A very happy holidays and good reading for all<\/h1>\n

There’s nothing like relaxing with a good book for the holidays. And if you find yourself with a little quiet time and are looking for some reading recommendations, we, as always, are here to help.<\/p>\n

Here’s what we’re reading for the holidays.<\/p>\n

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Katy Farber<\/h3>\n

I’m reading several books. One, I’m finishing All the Light We Cannot See<\/a>. Yes, this was on the bestseller list last year, and I was finally able to get my hands on a used copy. The writing is utterly gorgeous. Take this quote, for example:<\/p>\n

“They clomp together through the narrow streets, Marie-Laure’s hand on the back of Madame’s apron, following the odors of stews and cakes; in such moments Madame seems like a great moving wall of rosebushes, thorny and fragrant and crackling with bees.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Really, how do you get better than that? I’m also currently reading aloud Kwame Alexander’s Booked<\/a> to my two daughters. We love that this book is in poetry form, and crawls inside the mind of a 12-about-to-be-13 year old boy.<\/p>\n

As for education? Well, there are several on my nightstand that need attention. One, Better Conversations<\/a>, which was recommended by a colleague. Two, The Art of Coaching Teams<\/a>, which I need to circle back to, but is a great resource about working with teacher teams. If only I could read all day!<\/p>\n

Audrey Homan<\/h3>\n

I’m not gonna lie: I’m not reading anything remotely related to work. Instead, I have my traditional holiday read, Hogfather, by Terry Pratchett<\/a>, and a bunch of classic mysteries set around December, because festive:<\/p>\n

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Emily Hoyler<\/h3>\n

I have a book problem: too many books I want to read, too little time.<\/p>\n

Recently, I really liked Station Eleven<\/a>\u00a0– a dystopian tale of the near future after a global flu\u00a0pandemic wipes out 99% of humanity.\u00a0 It was especially excellent because I was reading it during the recent week-long power outage- and my world looked a lot more like that fictional world than it usually does!<\/p>\n

If you’re feeling moved to explore personal growth, Bren\u00e9 Brown’s new one, Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone<\/a>, is inspiring (really, any of her books are!).\u00a0 Along the lines of building understanding across difference, I also picked up Strangers in Their Own Land: Anger and Mourning on the American Right<\/a> at a relative’s house over Thanksgiving and got sucked it – if you liked Hillbilly Elegy (maybe liked isn’t the right word, appreciated?) you’ll like this.<\/p>\n

And I have a feeling that Santa might bring me\u00a0The Grid: The Fraying Wires Between Americans and our Energy Future<\/a>. I heard about this one when the author was interviewed on NPR discussing the state of our electrical infrastructure, and how we can produce more alternative energy than we can handle (but we can’t store it!), and I decided I missed my calling as an electrical engineer.<\/p>\n

Professionally, I’m reading Out on the Wire: Uncovering the Secrets of Radio’s New Masters of Story with Ira Glass<\/a> – an excellent graphic novel about radio podcasts and storytelling.<\/p>\n

Apparently, I really like books with subtitles.<\/p>\n

Life LeGeros<\/h3>\n

If you are looking for a slightly edgy and super hilarious novel that’s chock full of references to nerd culture and dictatorial regimes of the Dominican Republic, please check out The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao<\/a>\u00a0by Junot Diaz. It’s like no book you’ve ever read. And when you have finished, if you want to hear more from Diaz about his personal immigration story, then listen to\u00a0his interview with Terry Gross on Fresh Air<\/em><\/a>, or if you want your mind completely blown then try to hang with his interview with Krista Tippett for On Being<\/em><\/a> about his short but powerful essay Radical Hope is the Best Weapon<\/a>. In my estimation Diaz is one of the geniuses or our time.<\/p>\n

Angie Thomas’ genius is apparent in her debut novel The Hate U Give<\/a>, which is getting a lot of well deserved acclaim. It has all of the elements of a great YA book: school drama, complex relationships, moral dilemmas, and a non-disastrous ending. Definitely one for your classroom library! Yet it stands on its own as a powerful exploration of critical issues as well. I learned so much about race dynamics in general and the challenges of combatting police brutality in particular from this book. Her Twitter @angiecthomas<\/a> has also taught me a lot about how to react when your book gets banned, how to graciously share the struggles of your writing process, and how to interact with young readers.<\/p>\n

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