The first time I read Harry Potter I knew I wanted to write like J.K.
Rowling. Not
her style or even her story, but I wanted to create a world that inspired the
imagination
like hers still does. From Jane Austen, I learned how to look beyond the surface
of a person
to see who he or she truly is and from her I learned to appreciate sly humor and
wit. Harper
Lee taught me to fight for justice and equality and do what is right because
it’s the right
thing to do. With Laura Ingalls Wilder, I saw perseverance and joy; hers was a
world of
hardships and survival but a world of beauty, love, and compassion.
These female authors sparked my imagination, made me feel and see the world in a
different
way. They helped me define the person I wanted to be. There are so many authors
I can put on
this list--women who inspire because of the characters they create and because
of the women
they are.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, I’ve narrowed the list down to three authors
who inspire
change, growth, and forgiveness.
THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LOST AND FOUND by Kathryn Holmes
Blending elements of Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak
and Gary
Paulsen's Hatchet, debut novelist Kathryn Holmes delivers a gripping story that
author
Richard Peck calls a "page-turner about several kinds of survival."
About:
Sophomore
Hallie Calhoun has just endured the most excruciating six months of her life.
Once the
rumors about her and the preacher's son, Luke, made their way around school, her
friends
abandoned her, and Hallie has completely withdrawn.
Now, on a hike in the Smoky Mountains with the same people who have relentlessly
taunted
her, Hallie is pushed to her limit. Then Hallie, outgoing newcomer Rachel, and
Jonah—
Hallie's former friend—get separated from the rest of the group. As days go by
without
rescue, their struggle for survival turns deadly. Stranded in the wilderness,
the three have
no choice but to trust one another in order to stay alive . . . and for Hallie,
that means
opening up about what really happened that night with Luke.
From the catty atmosphere of high school to the unpredictable terrain of the
mountains, this
novel is a poignant, raw journey about finding yourself after having been lost
for so long.
A stunning novel about the transformative power of
love,
perfect for fans of Jay Asher and Laurie Halse Anderson.
About:
Sixteen-year-
old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother
who can barely
look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a
father whose
violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy
into
nothingness.
There's only one problem: she's not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But
once she
discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel's convinced
she's found
her solution—Roman, a teenage boy who's haunted by a family tragedy, is looking
for a
partner. Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start
to fill in
each other's broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete,
Aysel begins to
question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must
choose between
wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the
potential of
their energy together.
"Bone Gap marks Laura Ruby as one of fiction's most
original
voices. She is capable of moving you to tears, terrifying you on deep and
dreamlike levels,
and making your heart shout with happiness. This book is magic realism at its
most magical."
—E. Lockhart, author of WE WERE LIARS
About: Bone Gap is the story of Roza, a beautiful girl
who is taken
from a quiet midwestern town and imprisoned by a mysterious man, and Finn, the
only witness,
who cannot forgive himself for being unable to identify her kidnapper. As we
follow them
through their melancholy pasts, their terrifying presents, their uncertain futures,
acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic
and mystery,
regret and forgiveness—a story about how the face the world sees is never the
sum of who we
are.
You don't necessarily have to be an Author, although I commend you for your choice, and wish that I had the guts to be one myself, but your posting makes a very good point. As a person is growing up, it's so important when you think about the books they read. Being directed to the right Authors helps to shape them as a person, just about as much as a Parent could do. It sounds like you understand what I'm trying to explain. There are so many books out there that open the eyes of the reader in many directions. One misstep, and the child could be lost. You have given great examples of books to keep a person on the "straight and narrow" so to speak. I might even look at a couple of these books myself!! (Peggy Roberson 9:47am March 4, 2015)
Peggy, I hope you enjoy the books! (Jennifer Barnhart 12:17pm March 4, 2015)