Winter Reads Book Chat

Study Skill 14.8 Winter Reads Book Chat

Winter Reads.png On December 20, 2021, a lively group of Mizzou Academy faculty and staff logged in for a special Winter Reads event. In addition to sharing the great titles we’ve read lately and the ones we are looking forward to reading over the winter break, we also got to congratulate Angie Hammons and Megan Lilien on recent awards. Angie Hammons was named the College of Education and Human Development’s December Porter Graham Staff Excellence Award recipient, and Megan Lilien was the recipient of the Science Teacher of Missouri’s Technology Innovator Award. We have much to celebrate, and you could see the celebratory spirit across our zoom screen as several folks showed up in festive wear or with festive backgrounds.

The following booklist spans the genres and has something for everyone. Themes across many of these titles include culturally responsive reading, antiracist education, and multicultural perspectives. It was a joy to hear how different titles had made it to our backpacks and nightstands. Some were recommended by colleagues, Jill and Kathryn showed up with two of the same titles, and Stephanie brought a book recommended by Diane. Several also came to us because the young people in our lives said, “You’ve got to read this book!”

Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season spent with people you love and great literature. You might just find your next great read on the list below.

Title	Author	Notes	Recommender
Non-Fiction
Persepolis	Marjane Satrapi and Mattias Ripa	An autobiography of a young woman growing up in Iran after the Islamic revolution. This highly-acclaimed book is told in a powerful graphic novel. Karen says, "It will change your life and your relationship with graphic novels."	Karen Scales
Leonard Cohen: On a Wire	Philippe Girard	A compelling biography of the legendary musician who gave us “Hallelujah,” told in graphic novel form.	Jackie Kay
They Were Her Property: White Women as Slave Ownders in the American South	Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers	This historical book discusses the role of white women in American slavery and the responsibility many white women had in the ownership and cruel treatment of enslaved people.	Nina Sprouse
Couplehood, Babyhood, & Familyhood	Paul Reiser	Best known for his comedic work and his roles on Mad About You and Beverly Hills Cop, Reiser is a witty conveyor of observation humor. These three books will make you laugh through the inescapable frustrations of family life.	Steven Turner
In the Sea There are Crocodiles	Fabio Geda	Based on the true story of a refugee boy named Enaiatollah Akbari who fled Afghanistan across Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, and Greece, and finally to Italy. The highly acclaimed novel is based on interviews between Geda and Akbari.	Sherry Denney
Women, Race, and Class	Angela Y. Davis	An exposition that looks at the suffrage movement from different perspectives, this book shows the intersection between the anti-slavery movement and the women’s suffrage movement.	Megan Lilien
Fiction Novels (Adult)
Contents May Have Shifted: a Novel	Pam Houston	This is a fictional tale, told in 144 short parts, of a woman on a metaphorical and physical journey. As she travels, she experiences beauty and hardship, revelations and challenges.	Jackie Kay
Malibu Rising	Taylor Jenkins Reid	In the middle of winter without a view of the ocean, this beach read is a fun escape into a dramatic 24-hour period in the lives of a family of siblings.	Megan Lilien
The Four Winds	Kristin Hannah	This historical fiction novel is filled with compelling characters up against the impossible forces of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression. Told mostly from the perspective of a heroine who feels like anything but, this tale follows Elsa and her children as they try to survive against nature and prejudice.	Diane Johnson
Of Women and Salt	Gabriela Garcia	Set in the United States, Cuba, and Mexico, this novel full of strong immigration and literacy themes explores how stories of mothers and daughters reverberate into future generations.	Kathryn Fishman-Weaver and Jill Clingan
Stone Barrington series	Stuart Woods	Stone Barrington, a strong-willed and outspoken former detective for the NYC Police Department, uses his astute observation skills to solve over 60 cases as a consultant for a law firm. If you’re looking for adventure and a compelling lead character, this series is for you.	Anthony Lehman-Plogger
Professional Development Books
What Great Teachers Do Differently	Todd Whittaker	A purchase inspired by Whitaker’s keynote address at our recent teaching and learning conference, this book provides keys about how to be a more effective teacher.	Megan Lilien
Dare to Lead: Brave Work, Tough Conversations, Whole Hearts	Brené Brown	Drawing on her years of experience as a researcher on the powerful, positive effects of vulnerability, Brené Brown applies what she’s learned to the skill of leadership.	Angie Hammons
The Achievement Habit: Stop Wishing, Start Doing, and Take Command of Your Life	Bernard Roth	Based on the belief that “achievement can be learned,” this book lists techniques to gain confidence and develop powerful habits.	Tami Regan
Retrain Your Brain: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in 7 Weeks	Seth J. Gillihan	Drawing on CBT techniques, Gillihan leads readers through a process to build techniques to replace unhelpful thoughts with new ones that work better.	Tami Regan
365 Days of Self Love Self-Love Workbook for Women	compiled by Sunny Dawn Johnston Megan Logan NSW, LCSW	Two books that explore the importance of knowing ourselves, setting boundaries, and embracing opportunities.	Tami Regan
YA Fiction
Ghost Boys	Jewell Parker Rhodes	This is a moving children’s novel that tells the story from the perspective of two boys who are ghosts: Jerome, a Black 12-year-old boy who was killed by a police officer, and Emmett Til, a boy who was also killed for being Black.	Diane Johnson
When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir	Patrisse Cullors, Asha Bandele	This memoir was written by two founders of the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and is a challenging and moving story of activism and what it means to be a Black woman in America.	Diane Johnson
The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler	E. L. Konigsburg	This well-loved, classic story is a hit for adults and children alike. Narrated by the eccentric Mrs. Frankweiler, this delightful mystery takes us on an adventure together.	Kari Mayes
Harry Potter Series	J. K. Rowling	Lose yourself in the magical world of Hogwarts as you follow a young wizard from his first, eye-opening experiences to life-or-death battles against the followers of the evil Voldemort. Filled with rich characters in an imaginative setting, this book might be just the thing you need to take a winter journey this season.	Kari Mayes
All American Boys	Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely	This co-authored novel is told from the perspectives of a Black character and a white character after being involved in a violent event with law enforcement. At first the characters seem to be on two different sides of the issue; however, as the story unfolds, perspectives start to shift. Readers are left with conviction and hope for the possibility of racial justice.	Stephanie Walter
Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks	Jason Reynolds	What happens after school is let out for the day? This short story collection explores the tough, real, and hilarious topics teens face navigating school, family, and coming-of-age. Read it with your favorite middle grade reader soon.	Kathryn Fishman-Weaver
White Bird	R. J. Palacio	This graphic novel follows a character we first learned of in Wonder—Julian’s grandmother, Grandmére. The story reveals her childhood memories as a young Jewish girl protected by a family in France during WWII.	Kathryn Fishman-Weaver (read with Lilah)
Poetry, Essay, and Short Story
These Precious Days	Ann Patchett	This collection of lyrical, contemplative essays is a beautiful reflection on friendship, love, home, and family.	Jill Clingan
All Summer in a Day	Ray Bradbury	This sci-fi short story highlights the huge cost of jealousy and bullying, which looks the same on Venus in the future as it does on modern-day Earth. Jon said, “It’s a quick read. Why don’t we all just go read it now?”	Jon Sack
The Ransom of Red Chief	O. Henry	This classic short story from the king of irony follows two criminals who make a mistake when they kidnap the annoying and intolerable child, Johnny.	Jon Sack
Call Us What We Carry: From the Presidential Inaugural Poet	Amanda Gorman	A collection of poems to stir our hearts and minds, this book includes Gorman’s inaugural poem (“The Hill We Climb”) and other compelling poems on identity, loss, hope, and healing.	Kathryn Fishman-Weaver and Jill Clingan

Book Club Winter - Angie Surprise.png

Thank you to everyone who shared a book recommendation, and thank you to Jill Clingan, Stephanie Walter, and Dr. Kathryn Fishman-Weaver for taking notes and finalizing this list so that we can all reference it at our next library visit!