Joanna Orban
Copy Editor
Off and on for the last three years, I have worked in a bookstore. This is as magical as it sounds. Throughout the course of my time as a bookseller, I have discovered some truly amazing books that otherwise I may not have been aware of. I’ve always been a big reader, it’s what influenced my decision to become an English teacher. The books I’ve written about below are ones I recommend at the bookstore constantly. That is because they each touched me in a different way and I believe that they can do that for other people. I am a huge believer in the power of a good book and during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic I think we all need something that will take our mind off of the world around us. So, may I recommend:
“Girl in the Blue Coat” by Monica Hesse
This book is a historical fiction set during Amsterdam at the height of World War II. The year is 1943, and the main character Hanneke Bakker is simply trying to survive the loss of her boyfriend, the Nazi occupation, and the burden of being the sole provider for her parents. When a routine black market delivery ends with the promise that Hanneke will find a missing Jewish girl, Hanneke finds her life thrown for a loop as she discovers how her Jewish neighbors are being treated before they are ultimately sent to death camps and never seen again.
Throughout the novel, you both root for Hanneke and want to scream at her for her prevailing selfishness. The struggle to decide if she is a truly likable or a clearly detestable character is one that I have yet to overcome. I recommend this book to nearly everyone at work, even if they don’t like historical fiction. I believe that we can learn a lot from reading about the past and “Girl in the Blue Coat” blurs the line between cowardice and bravery and trust and betrayal in a way that will be sure to leave you reeling.
My copy of this novel has been lent out and used for assignments so many times that it is falling apart. Surely, that tells you something about the powerful nature of this book. Out of all of the books on this list, I would recommend this to be the one you pick up first. It is one of only a few books that have made me cry. This novel is a stand-alone but the author’s other titles are just as good.
“Before the Ever After” by Jacqueline Woodson
This book is a recent read for me but it still made a significant impact. Told in free verse, this book describes a young boy’s difficulties as he deals with his famous father’s struggles with chronic traumatic encephalopathy. ZJ’s dad was a football player but when the novel begins he’s started to have trouble remembering things along with chronic headaches. This book is set before researchers began to understand what constant concussions can do to the brain. I enjoyed this book, not because I enjoy football (I don’t) but because it illustrated what athletes go through in the name of the game. This is a short, powerful novel and one that I would recommend to anyone. It presents such an interesting perspective especially because ZJ’s family does not understand what CTE was. Sports and injuries play a huge part in this novel and the free verse gives the emotions of it time to shine.
“Skyward” by Brandon Sanderson
If you haven’t heard of Brandon Sanderson, you clearly haven’t been in a bookstore recently. Sanderson is one of the most prolific fantasy authors of our time. His worldbuilding, characterization and creativity rival that of J.R.R. Tolkien. What makes Sanderson’s books so unique is the sheer expanse of the worlds he creates. “Skyward” for example, is set on a desolate planet where the citizens live in underground caverns, terrified of the rival alien species that seeks to wipe them out from above. This book is a wild ride, literally. It follows a girl named Spensa who longs to be a pilot but is blacklisted because her father, who was a famous pilot deserted his own crew.
By the mercy of a flight instructor, Spensa gets into flight school but isn’t given the same opportunities as her fellow classmates because her instructors believe her to be genetically inferior because of her father’s cowardice. This book deals with the distinction between bravery and cowardice in a very intriguing way. Whenever I recommend this book at work, I describe it as the love child of “How to Train your Dragon” and “Star Wars” because there simply is no other way to describe the adventure and the humor that you will find within its pages. If you need something light, but that will still make you think, I would definitely recommend this novel. This novel is the first in a planned four-book series. Books one and two are currently available and book three was just announced!
“The Travelling Cat Chronicles” by Hiro Arikawa
As I mentioned above, few books make me cry, this is the second one. Some of you may be thrown off by the word “cat” in the title. Why people have such a vendetta against cats, I’ll never understand. This book is told from the point of view of a cat named Nana, who after being hit by a car becomes adopted by a loving Japanese man named Satoru. Throughout the novel, Satoru and Nana travel around Japan visiting old friends and acquaintances of Satoru. The reason why is never stated but through Nana’s eyes, the reader is given a moving portrait of the kindness of this man.
Even if you don’t have a cat that you’re obsessed with (like I do), you will still enjoy this remarkable tale. It strikes the perfect balance between humor and sadness and really speaks to the love that humans can have for their pets. Plus, it is a translated novel and I enjoy reading books that aren’t so Eurocentric. The whole novel is set in Japan and it was fascinating to get a glimpse into Japanese culture. “The Travelling Cat Chronicles” is a stand-alone novel.
“Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow” by Jessica Townsend
Now, you may look at the cover of this book and say, “Joanna, this is a kid’s book. Why would I read a kid’s book?” To which I would respond, “What is the matter with children’s books?” I was the head of the children’s department in my bookstore prior to transferring to Idaho State University and there are some truly wonderful kid’s titles out there that are just, or even more impactful than their adult counterparts. “Nevermoor” is a book in the vein of Harry Potter, without the controversial author’s opinions, in which a young girl who is destined to die on her 11th birthday is rescued by an eccentric traveler and taken to a city hidden from the rest of the world. Morrigan Crow then discovers that she is to compete for a spot in the secret Wundrous Society, although she does not find herself to be particularly wondrous. I adored this book. It is so heartwarming and is such a refreshing change of pace. I would highly recommend it. As mentioned previously, it gives all of the magic of “Harry Potter” but dare I say it, this book is even better. There are three books out in the series so far.
