Book Recommendations for Holiday Break

With the holidays rapidly approaching, many of us might find ourselves with some unprecedented downtime. What better way to spend a wintery snow day than curled up inside with a good book! Here's a list of my top 5 picks for every kind of reader exploring the power and social dynamics of an ever-changing age.

For the Classics Man

The Count of Montecristo by Alexandre Dumas

"What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes."

An exciting twist on the classics!
Edmond Dantes is thrown in prison for a crime he has not committed.
He learns of a treasure hidden on the Isle of Monte Cristo and he becomes determined not only to escape but also to unearth the treasure and use it to plot the destruction of the three men responsible for his incarceration.

My review: An invigorating plot that will leave you on the edge of your seat exploring loyalty, betrayal, and honor through the human condition.

For the Non-fiction Lovers

The Yellow House: A Memoir by Sarah M. Broom

"“Don’t tell stories” when she means don’t tell lies. I keep trying to know the difference."

A story spanning 100 years of Broom's family and their home in New Orleans.
This is the story of a mother’s struggle against a house's entropy and of a prodigal daughter who left home after Katrina. A memoir of place, class, race, the seeping rot of inequality, and the internalized shame that often follows.
It is a transformative, deeply moving story from an unparalleled new voice of startling clarity, authority, and power.

My review: It'll leave you questioning the difference between being a functioning member of society or a contributing one.

For the Fiction Aficionados

Tiny Imperfections by Alli Frank and Asha Youmans

"When elitism hides behind a white ribbed tank top and a messy bun it's much more difficult to figure out from where an ambush may come."

At 39, Josie Bordelon's modeling career as the "it" Black beauty of the '90s is far behind her. As director of admissions at San Francisco's most sought after private school, she's chic, single, and determined to keep her 17-year-old daughter, Etta, from making the same mistakes she did.

My review: A fascinating touch on the polarization of classism and the commentary we enact without noticing.

For the Re-Reader

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

"We'd been trying to touch the sky from the bottom of the ocean. If we boosted one another, maybe we'd get a little closer."

Fifteen-year-old Lina's Lithuanian home is invaded by Soviet officers and tear her family apart. Lina and her family journey to a Siberian work camp at the height of WWII.
Lina finds solace in her art, documenting these events by drawing and risks their life to document their struggle for the future.

My review: After the 1st read, you'll throw anger at the silence. After the 100th read, you'll find beauty in the journey for justice.

For the Young Adult-Only Reader

Frankly in Love by David Yoon

"Humanity's greatest strength is its ability to normalize even the bizarre."

There's Frank Li, his American name. Then there's Sung-Min Li, his Korean name. As Frank falls in love, he's forced to confront the fact that while his parents sacrificed to raise him in the land of opportunity, their traditional expectations don't leave a lot of room for him to be a regular American teen.
When life throws a curveball, he wonders if he knew anything about love at all.

My review: One of those relatable rare characters with an appreciable candor and the loveable coming-of-age dilemmas.