Nichols and Sense A Blog from Dr. Dawn Nichols Convent of School www.visitation.net/blog

Book Ideas for Christmas So many of us at Visitation are voracious readers, and we share our love of books with each other in casual conversation and with our students. Knowing that my colleagues would have great book recommendations, I emailed the entire staff and asked for the names of good books to give as Christmas gifts. Following is a list of my colleagues‟ recommendations, broken into various categories, in their own words. When you are finished with this list, perhaps add a recommendation or two of your own in the comments section of the blog. I look forward to hearing from you!

Nonfiction For Adults:

Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. This non-fiction piece follows the planning and development of the 1893 Chicago Exhibition, alongside the story of a notorious Chicago serial killer, one very smart pharmacist who sets up operations near the exhibition. Fascinating, and definitely for teens and older readers. Recommended by Anne Pabst.

Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual by Michael Pollan: I love a good health and wellness read. One I especially like is Food Rules. The book stresses that making healthy food choices doesn't have to be complicated. Food Rules helps make daily decisions about food very simple. The book is only 140 pages long and well worth the $11. Recommended by Mary Pat Ferraro.

The Gift of an Ordinary Day: a Mother's Memoir by Katherine Kenison. The author of Mitten Strings for God writes beautifully about her family and her quest for living a simpler, more genuine life. As her children are on the cusp of adolescence, she feels burdened by the life that they are leading in suburban Boston. With a sense that her family needs more time together, more time to slow down and to discover one other, they move to rural New Hampshire. The author insightfully takes us through their journey and their transitions through adolescence and mid-life. I found myself highlighting her words, knowing that I will continue to go back and re-visit this book often. For grown-ups. Recommended by Lizzie Olken-Hunt.

Great by Choice by Jim Collins and Morten T. Hansen. Ten years ago, Jim Collins wrote Good to Great, a book that urged us, among other things, to set a 15 to 25-year big, hairy audacious goal (BHAG) in order to keep companies/school/enterprises of all sorts moving along the road to becoming great. Last year, Collins and Hansen penned Great by Choice, a sequel of sorts to the earlier tome. It shares research that answers the question: Why do some companies thrive in uncertainty, even chaos, and others do not? This is a thought-provoking read that I found encouraging and inspiring. Typical to form, Jim Collins did not disappoint. Perfect for anyone interested in exploring how enterprises can survive and thrive in an uncertain world. Recommended by Dawn Nichols.

How Doctors Think by Jerome Groopman, MD: A great book if you ever have to go to a doctor – which is just about everyone! Dr. Groopman explores how doctors work through diagnoses, and he provides a guideline for patients to determine the best way to present information and ask questions. Perfect for any adult. Recommended by Gingi Hickey.

In The Garden of the Beasts by Erik Larson: Ambassador William Dodd is sent to Berlin in the early 30's and notices Hitler's subtle rise to power. His warnings are ignored both in Berlin and the U.S. I thought it was fascinating, although not necessarily a "feel good book." Recommended by Margie Ryan and Jennifer Arriola.

Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me (and Other Concerns) is a hilarious collection of autobiographical essays about the life of Mindy Kaling (Emmy award-winning comedian and TV star of The Office and The Mindy Project). This book is an easy read, filled with lightweight anecdotal stories, which often take the form of lists, photos and stream-of-consciousness-type flows of witty thoughts. This book will have any woman (specifically women ages 18-30) laughing out loud while thinking, “Oh my gosh…this is SO me!” Recommended by Julia Dale.

The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything: A Spirituality for Real Life by James Martin, SJ: The author was a keynote speaker at the last National Catholic Education Association convention, held in Minneapolis. His book jacket explains that “the way of Ignatius is about finding freedom: the freedom to become the person you‟re meant to be, to love, and to accept love, to make good decisions, and to experience the beauty of creation and the mystery of God‟s love.” I found this book full of humor and wonderful food for thought and actions. Both women and men would enjoy this book. Recommended by Theresa Barry.

My Brother the Pope by George Ratzinger: A “cannot put down „til done” type of book that leaves the reader wiser and more at peace. I believe both men and women will enjoy it. Recommended by Theresa Barry.

The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression by Andrew Solomon: Here is a book that I've started to read and really feel is important for people experiencing depression. It is an incredibly well- written, thoroughly researched, marvelously insightful journey into the experience of depression – a great resource for those who suffer from this illness or for those who know someone who does. It may prove truly helpful for those wishing to develop a compassionate and possibly helpful response toward others who may be going through this experience. Recommended by Marius Andahazy.

North Country: The Making of Minnesota by Mary Lethert Wingerd. Mary is a Visitation alumna (class of 1965) and the sister-in-law of Vis Athletic Director Mike Brill. “North Country” won the Hognander Minnesota History Award, a biennial distinction of the Minnesota Book Awards, and is considered one of the most comprehensive studies of the earliest years of Minnesota's history. The photographs, map and illustrations depict many parts of Minnesota history that have been long overlooked. It‟s a large book, but absolutely captivating. Recommended by Jennifer Arriola.

Odd Girl Out: The Hidden Culture of Aggression in Girls by Rachel Simmons: Simmons does a wonderful job of bringing the world of girls‟ friendships into perspective. Simmons defines and discusses the importance of friendship in the lives of young women and how they can be breeding grounds for the relational aggression that can destroy friendships. It is a frank and insightful guide for parents, teachers and girls themselves to help them identify sources of possible aggression, potential friendship traps, and strategies for preventing and solving these difficult and delicate situations. It should be required reading for all parents of girls! Audience: Parents of girls, middle school and high school-age girls, teachers. Recommended by Zindy Mooney.

Republic of Noise: The Loss of Solitude in Schools and Culture by Diana Senechal was one of the books chosen by Upper School teachers for our summer reading and fall discussion. In this book, Senechal “confronts a culture that has come to depend on instant updates and communication at the expense of solitude.” Though Senechal does not disdain the advantages and power of digital tools, she cautions us to use -- and help our children and students use -- these tools wisely. Her constant theme is that solitude has a central place in the education of children and the conduct of life. I recommend this book to parents, alums and educators. Recommended by Renee Genereux.

Slowing Down to the Speed of Life by Richard Carlson and Joseph Bailey: We run at a frantic pace – especially at the holidays – and this book teaches practical tips for changing your attitude and thoughts so you can slow down your mind and focus on the present moment. Written in short chapters, this book is just the thing to have at your bedside to pick up at the end of a long day and be reminded of how powerful your mind can be. Not only can changing your thoughts make you calmer and happier, but it can also make you healthier. I‟d recommend this book for any adult, college student and even high school-age student needing a gentle guide as to how to slow down. Recommended by Tracey Joyce.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand: This nonfiction work about Louis Zamperini, an Olympic athlete- turned-World War II bombardier, is a great book for men and women of all ages – perhaps an even better read for those who lived through the War. Hillenbrand weaves a fascinating tale about Zamperini‟s wild childhood, his development as one of the world‟s best runners, and his time as a castaway on the Pacific Ocean for more than a month after the plane he was flying in crashed. Hillenbrand also chronicles Zamperini‟s time as a POW in a Japanese prison camp and his life as a recovering alcoholic after his eventual rescue. This work reads like fiction. Recommended by Elizabeth Arnstein, Jennifer Arriola and Jeanne Doyle.

In The Warmth of Other Suns, Isabel Wilkerson follows the journey of three Southern blacks, each representing a different decade as well as a different destination in the early 20th century Great Migration. This exodus of blacks to the North was a continuous phenomenon, spanning six decades of American life and consisting of three geographical streams, the patterns determined by the train routes available to those bold enough to leave. During the 2011-12 school year, this book was a resource for a cross-disciplinary study in Visitation Upper School‟s Social Justice and U.S. History courses and is recommended for students, educators and parents. Recommended by Renee Genereux and Jennifer Arriola.

Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed. This book follows a young woman‟s trek alone on the Pacific Coast Trail. The author is from Minnesota and attended the University of St. Thomas. This book is for older readers. Recommended by Anne Pabst.

Fiction for Adults:

Canada by Richard Ford: A young boy's parents are jailed for murder, and he is forced to life a completely different lifestyle in Canada. A good model of resilience. Recommended by Margie Ryan.

The Chaperone by Laura Moriarty: This novel is based on the life of Louise Brooks, a silent screen star, and the woman who accompanied her to New York as her chaperone. Their unfolding parallel lives kept my attention. Recommended by Margie Ryan.

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel: A series of books I thoroughly enjoyed starts with the Clan of the Cave Bear. It is for adult eyes due to explicit content about women‟s position in prehistoric society as reproductive vessels. However, the main character Ayla emerges as a strong, powerful, independent woman. The author is well-known for her painstaking research and attention to detail; the fictional characters are immersed in historically accurate settings. Recommended by Ann Mattson.

Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese is a beautiful written and haunting novel set in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The story of Marion and Shiva Stone, twin brothers born and then quickly orphaned by their mother‟s death and their father‟s disappearance, takes the reader into the lives of the twins as they grow up with doctors dedicated to the poor in mid-20th century Ethiopia. This book, one of the few I‟ve read twice, will be enjoyed by both young and older adults. Recommended by Renee Genereux.

The Healing by Jonathan Odell: Odell is a Minnesota writer who has done a student workshop here at Visitation. A wonderful story about a "healer" on a Mississippi plantation just before the Civil War, this is a riveting historical tale that intertwines slavery, midwifery, relationships of authority, and the power of the human spirit to find meaning and hope. Margie Ryan writes, “I thought it was beautifully written and gets to the heart of the African American soul during the later days of slavery.” Appropriate for older teens and up. Gingi Hickey and Margie Ryan both contributed to this recommendation.

Perla by Carolina de Robertis: This is a heartbreakingly beautiful story of a young woman in Argentina who is not quite sure of who she is and her place in the world. She receives a visit from a mysterious being and slowly she realizes that everything she thought she knew about herself, her parents and her country is not true. “From then on, there were two Perlas: one on the surface who had good grades and good friends and smiled a lot and for whom everything was going fine, and a secret Perla under the surface where sins and shame and questions lay buried alive, like land mines.” I learned quite a bit about Argentina in the post-Peron years and wept at the strength and beauty of the bonds between parents and children. If you enjoy Isabel Allende and Gabriel García Márquez, Carolina de Robertis should be on your reading list. Recommended by Jennifer Arriola.

Sacré Bleu: A Comedy d'Art by Christopher Moore is a great book for art lovers and Francophiles. The book is a wild, irreverent ride through history, tracing the origins of and desire for the mysterious color known as “sacré bleu.” With a supporting cast of Henri Toulouse-Lautrec, Édouard Manet, Paul Gauguin, Georges Seurat, Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Sacré Bleu is one part art history, one part paranormal mystery, and one part love story. There is an online chapter guide with images of the paintings and Parisian locations described in the book (http://guide.sacrebleu.info/). Recommended by Jennifer Arriola.

Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley: I am a huge fan of the Margaret Mitchell book of the south Gone with the Wind and was very reluctant to take up the sequel Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley, but I felt the ending of GWTW was somewhat unsatisfactory and left me with more questions than answers and wanting more. I was prepared to be disappointed, yet Scarlett actually exceeded my expectations. I poured through it despite its mass! A strong recommendation as a winter read. Recommended by Ann Mattson.

The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly: This is the first of the Tea Rose trilogy. I read this book this summer and could not put it down. The Tea Rose introduces us to Fiona Finnegan, a poor girl growing up in the Whitechapel area of London in the late 1800s. This book has many elements that make a book unforgettable: suspense, love, adventure and crime. The story follows Fiona through many trials, tribulations and joys as she embarks in search of a better life for herself and her brother Seamie. There is even a sub-plot with Jack the Ripper! The other two books in the trilogy are The Winter Rose and The Wild Rose. Definitely read them in order as the subsequent novels expand upon plot points in the earlier books. The Tea Rose is a gripping historical novel that women and girls age 16 and up will never forget. Contains some mature content. Recommended by Laura Dolan.

Here is a list of some books that I enjoy (from Deirdre Hocks): The Farming of Bones by Edwidge Danticat The Year of Fog by Michelle Richmond Beautiful Boy by David Sheff The on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver The Help by Kathryn Stockett My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 1984 by George Orwell Animal Farm by George Orwell The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

For Children and Young Adults:

Appelemando's Dream by Patricia Polacco: This book by beloved children's author and illustrator Patricia Polacco is about Appelemando, a boy whose dreams float from his imagination and stick to things. His dreams stick to the side of buildings and to laundry drying on a clothesline; to anything that is slightly wet, his dreams lovingly attach themselves. One rainy day, Appelemando‟s dreams float from his mind and land on the town itself. The adult townspeople, who do not believe in the beauty and the power of Appelemando's dreams are furious and blame the children for defacing their buildings and homes. The children, worried and upset, run into the woods and soon are lost. They beg Appelemando to use the power of his dreams to send a message so that they may be found. For ages three to twelve, although I think many adults who love picture books will love this book as well. Recommended by Lizzie Olken-Hunt.

The Betsy-Tacy Series by Maud Hart Lovelace: This is a wonderful series of books about Minnesotan Betsy Ray, which begins with her fifth birthday party (where she meets her life-long friend Tacy) in the book Betsy-Tacy. The series ends with her marriage in Betsy’s Wedding. Maud Hart Lovelace grew up in Mankato at the turn of the century, and Betsy is a graduate of the Class of 1910 of fictional Deep Valley High School. Her family moves to Minneapolis when she is in college, and there are many fun Minneapolis and Minnesota references throughout. Betsy wants to grow up to be a writer and is never told her aspirations aren‟t appropriate for a girl. I would recommend an elementary student start with Betsy-Tacy, and a middle or high school student start with Heaven to Betsy (which is Betsy‟s freshman year of high school). Additionally, there are two Deep Valley books where Betsy is but an “extra.” Two of my favorites are Emily of Deep Valley and Carney’s House Party. Recommended by Susan Kies.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green: The girls in Visitation‟s Book Club and I really liked this book about a teenager, Hazel, who is battling terminal cancer and waiting to die. But when she meets a boy named Augustus and they start to fall for one another, Hazel has a revived interest in life. This book is beautiful, smart, and both funny and sad. John Green does a marvelous job writing teenage dialogue (without using the word “like”), and his characters are believable and lovable. This book does contain mature language and content so is better suited for older high-school-age boys or girls. Recommended by Elizabeth Arnstein.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes: Many years ago when I was a fourth grade teacher, I never let a year go by without reading The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes aloud to my class. I believe the book was first published in the 1940's. In this Newbery Honor Book, a young girl comes to terms with the effect that her and her friends' teasing has had on a shy classmate. Recommended by Mary Pat Ferraro.

Keeping Safe the Stars by Sheila O‟Connor: This young adult novel follows the tried and true formula of allowing children to fend for themselves without us adults getting in the way or making decisions for them. The story follows the Star family as the three children fight to overcome the death of their parents and stay together at all costs. Grandpa Finn rescues the Stars from a group home but becomes ill and is taken to a Duluth hospital. It‟s up to Pride, the oldest in the Star family, to keep his illness a secret and to prevent her two siblings from going back to another group home. This book is filled with hope, love, light, and most importantly, Stars. Recommended by Steve Wright.

Little Blog on the Prairie by Cathleen Davitt Bell: In this novel, 13-year-old Gen and her brother are dragged by their mother to a frontier camp where families immerse themselves in 1890s pioneer life. There is no electricity and no running water in the families‟ primitive homes, and the families must each farm a plot of land and care for animals. Gen‟s life is complicated by a crush, a feud with one of the girls at the camp and the forbidden texts she sends from a cell phone she snuck into camp. My twelve-year-old daughter and I both enjoyed this book, which is a good pick for tween girls. Recommended by Elizabeth Arnstein.

The Mostly True Story of Jack by Kelly Barnhill is an eerie tale of magic, friendship and sacrifice. Jack is sent to spend the summer with his aunt and uncle in Hazelwood, Iowa. When he arrives, he is surprised to find that the people of Hazelwood have already been expecting him. This is disconcerting to Jack because where he comes from, he has no friends, and there aren't many people who pay any attention to him, including his own parents. We watch Jack navigate through new friendships and bullies (he's never even had any of those), and we watch as he finally finds where he belongs. There are many twists and turns to this story. There is also a lot of magic. This is Twin Cities' author Kelly Barnhill's first young adult novel and a very enjoyable read. As one critic puts it: "Mystery, magic and creeping horror...the ultimate page turner." Recommended by Randi Rexroth.

Pirates! by Celia Rees: Nancy is the English daughter of a sugar merchant and plantation owner. When her father dies, Nancy is shipped off by her brothers to Jamaica, where she has been promised in marriage to a wealthy (and creepy) man. Rather than marry this man, Nancy runs away with her slave, Minerva, and the two eventually join a band of pirates. The premise is a touch unbelievable, but the story has everything: love, high-seas adventure, fortune-telling, swordfights and battles, a strong anti-slavery message, and some really awesome 18th-century girl power! Recommended for girls age 13 and older. Recommended by Elizabeth Arnstein.

Truckery Rhymes by John Scieszka is a favorite in our house right now. I love pretty much anything Jon Scieszka writes. I first fell in love with his "Guys Read" initiative as a resource for my reluctant boy readers in grades 3-5. Check out his website at http://www.guysread.com/; it has a wealth of book recommendations based on ages, interests, genres, etc. Now he has a series of books aimed towards the little guys (4-7 year olds) with his TRUCKTOWN series of books, because, as he says, what's better than reading about trucks? Truckery Rhymes takes a classic rhyme like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and rewords it to things like “Rumble, Rumble Max”! The 4-8 year old set will howl with laughter at these! Recommended by Tracey Joyce.

Z Is for Moose by Kelly Bingham and illustrated by Paul O. Zelinsky is the funniest, most clever book I‟ve seen in a while. It‟s a twist on your typical ABC book, giving readers lots of things to talk about! Recommended by Tracey Joyce.