Brother Cadfael: A Morbid Taste For Bones, Ellis Peters

This book is the first in a series of Brother Cadfael books. The story is set in Medieval England, and provides a great look at everyday life during this period. The element of mystery and Cadfael's engaging personality and understanding of human nature make this book a quick read. The quest for the remains--the bones--of St.Winifred, sets in motion a chain of events that lead to murder and a false accusation that only the quilck mind of Brother Cadfael can unravel. If you like mysteries, read this book. For extra credit read another book in the series and write a comparison paper.

April 1865: The Month That Saved America, Jay Winik

The title states the theme of the book. But you must read the book in order to understand the complexity of events in April, 1865, and more importantly the response of the nation's leadership to these events. How did the War Between the States(not a "civil war" at all), the eventual northern victory, the Surrender at Appotomattox, the assassination of Lincoln, the emanicipation of the slaves, and the Civil War amendments impact the nation? How did Americans define the nation in 1865 and in the years following the Civil War, and how do we define the nation today?

Killer Angels, Jeff Shaara

Jeff Shaara used diaries and journals for first-hand accounts of events during the time leading up to, and during the Battle of Gettysburg. This book presents Union and Confederate generals in a realistic light, as they plan their strategies for this epic battle.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy SoldierIshmael Beah

This story relates the life of young Ismael Beah and his life as a boy soldier in Sierra Leone before his rescue by UNICEF.

Red Scarf Girl, Ji-li Jiang

This story tells of a young girl's experiences during the Cultural Revolution in China in 1976. It has been called a "true story of courage and hope".

The Teammates: A Portrait of Friendship, David Halbertstam

This is the story of four friends, four ball players who played for the Boston Red Sox--Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Bobby Doerr, and Dominic DiMaggio. Two of them--Johnny Pesky & Dominic DiMaggio--will travel to Florida to visit their friend Ted Williams, while Bobby Doerr cares for his ill wife. But they all contribute to the story--their careers and their friendship that spanned the decades following the end of their careers. A must read for the true baseball fan.

The Devil in the White City, Erik Larson

If you have ever traveled Route 9 East over the bridge spanning Lake Quinsigamond, you are familiar with White City Plaza. But, do you know the origin of the name "White City"? The site of the plaza was originally an amusement park--White City--complete with ferris wheel and roller coaster placed precariously over the lake. The first "White City" is the subject of this summer reading selection. If you like history, read this book. The backdrop is the site of the 1893 World's Fair, set in Chicago. The "devil" is the character that makes this story a murder mystery, as well as, an account of the building of the world's fair site. He has a connection with the small New Hampshire town of Alton, New Hampshire in the Lake Winnipesauke region. You will read about the origin of the "ferris wheel", the Olmstead gardens, and many more interesting historical facts.

The Snow Falling on Cedars, David Guterson

Although the town in the story is fictional, the story is not. Guterson relates the experiences of Japanese-Americans forced to move to relocation camps by Executive Order 9066. The reader will experience the bigotry that they experienced during a war.

Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Journey to Change the World, One Child at a Time, Greg Mortenson & David Oliver Relin

As we await the start of another school year, there are many who are excited about a new beginning, and some who dread the end of another summer. How would your life be diffenent without school? Read Three Cups of Tea and find out how the lives of many Pakistani children have been changed because of the work of Greg Mortenson. This book touches on may contemporary topics: The US role in Central Asia, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the rise of the Taliban, the US occupation of Afghanistan, the war in Iraq, and the power of Islam in Asia. This book is a great personal account of one man's dedication to changing the lives on thousands of children through education.

The Given Day, Dennis Lethane

This book is set in Boston following World War I. Read about the turbulent events of 1919 seen throught the eyes of a black family and a white family--the Laurences and the Coughlins--along with many many historical personalities.

Ann Weeks