Good Reads
Check out what’s on the bookshelf of your Star Teacher staff!
Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
by Rick Riordan
I just finished Percy Jackson and the Olympians, the first book in a series by Rick Riordan about an 11-year-old boy who discovers that his father is a Greek god—literally! It’s a smash hit among kids, and has already been turned into a movie that showed recently in the Philippines. That’s probably because it has (or maybe borrowed?) a lot of the elements that made Harry Potter a phenomenon: a hero who doesn’t belong, a funny best friend, a super smart girl to make it a trio, a beloved teacher-figure, mean bullies, a magical school (or in this case, a camp), and a powerful villain whose name should not be said. Despite all the similarities, this book was a good read. It helped me remember how much I loved Greek mythology when I was in school. I was reintroduced to Zeus, Medusa, the Minotaur, and many other characters in the stories I grew up with. I think it’s a good way to get kids interested in mythology, while at the same time enjoying some light weekend reading yourself. —Therese Ng, Editorial Board
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
by Mary Ann Shafer and Annie Barrows
There are so few books that make you want to read them over and over again and want to cry because they’re about to end. This is one of those books. When my cousin lent it to me under the strict conditions that it had to be “light and not full of drama yet still substantial,” she hit the mark. Told through letters, the story pulls you into each character’s unique and very real personality. The first character I fell in love with was Juliet, an author in search of a second book to write at the end of World War 2. She’s funny and totally lovable. When she discovers the island of Guernsey and its strangely-named literary society, her life takes a significant and heartwarming turn—something you will not only share with her, but wish you were experiencing as well. She not only finds a story to write, but she finds her very own happy ending as she leaves her life in London for Guernsey. With an exciting twist at the end, (which made me wish the story wasn’t fiction!) this book has one of the most original, insightful, and fun stories I have read in a long time. And what makes it even more special is that it was written by an aunt-and-niece tandem—which is another heartwarming story in itself. —Ines Bautista Yao, Editor in Chief
I Feel Bad About My Neck (and other thoughts on being a woman)
by Nora Ephron
I’ve always loved the movie When Harry Met Sally, which was written and directed by Nora Ephron. So when I chanced upon a collection of her published essays, I couldn’t wait to go home and read it. I wasn’t disappointed! It felt like reading somebody else’s journal—filled with intimate experiences and unedited thoughts on life, love, and lessons about being a woman. She shares her insights about facing your fears and considering the alternative when you reach a certain age.The book starts off with Nora’s love-hate relationship with her neck. How she absolutely cannot stand it and would rather wear turtleneck sweaters every day. Witty quips like, “Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth” and “That one of my biggest regrets is not spending enough time during Boardmy youth staring lovingly at my neck—and be grateful for it” made me laugh-out-loud at times while reading the book.I especially love her essay “I hate my purse,” which discusses how a messy bag “reflects hopeless disorganization and a chronic inability to throw anything away.” Nora’s dry sense of humor translates well in “What I wish I’d known.” Her well-meaning advice like, “Anything you think is wrong with your body at the age of thirty-five you will be nostalgic for at the age of forty-five,” and “If the shoe doesn’t fit in the store, it’s never going to fit” reflects Nora’s humorous take on what matters in life.I Feel Bad About My Neck is a handy guide to living life to the fullest from a woman who faced life’s difficult and funny truths. —Jenny Inumerable, Art Director
Eat, Pray, Love
by Elizabeth Gilbert
Don’t you wish you can just pack your bags, hop on a plane, and go wherever your heart desires? Well, Elizabeth Gilbert did just that! After coming out of a painful, gut-wrenching divorce and a failed relationship with a man who was not her ex-husband, Elizabeth somehow lost herself. She decided to go first to Italy to indulge in her love of food and the Italian language, then India to learn the art of prayer and meditation, and finally, Indonesia to reconnect with a medicine man she met years ago in Bali, and just maybe, to find love. Through the course of her travels, Elizabeth rediscovers who she is, regains her confidence, and comes out happier, healthier, and stronger. What I love about this book is the simple and honest way it was written, making you feel as if you are having an intimate conversation with a friend over coffee—or better yet, as if you are traveling right along with her. Her words are insightful and relatable, and as you read the book, you’ll surely learn a thing or two about overcoming challenges and finding yourself as well. —Angel Constantino, Features Editor
