2005 Staff Picks

Art    English    Health and PhysEd and Athletics    Math     Social Studies    Special Education     World Language

2006 Staff Picks        2007 Staff Picks

Art Department

Mrs. Smith
Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown - best book I've ever read! Indiana Jones with art facts!
Digital Fortress - Dan Brown - Interesting, suspense thriller about computer encryptions.

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister - Gregory Maguire - Cinderella story from the stepsisters' point of view.  Interesting perspective; also deals with art.
The Agony and the Ecstasy - Irving Stone - Very interesting story of Michelangelo and his thoughts and feelings while creating his art.

Mrs. Cushane
Angels and Demons and the Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown
These are fast paced, exciting thrillers in sequence (read Angels and Demons first).  The plots twist and turn as they take you on a scavenger hunt like adventures through Europe.  The best part is  -  these books are chock full of art history!

English Department

Mr. Byatt
Tuesdays with Morrie - Match Albom
The Killer Angels - Michael Shaara
Great life lessons!

Mr. Cullen
Faith of My Fathers - John McCain
This book traces the military background of Senator McCain's rather shady family history in the United States Navy.  It also describes his experiences as a POW in Vietnam.

Ms. Jackyra
Their Eyes Were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston
I read this book for the first time this summer, and I was just blown away by it.  It is about an African-American woman named Janie who overcomes adversity in the racist American south of the early 20th century.  It is rare to find a main character so unique and intricately drawn, so funny, smart, and perceptive.  Beautifully written, this book is as keenly observant as a great poem

Mr. Jorgensen
How Green Was My Valley - Robert Llewellyn
A wonderful novel with lessons on what is really important in life.  I loved learning about Welsh miners and their proud, but dangerous lives.  It has drama, romance and is incredibly well written.  I have read many books and this is one of the best of them and a definite classic.

Mrs. McNally
Liberating Paris - Linda Bloodworth-Thomson
This is the story of life and relationships in a small southern town and is reminiscent of Designing Women and Evening Shade, television shows

Kevin Parker
The Adventures of Augie March - Saul Bellow
The first great book by an author, who until his death last spring, was America's greatest living author.

Math Department

Mr Bucca
The Stand - Stephen King
I've actually read this book twice.  It is a classic story of good vs evil and Stephen King is a very descriptive writer who keeps the story advancing.

Mr. Dempsey
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Intense from start to finish.  I also learned a lot about Afghanistan and our enemies in the Taliban.
The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova
Suspense!  Great settings in Europe, past and present.  Very vivid characters including Ulade Tepese aka Dracula.  Wonderful narrative and plot.

Ms. Reardigan
Digital Fortress and Deception Point - Dan Brown
Dan Brown always keeps you interested.  Both books have a bit of mystery, which makes you want to keep reading.  Also, I find a math connection in all of his books!  They are just fun to read!

Mrs. Serano
Harry Potter (4, 5, and 6) , Eleven on Top, Life of Pi, Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister and Mirror, Mirror
Because I actually have time to read over the summer!

Social Studies Department

Mr. Barnshaw
The Faiths of our Fathers : What America's Founders Really Believed - Alf J. Mapp

A convincing well documented discussion of the religious views of America’s founders. Particularly insightful at a time when pubic expression of religion is becoming increasingly controversial.

Mrs. Carchidi

The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

The book was enjoyable for me for two reasons --- one - it really shows how a historian once interested in a topic does the research and how that research takes them all over the world. second -  the hunt for Dracula was very suspenseful and just a little scary.

Mr. Kirkwood

The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini

Beautifully written…presents richly developed characters—some good, some bad and others purely evil. Knowing the cruelty of Afghanistan’s Taliban and experiencing the oppression of people under theocracy makes me appreciate our system even more.

Mrs. La Rosa
America’s Women: 400 years of Dolls, Drudges, Helpmates and Heroines - Gail Collins
A fascinating, funny and provocative account of America’s women.  Reads like a fast paced adventure story.

Sgt. Stover

The Historian - Elizabeth Kostova

Suspense! Great settings in Europe (present and past). Very vivid characters including Ulad Tepese aka Dracula! Wonderful narrative and plot.

Special Education

Ms. Kelley
The Winner - David Baldacci
Mystery, suspense, and a little romance kept my interest.

Mrs.Savill
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim - David Sedaris
I love to read! I read all types of books.  My favorites are James Patterson and John Grisham and new author Jennifer Weiner, but when I want to just enjoy a books, it's one by David Sedaris.  His books are all short stories.  They take a funny look at typical family situations.  Read him, you'll laugh!

Mrs. Smith
Are You Afraid of the Dark -Sidney Sheldon and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - Ann Brashares
Both books are about females who form friendships that take them through various adventures.

Mrs. Brodzinski
Mountains Beyond Mountains:  The Quest for Dr. Paul: A Man Who Could Cure the World - Tracy Kidder
I loved this biography for several reasons.  It is a current story because Dr. Farmer is still a young man and still working to cure the world.  The section of the book that covers his childhood is fascinating - he lived on a school bus, among other strange places.  It is an inspirational story of how one person really can make a difference in the world.

Health and Physical Education and Athletics

Mrs. Dargusch

1776 – David McCullough

Research for the book came from personal diaries including George Washington.  It thrusts the reader in the middle of the action of colonial struggle for independence.  Make everything you learned about the American Revolution in history class come alive.  Highly recommend this book.

Ms. Headley

The Care and Feeding of Your Chi: Feng Shui for Your Body – Skye Alexander

Is a great book that has many helpful hints for taking care of your body, mind and soul.  Feng shui, a way to declutter, organize and decorate for success is applied to the body with simple tips to create better health and a happier life.

Mr. MacNeill

Third Degree – James Patterson

Kept me on the edge of my seat.  I don’t sit down very often to read, but when you get the right book, you can ‘t put it down, you need to find out what happens next.  I picked up this book on the beach in the afternoon and finished it the next afternoon.  Great book!

World Language Department

Mrs. Henry
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
this is a wonderfully told story of two friends growing up in Afghanistan and how their lives are different.  Past and present Afghanistan are vividly described.  It held my interest to the end.

Ms. Kelly
The Time Travelers Wife - Aurdrey Neffenegger
The author has quite an imagination.  I would say it was educational as well as romantic and serious
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night - Mark Haddon
I learned a lot about autism as the main character has autism.  Very well written, a page turner and very funny.  You could hear Mark Haddon's dry English humor come out.

Ms. Kirk
The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons - Dan Brown

Mrs. Knepler
The Lady and the Unicorn - Tracy Chevalier
I so much enjoyed learning about the art of weaving and locale/setting of the novel.  Although the characters are fictitious, the tapestries still exist today!  I had the good fortune to have viewed one of them at the Cloisters Museum in New York many years ago.