29 Dates by Melissa de la Cruz
"Jisu’s traditional South Korean parents are concerned by what they see as her lack of attention to her schoolwork and her future. Working with Seoul’s premiere matchmaker to find the right boyfriend is one step toward ensuring Jisu’s success, and going on the recommended dates is Jisu’s compromise to please her parents while finding space to figure out her own dreams. But when she flubs a test then skips out on a date to spend time with friends, her fed-up parents shock her by shipping her off to a private school in San Francisco. Where she’ll have the opportunity to shine academically—and be set up on more dates!"
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Head of English, Ms. Tami Lyon, teaches AP Language & Composition 12; AP Research; English 11/AP Capstone Seminar. She also sponsors Debate. In her free time, she enjoys reading, hiking, and family-time.
Ms. Lyon enjoys reading fiction and classic literature. So why this novel: "I wanted to select a book that is "out of my comfort zone" (i.e. different than my usual reading list.)" She explains: "It's an engaging story of a Korean high school senior who has been sent by her family to spend her Grade 12 year as an international student in San Francisco--where, in addition to navigating a new country and culture--she still has to continue a series of "dates" set-up by a matchmaker hired by her parents! This novel is a lot of fun to read!" |
Anger Is A Gift by Mark Oshiro
"Six years ago, Moss Jefferies' father was murdered by an Oakland police officer. Along with losing a parent, the media's vilification of his father and lack of accountability has left Moss with near crippling panic attacks.
Now, in his sophomore year of high school, Moss and his fellow classmates find themselves increasingly treated like criminals by their own school. New rules. Random locker searches. Constant intimidation and Oakland Police Department stationed in their halls. Despite their youth, the students decide to organize and push back against the administration. When tensions hit a fever pitch and tragedy strikes, Moss must face a difficult choice: give in to fear and hate or realize that anger can actually be a gift." |
Mr. Brad Jolliffe teaches English 8 and 9, coaches Volleyball and sponsors Debate. In his free time he enjoys: jogging, reading, tennis, and volleyball.
His favourite genre is social justice fiction which is why he selected this novel: "It gives a voice to many silenced narratives and perspectives (racial and sexual minorities) while ambitiously tackling many important issues for us all to consider—both young and old." He explains: "I think many students would be able relate to the teen perspective that is developed through the narrator and it complements the popular novels The Hate U Give and Dear Martin well which I know a lot of students have read and enjoyed!" |
Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia
"In the real world, Eliza Mirk is shy, weird, and friendless. Online, she’s LadyConstellation, the anonymous creator of the wildly popular webcomic Monstrous Sea. Eliza can’t imagine enjoying the real world as much as she loves the online one, and she has no desire to try.
Then Wallace Warland, Monstrous Sea’s biggest fanfiction writer, transfers to her school. Wallace thinks Eliza is just another fan, and as he draws her out of her shell, she begins to wonder if a life offline might be worthwhile. But when Eliza’s secret is accidentally shared with the world, everything she’s built—her story, her relationship with Wallace, and even her sanity—begins to fall apart." |
Director of Teaching and Learning, Ms. Jennifer Dousett, teaches English 10. She enjoys yoga, hiking and disc golfing. Originally from Ontario, she prefers lakes over the ocean and stands by this controversial preference.
She chose this book based on student recommendation and because, “I’ve always been curious about people leading dual lives and this had a spice of romance in the mix as well, so I figured why not give it a read?” |
Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
"Stella Grant likes to be in control—even though her totally out of control lungs have sent her in and out of the hospital most of her life. At this point, what Stella needs to control most is keeping herself away from anyone or anything that might pass along an infection and jeopardize the possibility of a lung transplant. Six feet apart. No exceptions.
The only thing Will Newman wants to be in control of is getting out of this hospital. He couldn’t care less about his treatments, or a fancy new clinical drug trial. Soon, he’ll turn eighteen and then he’ll be able to unplug all these machines and actually go see the world, not just its hospitals. Will’s exactly what Stella needs to stay away from. If he so much as breathes on Stella she could lose her spot on the transplant list. Either one of them could die. The only way to stay alive is to stay apart. But suddenly six feet doesn’t feel like safety. It feels like punishment." |
Middle School Key teacher, Ms. Katie Anderson, teacher English 9 and 10 and helps out with the Dance program. She loves to cook, go for hikes, watch movies, and write.
Ms. Anderson enjoys sci-fi and YA. So why did she select this novel? "I saw the movie preview and thought it would be fun to read the novel before viewing it! This novel looks like a tear-jerker but also a realistic look into teens dealing with love and loss." |
Additional Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott
Exchange coordinator, Ms. Barbara Thureau, teaches English 9 and 10, and Speech and Debate.
She loves historical fiction: "I look forward to sharing stories from saboteurs, members of the resistance and people who avoided capture."
She loves historical fiction: "I look forward to sharing stories from saboteurs, members of the resistance and people who avoided capture."
The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
"Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr. But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life." |
Ms. Laurie Geddes teaches Art 8, Art 1(10), AP Studio Art, coaches Cross Country and sponsors the Student Art Committee. Her hobbies include: running and making art.
Ms. Geddes' favourite genre is Canadian Lit, but selected this American contemporary novel because: "It is engaging and relevant in today's world." 
Ms. Catherine Underwood teachers Art 11/12, coaches Senior Field Hockey, and sponsors the Kenya Service Project. In her spare time she enjoys: trail running, skiing, hiking, and hanging with her kids.
Why did she select this novel? "Because Ms. Geddes recommended it." And why should others read it? "Because the storyline reminds us to not be swayed by others' opinions, but rather to trust your own instincts." |
On the Come Up by Angie Thomas
"Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least make it out of her neighborhood one day. As the daughter of an underground rap legend who died before he hit big, Bri’s got big shoes to fill. But now that her mom has unexpectedly lost her job, food banks and shutoff notices are as much a part of Bri’s life as beats and rhymes. With bills piling up and homelessness staring her family down, Bri no longer just wants to make it—she has to make it.
This is the story of fighting for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; of the struggle to become who you are and not who everyone expects you to be; and of the desperate realities of poor and working-class black families." |
Teacher-Librarian, Ms. Gloria Piovesan, teaches English and sponsors the Reach For the Top team. In her free time, she enjoys knitting, reading, yoga and being as stereo-typical a librarian as possible.
Though historical fiction is her favourite, Ms. Piovesan is an avid reader of Young Adult lit: "I really enjoyed The Hate U Give and am excited to have Angie Thomas take me into another world I know nothing about -- rap!" |
PS I Still Love You by Jenny Han
"Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter. She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever. When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?
In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing." |
Ms. Heather Dow is a Science teacher who likes to ski and play beach volleyball, or at least she used to before her two young children were born and proceeded to dominate her life. Thank goodness they’re cute. Nowadays her favourite things to do are cry after the Toronto Maple Leafs lose in playoffs, watch the intellectually stimulating Bachelor on Monday evenings, and read cheesy teen romance novels.
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Simon vs the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
"Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.
With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated." |
Head of Houssian, Ms. Lisa Bremner, sponsors Girls rugby, Garden Club, and Faculty Fitness. In her free time she enjoys: being a mom, spending time in Pemberton, get outside, hanging out with Gus, and READING!
So why select this novel: "It seemed to have a strong link to being a teenager, relevant to the current world and had a strong message that was important to share and discuss. It also has a great movie!" Head of Byrd, Ms. Alexa Grivakes, teaches Career and Life Education and sponsors Garden Club, Allies, Mountain Biking, and Thrive. She enjoys reading fiction with a strong heroine. So why pick this book? "It connects to Allies and has a strong protagonist with real life issues and good discussion material." 
Hugo and Gus are not homo sapiens but enjoy reading.
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