Sharing our favourite books within the school’s community! – 1st edition
- Camila Simōes
- Feb 3, 2022
- 6 min read
By Camila Simões (Y13)
The last two years have been a great opportunity for people to find new hobbies or dedicate more time to the ones they already had, one of them is reading books. Even if this hasn’t been your case, this new year might be a good time to start reading as a habit!
Not long ago, I sent a survey to the school’s students and staff asking for book recommendations, and the number of people that responded was much more than I’d expected! I wasn’t able to fit all of the recommendations in this article, but I will in future editions, so stay tuned for that!
Note: the title of each book will contain a hyperlink for the book platforms StoryGraph or Goodreads, containing important information such as the main themes and content warnings.
My Sweet Orange Tree (José Mauro de Vasconcelos, 1968)
OIS Library status: available in Portuguese
“It is simple and easy to read but it makes you feel really strong emotions.”
This Brazilian classic is an autobiographical novel about 5-year-old Zezé, who lives in a very impoverished part of Rio de Janeiro. In order to escape the brutal reality of the situation he lives in, Zezé creates a magical world through his imagination, governed by Minguinho, a sweet orange tree that can talk.
Divergent series (Veronica Roth, 2011-2013)
OIS Library status: available
“It's an interesting sci-fi book with a ton of cool lore and concepts, in my opinion. Very easy to get lost in the book after you get past the first few pages!”
This YA (young adult) story takes place in a dystopian world, in Chicago. The city is divided into five groups of people – Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Every person at age 16 has to choose one of the groups, to which they will belong for the rest of their lives. This is the case of Beatrice Prior, who, after making her decision, goes through many physical and emotional challenges, and struggles with relationships and trust, as well as keeping a big secret.
The Blandings Castle Saga (P.G. Wodehouse, 1915-1975)
OIS Library status: not available
“It is funny and it is written beautifully.” – Giorgia (Year 7.2)
During most of his lifetime, British author P.G. Wodehouse wrote eleven novels and nine short stories, all happening in the same place – Blandings Castle. This fictional place is home to Lord Emsworth, a friendly and absent-minded old man who longs for a peaceful life, but instead has to frequently deal with the melodrama of his big family, running into ridiculous situations and crazy adventures.
The Graceling Realm (Kristin Cashore, 2008-2022)
OIS Library status: “Graceling” and “Fire” available
“You have to think about what is happening, and it is kind of gruesome to read as you continue the series, but overall, very enjoyable. It's a fantasy and it's "unputdownable".”
This fantasy YA book tells the story of Katsa, who lives in the Seven Kingdoms and is the niece of the king. In this fanciful world, some people are born with a special talent or “Grace”. Katsa’s Grace is killing, and so she is forced to commit brutal murders by the king as his hitman. However, one day she meets Prince Po, whose Grace is combat skills, and her life begins to change.
The Book Thief (Markus Zusak, 2005)
OIS Library status: available
“This is a very unique book which describes the life of a young girl during World War II.” – Carolina Torres (Y9)
This historical novel follows the life of Liesel Meminger, a young girl living in Nazi Germany. One day, her younger brother dies and she is sent to a new foster home. One time, she finds a book prohibited by the Nazi regime, and, as her foster parents begin to teach her how to read, she develops a love for reading and starts to steal more and more books the Nazis are looking to destroy, and she even starts to write her own book. Of course, this puts Liesel in a dangerous situation, which augments when her foster family decides to hide a Jewish boy in their basement.
Classroom of the Elite (Shōgo Kinugasa and Shunsaku Tomose (illustrator), 2015-2019)
OIS Library status: not available
“The main character is unpredictable.”
This is a series of Japanese light novels, that is, relatively-short novels that contain illustrations and that centre around a group of teens or young adults. In this case, the action happens in the Tokyo Metropolitan Advanced Nurturing School, a highly competitive high school that consists of a ranking of classes – from Class-D to A. Class-D the inferior, less-skilled students, one of them being the main character Kiyotaka Ayanokōji, a socially awkward but very intelligent boy who challenges the readers’ perspective as he gradually reveals his mischievous and manipulative personality.
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again (J. R. R. Tolkien, 1937)
OIS Library status: Available in English, Spanish and Portuguese
“It is interesting and intriguing.” – Nicolò
Tolkien wrote this book specifically for his children and it ended up turning into a timeless classic. This story is set in a fictional universe, and the main character is Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit that is half the size of a normal human, doesn’t wear shoes and lives in a cosy hole in the ground. One day, Bilbo is selected by the wizard Gandalf to participate in a quest to find a treasure kept by the dragon Smaug.
The Body: A Guide for Occupants (Bill Bryson, 2019)
OIS Library status: only other titles by the same author are available
“Not only does this book discuss the human body in detail much like one of our biology teachers would, but it does so in a way that is approachable and fathomable by even those who don’t take biology. Comparing the complex systems of the human body with things in our world that we understand in order to enhance our understanding makes this book a blast to read. I recommend to those that enjoy Biology and even those who are merely interested. (It even makes Chemistry seem interesting.).”
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Jonathan Safran Foer, 2005)
OIS Library status: available
“Foer writes with a fresh, innovative, and punchy style. His characters are emotionally complex and often laugh-out-loud hilarious. The novel lets us reflect on what it means to be human in a world of pain and tragedy and on how we can be a part of each other's healing. It shines light on the power of human connections, whether between family members or between strangers, and on the unexpected things that we all have in common.” – Tiffany Blake
This novel follows the journey of 9-year-old Oskar Schell, who travels through the boroughs of New York, in order to find the lock that matches a key that belonged to his father, who died in the World Trade Centre on the morning of 9/11.
Great Expectations (Charles Dickens, 1861)
OIS Library status: available
“The characters are so clearly drawn and we care about their journeys.”
The story follows the life of an English orphan named Philip Pirrip, as he rises to wealth, becoming an arrogant man whose actions inevitably culminate into his downfall. Like many of Dickens’ other novels, Great Expectations reflects on the consequences of a rising England, which keeps growing as a world leader, while its people are faced with the most precarious of conditions.
Cloudstreet (Tim Winton, 1991)
OIS Library status: not available
“I'd recommend anything by Tim Winton. I love the bleak, gritty picture he paints of Western Australia, the brutal humanity of the characters and the rare but precious moments of redemption.” – Mr Charles
Yet another classic, this novel depicts the life of two working-class families, the Pickles and the Lambs, who, after both being hit by family tragedies, come to live together in a house called Cloudstreet over a period of 20 years.
The Selection (Kiera Cass, 2012-2016)
OIS Library status: all 5 books available
“It’s captivating.” – Ema Sousa (Year 10.3)
35 girls are selected to live in a glamorous palace and compete against each other to conquer the heart of Prince Maxon. While this is a dream come true for most of the girls, it isn’t for the protagonist, America Singer, who is forced to navigate through a world she didn’t want to be part of.
Durante a Queda Aprendi a Voar (Raul Minh’Alma, 2020)
OIS Library Status: not available
“Addresses a current topic that happens to many young people! Might assist or serve as an example to parents!” – Helena, supervisor
This is a Portuguese novel in which the protagonist is a young woman named Teresa, who is studying in Law school. One day, however, she comes to learn that her father is suffering from depression, and, from that moment on, she is determined to help him and starts taking him to therapy sessions in a clinic. There, she meets Duarte, a young man that goes to visit his brother in the clinic. Despite being very different, Teresa and Duarte from a deep connection. As the story progresses, the reader accompanies the progress of Teresa’s father’s treatment and comes to learn more about the mysterious past of Duarte.
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