Author: Veronica Roth

This was the most popular book among my students last year and to get a head start on the new batch of students I’d be facing, I finally picked this one off the shelf.

The fact it was the most donated book series in my classroom library (I have been donated four copies so far) is somewhat telling of people’s lack of attachment to it. Still, my expectations weren’t for some groundbreaking literary experience, but rather a fun foray into a mash-up of ideas that were (are?) riding the wave of popularity in book themes (dystopian society with young people sorted into different sections to fight some kind of evil).

My interest throughout the book wavered between “that’s kind of neat” and “when is this going to be over?” 

It felt like it was trying to be intense, and meaningful, while still appealing to the young adult crowd. Throw in a vested romance interest plot line and mix it all together in the backdrop of a world that’s vaguely conceived.

Some great ideas in here and there were a few points that stopped me in its brilliance, which pushed me to continue with the rest of the series. 

However, I also get why many people continue to donate their copies to me. Once the story is done, there wasn’t enough in the world to keep it on your shelves as a reminder of the adventure you once dove into.

I’ll keep it on mine, for now, anyway.

Author: Christopher McDougall

I’m not sure what inspired me to pick up this book, especially considering I am notorious for making the claim I don’t run unless I’m being chased.

I guess people kept telling me it was a good book and I’m a sucker for a compelling non-fiction narrative (and fiction obviously).

Not only am I not disappointed, but I’m both entertained and inspired. This book makes me want to get off my writing keyster and run like mad.

The purpose of the book was to show the reader all humans were born runners, but civilization and domestication made us lazy. Real lazy.

Then it gave us bad images of what running was and should be, which furthered our resolve to stay sedentary. If we weren’t doing it right, then why bother?

The section that blew me away the most was about barefoot running.

For years, I was told I hyper-pronate and need supportive footwear/orthotics, otherwise I’d be causing myself serious knee and back injuries.

Yet, I’ve always been the most comfortable in bare feet. Years of martial arts may have conditioned that feeling, but I also swore by my Nike Free 3.0, which were my most comfortable shoe for serious walking (as close as you can get to barefoot at the time). After they discontinued the line, I was disappointed with anything else.

It was after I ditched my orthotics (which wore down), I started doing yoga and noticed my arches started reforming. Weird.

I haven’t gone back to anything supportive and after reading this book, I understand why. My feet were a perfect support structure if I let them.

I immediately picked up a pair of Xero shoes and that’s what I teach in now. No support and standing/pacing all day. Feet, knees and back never felt better.

Thanks to the inspiration of this book, I’m excited to pick up running for good. I’ve made a few attempts over the years, but now I have the confidence to do my thing.

Author: Cassandra Clare

After hearing raving reviews from my students, some of my friends and my wife, I finally picked this up in anticipation of blasting through the series. I’m no stranger to getting lost in YA worlds where even flat characters and less than stellar plot-lines still have something going on to keep me hooked.

This book, however, completely bored me.

Maybe it’s just not my cup of tea, or I’m getting old and jaded by the paranormal genre, but it was painful to get through. I even set aside my preconceptions about the writing and some of the negative reviews here in order to see what others loved about it so much.

I just couldn’t find something to love, even when I made it a point to finish it in hopes the ending would pump me up.

Nope.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of slow paced stories (and I’ve also watched Mulholland Drive four times), but the pacing here seemed to drag the further along you got.

Clare can’t hear me through her massive success and fans of this genre will love it for reasons they’re attracted to it, but for me, I’ll keep it on the shelf for somebody else.

Author: Jo Boaler

This book was floating around my Math department and when I asked about taking it home to read over the summer to prep me for the upcoming year, the answer was a resounding no. The veteran teachers who had it were still using it as a reference for their own practice.

For that reason, I made no hesitation to purchase it outright (something I rarely do anymore) with the possibility to offering it to someone else if I didn’t feel it had a permanent spot on my shelf. Within two chapters, I cleared some space for a lifetime commitment.

I loved Math, but Boaler gives a wonderful explanation to get me liking it even more. She has a way of opening your eyes to what Math really is outside of a traditional classroom (where most of us secured our disdain for the subject) and why the parameters for learning it are much wider than most people think.

Our ideas about the subject are narrow from the elementary to high school grades because the North American education systems are designed to teach to a test. Drill and kill until the correct multiple choice option is selected for a standardized test, which only shows how far behind we are compared to other countries.

The irony is those other countries use the philosophy Boaler speaks about in this book, which teaches Math as a subject with multiple ways to think about it, and still manage to crush those tests.

Knowing people who are in the upper academic circles of the Mathematics field, they can tell you how artistic and creative the subject really is, even if it requires tremendous amounts of discipline (give me one subject that does not). It’ll be exciting to bring this into my classroom.

With many examples to use and reference points for further reading, I’m elated to have this in my personal library.

Editor: Bryce Beattie

This isn’t a book, but a collection of articles curated by the editor with a few of his own thoughts thrown in. I have to hand it to Beattie for managing to find these and put them together in a way that is logical and insightful.

As someone who has taken a keen interest in the pulp fiction style of writing that marked publishing for several decades (and in many ways is coming back now with indie publishing), I am always on the lookout for their advice. After all, these were people who considered writing their job and would sit at their desk for eight hours a day, everyday, pumping out stories.

Stories that sell.

The usefulness of any non-fiction book to me is if I find a gem that changes my thinking or sparks my imagination in new ways. While there is much to sift through, my kindle has a slew of highlights and notes, each one with some addendum such as, “That’s brilliant!” or *smacks forehead at such a good idea.*

Yes, you could find these articles for free online somewhere if you’re willing to dig. However, given the very specific nature of what is being offered, would you really know what search parameters were needed?

This is a solid investment and I’m thankful for Beattie for putting it together.

Author: Wes Moore

Why is it that two people growing up in similar circumstances can end up on completely different paths?

In this case, one became a Rhodes Scholar, decorated veteran, White House fellow and business leader while the other is serving a life sentence. Both share the same name, but their narratives veer off sharply during their youth.

The bulk of this book is one Wes Moore reaching out to the other in an attempt to find the answer to the above question. Both their fates could have been much different and this book is a discovery process to find out where it all went right or wrong.

There is no clear answer and even Moore admits to this at the end. However, this did not upset me as I finished because there was a lot more to mine from these two stories to give a societal look at what happened. Yes, there’s autonomy in the decisions you make about your own life, but if you’re in a position where you feel those choices are limited… the autonomy is stripped away.

From the perspective it was told, there’s no one size fits all solution either. While one Wes Moore went to military school where he learned discipline, respect and was given opportunities not afforded to him in his neighbourhood, it’s unclear whether this path would’ve worked for the other Wes.

While this book won’t answer any questions in a clear way, it’s a fascinating account of how two lives that seem so similar can end up so different.

Author: Rick Riordan

I waited until completing the trilogy before writing this review as the first book was a helluva adventure that was wonderfully executed and I didn’t want the experience tainted by sloppy sequels.

Thankfully, that wasn’t the case. At all.

While I dipped my toes in the world of Riordan back with Percy Jackson, it didn’t compel me enough to need to finish the series. It got shelved in the, “I’ll get to it eventually,” pile and moved on. Magnus Chase on the other hand?

Rick, whatever you’re doing to make your stories this much fun, keep doing it!

Halfway through book one, I fell in love with Magnus. He has just enough sass and connection to the reader that you feel like he’s a real person telling a story – not a character as a smokescreen for the author to info-dump. The best part? His character is consistent through all three books.

Sure, he grows, learns and all that other jazz you expect a character to do, but he’s still Magnus in the end. Then there are the other ‘supporting’ characters. Each one has a rich background that gives them depth which is done so painstakingly well, you better believe I’m going to study how he did it.

What really sets this book apart is the treatment of the auxiliary characters (the gods, the giants, etc.). Instead of a typical cliche where each one is a serious combatant who broods in a faceless manner for no reason, they’re enjoyable in their own right. Think what Marvel Studios does to its characters when the movies aren’t set on Earth.

Fun and enjoyable.

Those would be the two best words to sum-up my experience with this trilogy. I hope there isn’t a fourth because the third one ended on a perfect note.

Author: Richard Wagamese

One word summary: stunning.

To find a book that is beautifully written, emotionally provocative, wholly depressing and sticks with you in a way that changes your worldview is beyond outstanding. The moment I got to the last page, I knew this book was going to rank in my top five.

Indian Horse deals with extremely sensitive subjects that have been the dark hole of Canada’s history. Wagamese directly confronts the issues of residential schools, blatant racism and the aftermath of a people trying to recover. It’s all woven together in a story dealing with identity, recovery and hockey.

How Canadian, right?

What pulled at me the hardest was the thread of hope I had while journeying with Saul getting shattered in the last few pages. After the anger you feel towards everything he has experienced, the reader is confronted with an even darker truth that pulls you into despair. And really, that emotion is appropriate because his story is the story of so many in this country.

It’s still dumbfounding Canada’s last residential school (a school system specifically designed to strip Native people of their culture where horrendous abuses happened) closed in 1996. While the government made a formal apology in 2008, you have to wonder how it was swept under the rug for so long. Well, you don’t have to wonder when you consider the abrasive, racist attitude people had/have toward Native people.

Yes, there are great strides being taken to educate people about what happened, but the stats mean nothing compared to the story. While the material in this book may be too sensitive for younger audiences, it should be required reading at some point in school. I don’t make that statement lightly either as I’m a teacher who offers free choice in what students should read.

If you ever want to know one of Canada’s dark secrets, this book will shine a light.

Author: M.L. Ronn

I’m a sucker for a good story, which shouldn’t be surprising considering my love of reading and writing. Lately, I’ve been wary of books about writing considering the glut of them out there from new(ish) authors who are trying to cash in on the “self-help for writers” genre.

Ronn, however, struck me different. His story seemed relatable even though it wasn’t quite. He’s someone with a full-time career and family who has a love of writing and wants to do something with it. The details are where we differ, but I took a chance there might be a few gems for me to use.

We got off in the right foot when he mentioned his love of the pulp fiction writers. Then he had me hooked when he spoke about writing being an outlet of expression and not giving a shit about what others think. He’s got enough going on to care about people’s opinions on the Internet.

Right there – worth the entire cost of the book.

There are also mentions of techniques he’s used to increase his writing output (not to be confused with speed), which were stark reminders of how lucky we are to have our current tools. If you’ve never read on these techniques before, they might come as a surprise. If you have heard about them, his explanations of them will be a kick in the pants to get going.

The style of the book is fast, easy to read and beautifully written. It’s a call for those who want to be writers, not authors and yes, there is a difference.

I look forward to reading out his fiction titles (if I can keep up with his writing).

Author: Adam Alter

As a teacher, I’m on the front-line of what the proliferation of technology is doing to young people. While I’ve done my best to mitigate the classic old person looking down at younger generation and raising the banner that things are worse than they’ve ever been (after all, I teach some pretty amazing students), I am concerned.

Very concerned.

I see all the amazing things technology can do and how useful it can be in the classroom, but I still remember what it was like to be a teenager when some of this stuff was coming out. It was addictive.

Now I’m watching as students grow increasingly addicted to their devices, unable to let go and seeking a constant need to fill any gaps of boredom. Alter lets us in this rise in addiction wasn’t done by accident, but manufactured by teams of people who understand how addiction works and how to use it against us.

Immediately, we are told the heads of all these innovative tech companies do not allow devices in their home. Some send their kids to tech-free schools and even Steve Jobs severely limited his own kids screen time.

If you’re beginning to make a connection between the tobacco industry and the tech industry, you’re not far off.

A lot of this book is spent explaining how behavioral addiction works. If you’re not into endless waves of sociological observations and experiments (I did find it tiring), this book may be a tough slog.

However, there are many gems to pick up if you stick with the work. You gain an understanding of why we keep coming back to our devices, how tech companies use your weaknesses against you and ways to overcome the addiction.

It provided enough encouragement for me to back away from many of the mindless behaviours I commit to when looking at a screen, although I don’t know if I can attribute it directly to the author or from reading it elsewhere and seeing it again here. In any case, it motivated me to do something.

While I wish Alter could’ve spent more time directly addressing the issue (he does bounce around it quite a bit), if you’ve never traversed the new waters of technological addiction, this book wouldn’t be a bad place to start.