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My 6 Picks for Winter Reading

It's been such a fantastic year for books. Choosing 6 for the winter seasons proved to be difficult as there were so many that I haven't gotten around to reading because of university. Now that this year is slowly starting and many people are finishing up their semesters,  it's a great time to sit back, relax and immerse yourself in another dimension. I've conjured up a list of books that will provide you with the stress cleanse you need from school, family, work and the holidays. Whether it's for a gift or for yourself, I highly recommend these words, words, words. 

Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

Harry Potter has no idea how famous he is. That's because he's being raised by his miserable aunt and uncle who are terrified Harry will learn that he's really a wizard, just as his parents were. But everything changes when Harry is summoned to attend an infamous school for wizards, and he begins to discover some clues about his illustrious birthright. From the surprising way he is greeted by a lovable giant, to the unique curriculum and colorful faculty at his unusual school, Harry finds himself drawn deep inside a mystical world he never knew existed and closer to his own noble destiny.

The Hate u Give

Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

Flux

"YouTube Mastermind" Orion Carloto turns raw emotion into powerful, digestible verse in her debut collection of poetry.
 
Flux is a somber narrative, an ode to change, a collection of poetry and prose written from the many states of grief over a broken heart.  With original illustrations by artist Katie Roberts, Orion Carloto creates a dream world for the brokenhearted and paints a whimsical picture around the themes of love, loss, solitude, depression, sex, nostalgia, and unrequited romance. Flux takes readers through a raw and sorrowful journey of each and every bitter moment of heartbreak.

All the Light We Cannot See

Doerr tells the story of Marie Laure, a young girl living in Paris with her father, who goes blind at the age of six. When German troops come to occupy Paris, Marie Laure and her father find safety in the small town of Saint Malo, where she comes to meet Werner. Werner is an orphan, a master at fixing and understanding radios, and member of the Hitler youth.

Between the World and Me

In a series of essays, written as a letter to his son, Coates confronts the notion of race in America and how it has shaped American history, many times at the cost of black bodies and lives. In this short memoir, the "Atlantic" writer explains that the tragic examples of Michael Brown, Trayvon Martin, and those killed in South Carolina are the results of a systematically constructed and maintained assault to black people--a structure that includes slavery, mass incarceration, and police brutality as part of its foundation. This book will resonate with all teens--those who have experienced racism as well as those who have followed the recent news coverage on violence against people of color

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