior, starts spending time alone with a male teacher.

Reinhardt’s exploration of questions of loyalty, betrayal and intimate relationships successfully evokes strong emotions, mostly sadness, in the reader.  She definitely arouses feelings like confusion and resentment as two sisters mature and grow apart. Students, especially girls, will enjoy We are the Goldens with its focus on relationships: between the sisters, between children and parents, and between boyfriend-girlfriends. This coming of age novel will be a popular title; expect to see We are the Goldens nominated for several awards. 

And if you have not read other titles by Reinhardt, be sure to check out these: A Brief Chapter in My Impossible Life; Things a Brother Knows and How to Build a House, plus more!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Grab a copy of We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and start reading as soon as possible. Here’s a link to the first few chapters as well as some “teasers” for other titles from RandomHouseTeens.

I had waited to pick up this book in part because I was thinking “who wants to read about spoiled rich kids?”  That was a mistake.  The beautiful Sinclair family - stereotypically blonde, athletic and rich enough to have a private island for a summer getaway - have plenty of issues which will grab students’ attention as they did mine. Beyond the high praise and starred reviews, it is unfair to characterize this novel: part mystery, part romance, part therapy, part family tragedy.  John Green calls it “utterly unforgettable.”

National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart delivers a very quick read which  you will race through and then go back and re-read, savoring the story and its accompanying fairy tales of greed and secrets. Grandfather, three daughters, many cousins, including the Liars: Cadence, Gat, Johnny and Mirren. These four teens have developed a strong friendship over their years on the island; it’s their aversion to the shallow bickering born of privilege that leads to a horrific act of defiance. Yes, this book feels unique and yet relatable.  I can’t wait to book talk it – though if asked how it ends, I will have to lie.

Essentialism by Greg McKeown

After an incredibly busy second semester, I think that Greg McKeown’s new book, Essentialism, should be considered as an all school read. I have already been sharing it with teachers and students. Recommended by Daniel Pink, Arianna Huffington and Reid Hoffman (cofounder of LinkedIn), this book provides valuable insight into how to train yourself in “the disciplined pursuit of less.” 

As the publisher says, “it’s about doing less, but better.” There are sections on Essence (what is the Essentialist mindset?), Explore (how does one discern the vital?), Eliminate (cut out the trivia?)  and Execute.   Filled with practical advice and summarizing charts and diagrams, Essentialism is a ready reference on the journey to making better choices and defining what is truly essential in your life. Perfect for the over-committed and overwhelmed, this is book worth making the time to read and to reflect upon.

Part of the Exploration process is to actively investigate multiple options and then choose which are most critical; in that spirit, here is a 5 minute video about McKeon and Essentialism from the Stanford Graduate School of Business:

Lengthier videos (lecture and at Google) are available online; as is the author’s website. 

 

Graduation and then what? More learning!

I have been thinking quite a bit recently about both high school and college graduation ceremonies and new beginnings they symbolize. As a result, several related books have caught my eye:

One was A Freshman Survival Guide for College Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders: The Stuff Nobody Tells You About!  written by Haley Moss, a university student described as having High-Functioning Autism. Moss’ earlier book about attending middle school as a student on the Autism Spectrum received very positive reviews. Based on her more recent experiences at the University of Florida, she offers tips and advice for surviving the first year at college. This Freshman Survival Guide seemed like a vital resource for several of our Junior and Senior students and when I shared the title with our Post High School Counselors, they were immediately interested.  Unfortunately, the print copies will not be available until June 21st, but we plan to be purchasing copies to share with interested students and parents this summer and during the next school year. In reviewing a digital pre-pub version, I especially liked the frank, upfront tone that the author set, acknowledging that her experiences may not apply to everyone, but that she is trying to give an honest account of “the good, the bad, and the ugly.” She divides the book into sections which deal with Still Being in High School (read about college fairs, visiting campuses, prom and more); Getting Ready for College (housing, orientation, etc.); Dorm Life 101; Academics; Professional Life (resumes and interviewing); Social Life (including social media); Stress and Mental Health (homesickness, feeling overwhelmed, depression); Living Independently; and Home and Growing Up (with notes for parents).  This book is certain to generate some productive conversations and allay concerns, especially since it reinforces for me the strong foundation and preparation which our students already have.

Life after College by Tori Randolph Terhune and Betsy A. Hays focuses on “10 Steps to Build a Life you Love.”  The two authors, the CEO of Brand Chicks who graduated in 2009 from Fresno State paired with a college professor/motivational speaker, previously collaborated on Land Your Dream Career for college sophomores.  Here, they focus on seniors and recent grads making the transition from college life to being a working professional.  The advice in a number of categories (sleep, living healthy, money management, career momentum, mentors, etc.) is based on the authors’ own experiences and on interviews with professionals like a certified financial planner and a health coach. If you like making lists and a “worksheet” type experience, this may be a book for you.   While Terhune and Hays provide often-needed and valuable information in a personal and conversational way, it did seem a little “preachy” to me and some advice (“buy birthday cards in bulk”) felt as though it was geared to people older than the typical twenty-something recent grad.

Finally, I also read several essays in Should I Go to Grad School edited by Jessica Loudis, Bosko Blagojevic, John Arthur Peetz, and Allison Rodman.  This book is designed for someone who might be considering grad school in the arts or humanities (not engineering, law, business, or life sciences, all of which seem to generate plenty of advice and press).  Should I Go to Grad School refreshingly starts with a section similar to the “choose your own adventure” stories that we read in elementary school.  Based on the answers to a series of questions, the reader is directed with humor and verve to different paths, some of which recommend applying and some of which advocate waiting or re-evaluating. This part was fun to read and definitely felt helpful and honest to begin thinking about the key elements of this decision. Next came the (41!) essays, told from different perspectives and in different styles, about the pros and cons of grad school in the humanities.  Clearly, this book would appeal to a narrower audience, but it is well-written (by people interested in the humanities, after all) and worth exploring if you are considering English, History, Film or Fine Arts as part of your post-college options.   

So,  depending on which ceremonies you might be attending and whether you are a student, parent, teacher/professor or friend, do think about reading one of these books ... essentially, learning is a lifelong process!

The Hollow Ground by Natalie S. Harnett

I learned an amazing amount by reading The Hollow Ground by Natalie S. Harnett. Set in 1960’s in Northeast Pennsylvania, it focuses on the coal fires under Carbondale/Centralia and their impact on the community and on the family of 11 year-old Brigid Howley. Even though I had driven Route 6 through Carbondale, I did not know about these fires.  Harnett’s vivid descriptions helped me to image the smells, sounds and temperatures associated with this catastrophe:

“An entire playground had been condemned because the ground was too hot for dogs or kids to play. ...  Sinkholes, quick and sudden, plunging open at your feet." 

We know that miners’ lives are extremely difficult, but this story recounts the horror of hearing about your neighbors’ death due to carbon monoxide poisoning from these fires, seeing others evicted due to the fires’ spread, and having inspectors checking air quality in your own family’s home in the middle of the night.

It was even more difficult to read about the sheer poverty, lack of job prospects, and level of despair experienced from generation to generation. None of the adults seemed able to financially or emotionally support each other for any length of time and they barely held on for the children in their care.  In fact, the idea of being "hollow" inside and the painful choices associated with orphanages and adoption is woven throughout this coming of age story.

American Studies classes and some Junior Theme English students may find The Hollow Ground to be as intriguing as I did. Even the character's names are chosen with care: the name Brigid is associated with fire and she is the patron saint of children whose parents are not married; Dolores (Ma) means sorrow and Adrian (Daddy) refers to darkness - and possibly to water. Teachers could prompt discussions by pairing The Hollow Ground with the graphic novel and/or movie titled Winter's Bone which also deals with rural poverty and hard choices although it is set in the Ozarks. And I think students would find some very interesting parallels between the devastating coal fires and the more recent fracking controversy that the author mentions in her online discussion guide. The Smithsonian Magazine also ran a feature about the fires in 2005 and more info is available at the Carbondale Historical Society.