by Nancy Mugele, Head of School
If you are looking for some holiday gifts or winter break reading selections, here is my 2023 Year of Books in review.
There are so many reasons why being a reader is a lifelong gift you can give yourself. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your ability to effectively communicate. Reading improves concentration and memory, enhances knowledge, and increases imagination and creativity. Reading can also improve sleep, reduce stress, and help you relax.
The reason I read, however, is because of the healing power of books. Books feed our soul, transport us, make us laugh, help us feel empathy, and teach us about history, and each other.
In 2023, I read 36 books in total, both on my Kindle and in print. This does not include all of the wonderful children’s books I read aloud to Kent School students in Little School, Kindergarten and First Grade! In 2024, I will have my own children’s book out in the world, but that is another story which I will share soon.
My Top Pick of the Year is from the historical fiction genre, Horse. Based on the remarkable true story of the record-breaking thoroughbred Lexington, Horse is a novel of art, science, love, and race.
I also highly recommend Properties of Thirst, for its Shakespeare references, and themes of love, water, food, justice, revenge, sorrow, the environment, and history. Lessons in Chemistry, also focuses on food and how it rebuilds and reshapes the life of the main character. Tom Lake is for summer theater lovers and lovers of family secrets. The Personal Librarian is a portrayal of Belle da Costa Greene, JP Morgan’s assistant, a powerful figure in the New York art and rare book world of the early 20th Century, who helped build the Morgan Library collection.
I also highly recommend Middle School Superpowers by Phyllis Fagell and The Emotional Lives of Teenagers by Lisa Damour. Both authors have been Kudner Leyon Visiting Writers in the past. Phyllis will join our community in February for the second time as our Kudner Leyon Visiting Writer. Details to follow soon.
Now, what shall I read to start the New Year?!
Fiction
Winter Garden, Kristin Hannah
Daisy Jones and the Six, Taylor Jenkins Reid
Someone Else’s Shoes, Jojo Moyes
Lessons in Chemistry, Bonnie Garmus
Hello Beautiful, Ann Napolitano
Demon Copperhead, Barbara Kingsolver
Cassandra in Reverse, Holly Smale
The Book Proposal, KJ Micciche
Tom Lake, Ann Patchett
The Whalebone Theatre, Joanna Quin
The Audrey Hepburn Estate, Brenda Janowitz
Covenant of Water, Abraham Verghese
Historical Fiction
The Winemaker’s Wife, Kristin Harmel
Properties of Thirst, Marianne Wiggins
Horse, Geraldine Brooks
March, Geraldine Brooks
The Personal Librarian, Marie Benedict
The Tiffany Girls, Shelley Noble
First Ladies, Marie Benedict – almost finished!
Biography
Spare, Prince Harry
Friends, Lovers and the Big Terrible Thing, Matthew Perry
Poetry
At the Narrows, Meredith Davies Hadaway, Washington College Sophie Kerr Poet in Residence
Weaving Sunlight in a Scarlet Light, Joy Harjo
Kin – Rooted in Hope, Carole Boston Weatherford
12 Moons, Mary Oliver
Professional Non-Fiction
Short Changed: How Advanced Placement Cheats Students, Annie Abrams
Digital Body Language: How to Build Trust and Connection, No Matter the Distance, Erica Dhawan
Middle School Superpowers, Phyllis Fagell
Unearthing Joy, Ghouldy Mohamed
The Emotional Lives of Teenagers, Lisa Damour
Moments of Impact, Lisa Kay Solomon
Equally Shared Parenting, Marc and Amy Vachon
Working with Today’s Independent School Parents, Rob Evans and Michael Thompson
Deep Kindness, Houston Kraft
Growing Up in Public, Devorah Heitner, PhD
Kindness Will Save the World, James Crews
Kent School Writes 