Special Events
National Book Lovers Day: Book Suggestions from ALVS Instructors
Today, August 9th is National Book Lovers Day. It is a day where all book lovers and bookworms can come together and share their passion and love for reading books.
Some avid readers celebrate by going to their local library, joining a book club, donating their old books, or inspiring others to begin reading also. If you are looking to observe the holiday this year, the simple way to participate is to start a new book! - even if you don’t currently consider yourself a “book lover”.
In honor of National Book Lovers Day, we asked our ALVS teachers what their favorite books are, if they have a favorite they like to teach, or if they have recommendations for “must-reads.” We hope they inspire you to continue your love of reading or start a new book today.
Here are their top recommendations and why:
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry“Number the Stars was one of my favorite books to teach every year. It is a story of bravery, courage, friendship, family, and love, and standing up for what is right in the face of evil. Every single year, you could hear a pin drop in my classroom when we were reading together. You could hear sniffles holding back tears from all corners as the more heart-wrenching plot twists took shape. This book not only teaches students the horrors associated with Nazi invasion of countries but also how to take care of each other as humans.”
“Sedaris hilariously captures the frustration, humiliation, and amazing tiny victories of learning another language. I love sharing (edited!) passages with my students to show that no, they're not the only one who feels this way when listening to a new language and clumsily attempting to express oneself.”
“This book is so charming and fun to read! It has excellent plot twists and adds a "lightness" to traditional murder mysteries. The setting, characters, and stories are clever and comical. I cannot wait for the third book to come out next month!”
“The book follows the main character, Santiago, as he goes on a journey to follow his dreams. I love the concept that we can make our lives metaphorically turn to gold just by following our hearts.”
“In true Andrew Smith fashion, Grasshopper Jungle is weird, but somehow completely relatable. Giant bugs, the end of the world, and an unstoppable friendship - go read it!”
“Alvarez beautifully crafts a historical fiction story about four sisters, The Mirabal sisters, who stand up against the Dominican Republics' brutal dictator Gen. Rafael Leonidas Trujillo in the 1960s. These four extraordinary wives and mothers become martyred and known as "las Mariposas" (the butterflies) to the Dominican people. I love this novel because it is written with such beautiful poetic language that captures your imagination and is based on a true story.”
Whether you consider yourself a “book lover” or not, or just interested in starting a new book, we hope you’ll enjoy reading some of our instructors’ favorites.
