BOTW March 18

By Paige Waskow

The Book of the Week is:

Every Heart a Doorway 

by Seanan McGuire

What's it about?

Children in stories are often taken to fairy tale lands, far away from their homes to go on adventures. But what if they couldn't return home or stay in their magical worlds?

Author Seanan McGuire images an in-between world where these children go- a place for those who have experiences of the peculiar sort. From worlds of logic and science to those of chaos and candy, the home is open to all. The story follows Nancy, a girl who is transitioning from her fantasy world. As she begins to adjust, the strange becomes stranger as children begin to be found murdered throughout the home. Who is killing them and what is their goal?

Why did I choose it?

This book is so weird- truly a wild ride into fantasy. It takes you through multiple dimensions with dynamic and magical characters. I have never read a book like it before, the closest maybe being The Chronicles of Narnia. It is also a twist on a murder mystery type story, and I am a huge fan of a good mystery. I loved the book's uniqueness and strong characters. McGuire doesn't shy away from her own imagination or topics that are often misrepresented or ignored by popular media.

This book, besides having a fantastically mysterious and mystical plot, can also boast of LGBT+ representation of multiple characters. It was refreshing to see an author not stray away from representation of characters who are asexual, transgender, and bi while normalizing it in the plot (aka the book was not strictly about sexuality and gender identity).

Where can you get Every Heart a Doorway?

This book is available at the Cedar Rapids Public Library. You can get a library card for free at any time. The closet library location to Coe is the downtown branch on 5th Avenue.

Is there anything else you should know?

If you are interested in learning more, the author's website can be found here.

References:

McGuire, Seanan. Every Heart a Doorway. Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, 2016.

BOTW February 25

By Paige Waskow

The Book of the Week is:

The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

"You can swim all day in the Sea of Knowledge and not get wet."

What's it about?

What would you do if you had the chance to step into a magical world whose entrance forms itself in the shape of a tollbooth? Perhaps take a swim in the Sea of Knowledge or visit the word market? Or better yet, meet a watchdog named Tock and a cynical Humbug of which to share an adventure with?

Milo, who is described as having too much time on his hands and being much too bored, is given this opportunity. His journey, which at first he isn't incredibly excited to be a part of, turns into a rainbow of surprises with twists of wordplay, all in hopes to restore rhyme and reason to the magical land.

                                 

via GIPHY

Why did I choose it?

This was one of my favorite childhood books. Although it is targeted towards a younger audience, anyone can enjoy its puns and eccentric characters.

I love this book because of its story focuses around what it means to learn and experience living. The journey Milo goes on is magical, but it reflects our everyday lives. How do we step outside of our comfort zones? How do we interact with those who have had very different life experiences from us? How do we grow when nothing feels the same?

Additionally, I believe that The Phantom Tollbooth, in its reflection of wordplay, is VERY relevant to our world and society right now. The book reminds us about the importance of words, ignorance, and meaning- especially from those in power. I'll leave it there.

Where can you get The Phantom Tollbooth?

This book is available at Coe's library as well as the Cedar Rapids Public Library. If you don't have a library card, you can get one anytime for free! The closest library to Coe is downtown on 4th street.

If you have a book you love and want to see as a BOTW, leave a comment below!        

via GIPHY

Happy reading!

References:

Juster, Norton. The Phantom Tollbooth. Random House Children's Books, 1996.

Need a Book?

via GIPHY, Benjy Brooke

By: Paige Waskow

     The world of books is massive. From Shakespeare to Maya Angelou to John Green and many, many in between, it is hard to know where to start. Whether you are looking for adventure, a good scare, or a personal biography, hopefully the list below will help you find some reads you are interested in! This is not a complete list of genres or titles. If you have any books, authors, or genres you recommend, leave them in the comment section.

General:

If you want to read popular books, classics, or iconic titles (such as 1984, The Color Purple, and Beloved) check out these books everyone should read. Or maybe you are competitive and want to read the 200 books from this website (including The Book Thief, Speak, and The Great Gatsby). It could also give you some general ideas of books to read.

Horror, Fantasy, Sci-Fi:

Sadly, Halloween has come and gone, BUT if you are still feeling spooky or want to explore the world of horror, check out these stories from NPR. Or maybe you want to take a look at some of the best of fantasy and sci-fi. Check out this article of 100 fan-favorite books.

Examples include: Frankenstein, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, The Yellow Wallpaper, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451.

Mystery Books:

Often overlapping with horror, social justice, or sci-fi, mystery books are a lot of fun, come in a diverse landscape of whodunits, and challenge our perception of the world. Check out this list of favorite mysteries or this list of crime mystery.

Examples include: And Then There Were None, The Godfather, The Da Vinci Code, Shutter Island, and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime.

Books by Women of Color:

Although the list below includes women from all backgrounds, women of color have been writing for many years and yet, they are often overlooked as writers. Check out this list of books that everyone should read or this list which specifically has newly released books from 2018.

Examples include: Americanah, The House on Mango Street, Their Eyes Were Watching God, Binti, and When They Call You a Terrorist.

Books by Women:

From horror to justice to classics, women have written impressive and diverse books. If you are looking for recent books by women, check out this list of 35 books. If you are looking for a large list of books with famous women authors and praised books, check out this list.

Examples include: The Handmaid's Tale, Song of Solomon, The Harry Potter Series, Where'd Ya Go Bernadette, and Pride and Prejudice.

Books about Social Justice Issues:

If you are looking for books that address social justice issues (including police brutality, homophobia, and immigration) in both the United States and the world check out this long list of books. If you want a shorter list to choose from that is only fiction, take a look at these reads from the Seattle Public Library.

Examples include: Just Mercy, Between the World and Me, The Hate You Give, I am Malala, and How Dare the Sun Rise.

Biographies, Memoirs, and Autobiographies:

People's personal experiences shape ours. We are motivated by those around us and their stories. Check out this list of 100 Biography and Memoirs to learn more about human hardship, success, and life.

Examples include: The Diary of a Young Girl, Unbroken, Persepolis, 12 Years a Slave, and A Walk in the Woods

Books about the Environment:

Maybe you heard of the United Nations report on the state of our climate. Perhaps you want to learn more about why people are so invested in the climate change debate. Or maybe you want to learn more about the issue or transcend political boundaries. Check out this list if you are interested in climate change effects or this list if you want to read fiction stories with an environmental message.

Examples include: Who Fears Death, Climate Change: What Everyone Needs to Know, Six Degrees, The Sixth Extinction, and Gold Fame Citrus

Additional Reads that are not part of the lists: Silent Spring, The Water Will Come, The Human Age, Drawdown, The Nature Fix, How Culture Shapes the Climate Change Debate, Eco-Mind, and Truth to Power

Happy Reading!

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References:

     Bologna, C. (2018, March 14). 35 Must-Read Books By Women From The Past 5 Years. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/35-books-by-women-writers-from-the-past-5-years_us_5a8c6b2ce4b0273053a54eb8

     Blair, K. (2018, March 10). 23 Books by Women of Color You Need to Read in 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from http://www.keishablair.com/uncategorized/23-books-by-women-of-color-you-need-to-read-in-2018/

     Carroll, T. (2017, December 29). These 8 Books are Fiction, but Climate Change is Not. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://electricliterature.com/these-8-books-are-fiction-but-climate-change-is-not-977f94d7b30

     Chui, A. (2018, August 06). 30 Books Everyone Should Read At Least Once In Their Lives. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.lifehack.org/articles/communication/30-books-that-everyone-should-read-least-once-their-lives.html

     Depenbrock, J. (2017, June 30). Summer Reading For The College-Bound. Retrieved October 30, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2017/06/30/534458892/the-books-college-kids-are-reading-this-summer

     Doyle, J. (n.d.). The Best Female Authors of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.abebooks.com/books/best-female-authors/index.shtml

     FamousAuthors.org. (2012). 10 Best Mystery Books of All Time. Retrieved November 8, 2018 from https://www.famousauthors.org/best-mystery-books

     GoodReads. (n.d.). 100 Biographies & Memoirs to Read in a Lifetime: Readers' Picks (1203 books). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/85102.100_Biographies_Memoirs_to_Read_in_a_Lifetime_Readers_Picks

     GoodReads. (n.d.). Best Crime & Mystery Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/11.Best_Crime_Mystery_Books

     GoodReads. (n.d.). Popular Social Justice Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/social-justice

     Mayer, P. (2018, August 16). Click If You Dare: 100 Favorite Horror Stories. Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2018/08/16/632779706/click-if-you-dare-100-favorite-horror-stories

     Paul, C. (2018, January 10). 11 Must-Read Books By Women Of Color Coming Out In 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.bustle.com/p/11-new-books-by-women-of-color-everyone-needs-to-read-in-2018-7839819

     The Seattle Public Library. (n.d.). Social Justice Books for Teens - The Seattle Public Library. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://seattle.bibliocommons.com/list/share/200121216/675212937

     Sutter, J. D. (2015, May 20). Books: 12 must-reads on climate change (2 degrees). Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.cnn.com/2015/05/19/opinions/sutter-2-degrees-book-club/index.html

     Weldon, G. (2011, August 11). Your Picks: Top 100 Science-Fiction, Fantasy Books. Retrieved November 8, 2018, from https://www.npr.org/2011/08/11/139085843/your-picks-top-100-science-fiction-fantasy-books

     Wright, K. (2018, March 3). 49 Books That Everyone Should Read in Their Lifetime. Retrieved October 29, 2018, from https://www.bookbub.com/blog/2018/03/03/books-that-everyone-should-read

     Zottino, T. (n.d.). 200 Books Everyone Should Read - How many have you read? Retrieved November 1, 2018, from https://www.listchallenges.com/200-books-everyone-should-read

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