Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell

Blurb submitted by MyKenzie H.
Outliers: The Story of Success is nonfiction

Success is not just some ability you are born with. According to Malcolm Gladwell, he tells you just that in his book about the key to success. Gladwell provides many case studies of different cultures and time periods showing you there are so many key factors to being successful.

 By using real-life examples and case studies, Gladwell proves to you that success is not an innate ability you are born with, you can get out of whatever situation you are born with and be successful.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Blurb submitted by James P.
The Hunger Games is fiction

The Hunger Games begins with Katniss Everdeen, a teenage girl in a dystopian future society. In this society, all the people are divided into 12 factions, and she is from the poorest one. In order to keep the people in line the country's leader started what is called the Hunger Games. The Hunger Games take two children between the ages of 12 and 18 from each district and then put them in an arena to fight each other to the death. All the kids are required to gather together to hear the announcement of who is to be chosen. Until this year Katniss's sister wasn't old enough to be chosen and, as luck would have it, she is chosen her first year. Katniss immediately takes advantage of her ability to volunteer to go instead of her sister. She then has to fight to survive, and things go much different than you would expect.

In the first part of the book, Katniss and her whole faction seem somewhat weak. But as it continues and you learn more about her and her faction you begin to understand how strong she really is. In the second part of the book, you see her become who she truly is.

This book kind of reflects our own society in many ways. It teaches young people to stand up to oppression and not to be afraid of authority. It uses a very dystopian society to teach young people that they can be a voice of change in their own society.

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Blurb submitted by Colby H.
A Christmas Carol is fiction

Scrooge finds himself walking those icy roads every day. It's Christmas time and everyone around him is enjoying the presence of family and the children are running and laughing in the snow. But not him. After the agonizing walk, he makes it to work. Bob Cratchit, his apprentice, asks for Christmas Eve off. Initially, Scrooge refuses in an unsightly manner, but he comes around and offers a deal. After work the next night, Scrooge returns home unknowing of what he is about to encounter. Will he change the person he has become? A Christmas Carol is a calamitous, but hopeful, novel that will stimulate your mind.

Shoe Dog by Phil Knight

Blurb submitted by Ryan L. Shoe Dog is nonfiction In 1962, the only thing Phil Knight had on his mind after returning home from Stanford...