Our Favorite Books of Fall Semester 2022
Many of us became English teachers because we love reading, and we wanted to share that love of reading (and our favorite books) with our students. But as we get into the heart of the school year, it can be hard to find the energy to read. We’re surrounded by words and people all day long, and by the time we finally get a few minutes to ourselves, it seems more appealing to scroll through Netflix rather than pick up a book. And what should we even read? The possibilities are endless, and keeping up with recommendations is definitely not something we have time for.
We thought we’d take a few minutes to share a few of our favorite books from this semester, hopefully inspiring you to find a few minutes for yourself and reignite your love of reading.
Kate’s Recommendations
The Magical Imperfect by Chris Baron. In the summer of 2021, I signed my son up for his school’s B.O.B. (Battle of the Books) program. He liked being read to, but didn’t pursue reading on his own. My husband and I love to read, so we really felt like he was missing out. This program, along with the Geronimo Stilton book series (he really loved that mouse for a while), opened his eyes and imagination to reading. I read all the B.O.B. books with my son, and have been hard-pressed to find one I really don’t like. I enjoyed several this semester, but The Magical Imperfect captured my heart. Set during the 1989 baseball playoffs in a small community outside of San Francisco (do you remember that earthquake?), two kids are struggling. Etan is unable to speak since his mother entered medical treatment for mental health issues. Malia has been taken out of school after her acute eczema spreads to her face. When they find each other, the outside world, the one that stops him from speaking and her from showing her face, dissolves. They push and encourage one another while providing the safe space to fall that comes with true friendship. Written in verse, it’s a quick, but beautiful read.
An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. Are you familiar with the Book Exploder podcast? It’s an 8-episode mini-series (hope they bring it back for more) spun off from Song Exploder where Susan Orlean (The Orchid Thief) speaks to an author about an excerpt from one of their books. They break down the passage and explain the process of writing it. I found the episode with Tayari Jones so compelling, I had to give the book a try. Written from the perspectives of three different characters, the book follows a newly married couple, Celestial and Roy, through Roy’s wrongful conviction for a crime he didn’t commit. It poses interesting questions about love and obligation; much like life itself, there are no heroes or villains, there aren’t even “right” answers. This book made its way into my dreams as I read (talk about a stressful night’s sleep) and there were a few days I just couldn’t bear the hurt I knew I’d feel if I picked it up. If that doesn’t make a book worth reading, I don’t know what does!
10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak. This book, recommended to me by my son’s teacher, is set in a city completely new to me: Istanbul, Turkey. Tequila Leila is murdered, her body thrown into a dumpster. In the next 10 minutes and 38 seconds, as her brain continues to function, Leila reflects on her life, on the moments and people who shaped her, for better and for worse. What I found most powerful about the book was not the 10 minutes and 38 seconds, although it was heartwrenching and anger-inducing to be sure; I was intrigued by what followed, as Leila’s chosen family, made up of others who, like her, were cast out by Turkish society, attempted to “rescue” her from The Cemetery of the Companionless (a real cemetery in Instanbul) where the bodies of those who have no one to claim them, typically those who are marginalized, are buried. Leila is claimed, though. Leila is valued and loved, and her death meant something to this family. What follows is their attempts to both claim her and come to terms with the loss of the person who binds them together. Highly recommend.
Steph’s Favorites
In the Wild Light and The Serpent King by Jeff Zentner. I discovered Jeff Zentner this fall as I was researching YA reads, and I fell in love. While I’ve always enjoyed the YA genre, it’s not generally known for its high-quality prose. But Zentner’s writing is beautiful. Both novels are coming-of-age stories of boys living in the South and trying to work out their own self-worth, identities, and dreams apart from the stigma their own parents (one an opioid addict, another a disgraced Southern preacher) have inflicted on them. While the boys’ experiences are different from my own, their struggle to figure out who they are amidst painful circumstances is completely relatable. I couldn’t stop taking photos of quotes I wanted to save, and both books brought me to tears.
No Land to Light On by Yara Zgheib. Without meaning to, I found myself reading several novels this fall about Syria (and one about a refugee from Iran), and I’m so glad I did. I don’t know a lot about this part of the world or the refugee experience, and I appreciated the opportunity to learn. Zgheib’s novel tells the story of a young Syrian couple separated when Trump’s 2017 travel ban prevents the husband from returning to their home in America. The novel, as the best novels do, put human faces on recent news stories and expanded my understanding of the world.
Of course I love books that make me feel things and broaden my understanding of the world around me, but sometimes I just want to escape into a good story. I thoroughly enjoyed Cosimano’s novel about a single mom and struggling novelist who, through a series of mishaps, is mistaken for a contract killer and becomes entangled in a murder investigation. I loved the narrator’s voice, which frequently made me laugh, and I was quickly turning pages to figure out where this wild ride was going next.
Are any of these titles calling your name? What are your favorite books of this semester? Reach out and share: we’re always looking for good recommendations! You can find us at [email protected] or on Instagram @threeheads.works. Happy reading!
looking for some more YA book titles?
Are you looking for books you can share with your middle and high school English/ELA students? Each month we share five First Chapter Friday Nearpod activities you can use in your classroom for FREE. We’ve done the work, you reap the rewards. Click the link below to sign up!