Recs
Questions
a. Basic summary
b. Why did you read it?
c. What rating (of 10) would you give it, why?
d. Why do you recommend it?
e. What genre/style of book is it? To whom would it appeal?
1. Senior
The Shack – by William Paul Young
a. About a man who lost his daughter and returns to her murder site
b. I read it as a recommendation.
c. 10/10 – The foundation of the story is effective in getting your attention and the rest blows you away.
d. The story is truly moving and the style of the writing really grabs you into the story.
e. It is religious/fiction, man meets God type of story with suspense.
2. Junior
The Pelican Brief– by John Grisham
a. About the assassination of two Supreme Court Justices.
b. I was bored and read it for fun.
c. 10/10 because it has all the elements of an exciting book.
d. I recommend it because it has a lot of plot twists that keep the book moving at a fast pace.
e. It is a legal, suspenseful, thriller , mystery novel.
3. Junior
For One More Day – by Mitch Albom
a. Having hit rock bottom, Charles “Chick” Benetto decides to take his life but encounters something else instead- his mother, who recently passed away.
b. I watched the TV-movie version.
c. 10/10 – it was very relatable to me personally as I read it.
d. I recommend it as there are so many underlying themes and is written so well with such texture that makes you appreciate the story even more. Plus you’ll love your mom more after reading it.
e. It is a philosophical fictional novel but not hard to follow its ideas.
4. Senior
The Stranger – by Albert Camus
a. About the trial of an ordinary man who goes to jail after shooting an Arab.
b. Read it as extra credit for Existentialism
c. 9/10 – Easy to read in one sitting as the story hooks you early on.
d. I recommend it as it is comical, philosophical, and psychological, all in a small book.
e. An existential novel that exposes the absurdity of human existence in an indifferent world.
5. Freshman
Life of Pi – by Yann Martel
a. An Indian boy, Pi, gets stranded on a lifeboat with a bunch of animals, including a tiger.
b. I read it because I heard from people that it was good.
c. 10/10 – A perfect allegory underlying a brilliant and unexpected tale.
d. I recommend it as it is different from other ‘survival’ novels. It is unlike novels focused on Man v. Nature, it isn’t like Swiss Family Robinson, and a ‘happily ever after’ sea story.
e. A novel that explores religion, spirituality, and practicality based on the life of a young boy.
Book recommendations by Stuyvesant students for Stuyvesant students and readers around the world. Also known as Stuy Bookshelf/Book Box. Submissions are open—click on register below!