Book #27 of the year was L'Énigme du Retour, by Dany Laferrière. I downloaded it a while ago because I was craving reading something Haitian, preferably something not about death and misery. This book, though it was published in 2009, was about death and misery, in its own way. After the death of his father, the protagonist, exiled in Canada, returns to Haiti and reflects on what he sees and experiences. Here's an English translation.
Book #28 was Lady Tan's Circle of Women, by Lisa See. This story, set in 15th century China, is a fascinating look at the life of a wealthy woman who learns about medicine and caring for other women's health.
Book #29 was Digging in the Dirt: Musings on Missions, Emotions, and Life in the Mud, by Jonathan Trotter. I enjoyed these essays on cross-cultural living and working.
Book #30 was Glory Over Everything: Beyond the Kitchen House, by Kathleen Grissom. I read this with my book group. It was the sequel to The Kitchen House (reviewed in this post), which we enjoyed. I think I liked this one even more, though it was equally painful, since it too was about slavery. This one was also about the Underground Railroad and people who lived in the Great Dismal Swamp. It's almost unbearably suspenseful and exciting.
Book #31 was a reread; I actually read it a couple of times this school year because I taught it to my AP French students. It's Petit Pays, by Gaël Faye. (You can find an English version here.) This book is so good and so well-written. It's also an introduction to the story of the Rwandan genocide. For all of my students this year, it was their first French novel. We also watched the movie when we were finished reading it. Highly recommended!
Book #32 was Within Arm's Reach, by Ann Napolitano, a saga of an Irish-American family living in New Jersey.
Book #33 was A Long Way Home: A Memoir, by Saroo Brierley. It's the almost incredible story of an Indian boy who gets lost on a train journey with his older brother. When the brother disappears, Saroo, who is only 5, wanders off on his own and ends up on the street in Calcutta. What happens next, and then when he is an adult, makes for amazing reading.
Book #34 was The Family Under the Bridge, by Natalie Savage Carlson. Our librarian recommended this when I was looking for a story set in Paris. This middle grade novel won a Newbery Honor in 1959. I enjoyed it.
Book #35 was The Salt Path, by Raynor Winn. Brought to the end of themselves by a series of terrible blows, Ray and Moth decide to set off on a walk of 630 miles. This true story is both upsetting and inspiring, and it's also an affecting description of homelessness.
Book #36 was this year's Newbery winner, The First State of Being, by Erin Entrada Kelly. I liked the setting, a few months ahead of Y2K, and the time travel aspect.
Book #37, Conclave, by Robert Harris, was recommended online by someone after the recent death of the Pope. It's an interesting story in its own right, but it's also a good way to learn about how the process works as the conclave chooses a new Pope.
Book #38 was Burn, by Peter Heller. I've read several of Heller's books, and this one includes many of the same elements as the others. Outdoors (including birds), heart-thumping action, apocalyptic setting, and sad back-story. I thought this one was terrific.
Book #39 was The Red Tent, by Anita Diamant, another book club choice. I read this when it first came out in the 90s, but I had forgotten many of the details. It's very well-written and a thought-provoking retelling of the story of Jacob and his family from the Bible. This version is extremely different! The protagonist is Dinah, Jacob's daughter.
Book #40 was Pay Attention, Carter Jones, by Gary D. Schmidt. I have read lots of Schmidt's books and shared them with students, but last week I listened to a podcast about Schmidt and noted that there are a few that I haven't read yet. This was one. If you like Schmidt's style as I do, you'll like this one.
