1. Where the Red Fern Grows-Wilson Rawls. I first read this book in the fourth grade, and have never been able to forget the beautiful story of a boy and his hunting dogs. The ending of this book crushed me; I was touched when the main character went to the dogs grave site and there was a red fern growing in-between the two companions.
2. The Kite Runner-Khaled Hosseini. This story represents pain and regret. Baba's sickness and struggle in America really touched me; It forced me to understand how hard it is to come to a foreign country and find happiness. The book also makes us ask ourselves-would we help our friends in their times of danger or would we run away?
3. Dear John-Nicholas Sparks. This is a heartbreaking love story. It shows us true love can show its face in different ways. When John loses the women he loves to another man; John gives up everything he has to save this man's life.
4. Snow Falling On Cedars-David Guterson. David Guterson clearly understood the struggle of the Japanese citizens living in America during WWII. The racist actions of the US are shown in this novel as innocent Japanese citizens are forced into internment camps. A quote said by a Japanese girl in the book that I have always remembered is, "the only crime is our faces."
5. Theodore Rex-Edmund Morris. I had never read a biography cover-to-cover before Theodore Rex, as I only use to touch biographies when I was researching. Yet I was able to read all of Theodore Rex and really enjoy it. I learned about the strong mind and willpower Theodore Roosevelt used to accomplish almost everything he wanted in office.
6. The Diary of Anne Frank-Anne Frank. This book filled me with a lot of emotion because it brought us inside Anne Frank's head, and I felt like I was living with her in the secret annex. My heart broke when the Gestapo found her family's hiding-place and her dreams were shattered.
7. Digital Fortress-Dan Brown. Digital Fortress is an engaging mystery, where the whole country is endangered when the NSA's code-breaking machine cannot break a code. People are killed and the story becomes very intense; I was surprised I enjoyed this book as its plot is different from most books I would chose to read.
8. The Sun Also Rises-Ernest Hemingway. I really enjoy Ernest Hemingway's style of writing in this book-short and simple. I enjoyed how he depicted the life of the ex-patrons, and their travels around Spain. Between the bullfights, the bars, and the different love interests, the book had a lot of character.
9. 1984-George Orwell. When I first started to read this book I couldn't describe it as anything but "weird," yet as I kept reading I saw what Orwell was trying to convey to the reader. The book makes us appreciate the freedom we have it today's society, and shows us the dangers of people who cannot think originally or question authority.