Educator Picks for Your Summer Reading List

Atlas of the Heart By Brené Brown “The story is about a character with the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: He must accept the consequences of his second try—for better or worse,” re­counts Beryl Torrence, a bus driver from Kan­napolis, N.C. “I found the premise of a ‘do-over’ intrigu­ing. However, as we know, all of our choices have con­sequences. I loved this book and have recommended it to friends.”

Summer Solstice By Nina MacLaughlin “MacLaughlin’s languid essay is a memoir of New England summers and a meditation on savoring fleeting moments,” reflects college librarian Cathy Fahey, from Salem, Mass. “It’s perfect for reading in a hammock while enjoying the sun and shade. I reread this book every June, to remind myself to enjoy the season.”

The Anxious Generation By Jonathan Haidt “As a teacher who is not a parent, it was eye-opening to see how my students’ phone experiences were wildly different from my own as a teenager,” shares Ally Bowers, a high school science teacher from Chamberlain, S.D. “The Anxious Generation also offers concrete actions for how we can move toward a brighter tech future for our students.”

The 57 Bus By Dashka Slater “By examining a real act of violence and its profound consequences, this book explores empathy, restorative justice, gender identity, race, and the complexity of youth within the justice system,” says counseling professor Kashara Moore, from Long Beach, Calif. “Reading The 57 Bus becomes an act of civic engagement, as it can strengthen one’s capacity for compassion, critical thinking, and meaningful dialogue.”

Born on a Blue Day By Daniel Tammet “As someone who works with students who have autism, [this book] was fascinating to me,” says Becky Marszalek, a special education paraeducator in Pittsburgh, Pa. “This memoir is written by a person with autism who sees numbers as shapes, colors, and textures. He has savant syndrome, an extremely rare condition that gives him extraordinary mental powers. He can learn to speak new languages fluently, from scratch, in a week. In 2004, he memorized and recited more than 22,000 digits of pi, setting a record.”

Empire of Silence By Christopher Ruocchio The first title in the sci-fi/fantasy Sun Eater series, this book is set in the distant future, when humans have colonized the galaxy. “There is something darkly comforting about seeing human beings throughout time—even if it is a fictional future time—dealing with and overcoming the same oppression and injustice we find ourselves fighting today,” notes high school English teacher Sean Olo-rundami, who lives in Sioux City, Iowa.

Twice By Mitch Albom “The story is about a character with the magical ability to get a second chance at everything. He can undo any moment and live it again. The one catch: He must accept the consequences of his second try—for better or worse,” re­counts Beryl Torrence, a bus driver from Kan­napolis, N.C. “I found the premise of a ‘do-over’ intrigu­ing. However, as we know, all of our choices have con­sequences. I loved this book and have recommended it to friends.”

Wild Dark Shore By Charlotte McConaghy “This is a beautiful story about nature, love, grief, and isolation,” says Nicole Tejada, who teaches family consumer science in Southold, N.Y. “Set on a remote island between Australia and Antarctica, it follows the story of five characters navigating individual struggles. With its focus on global warming, this book will linger in your mind for days!”