Books for Spiritual Growth:

All five of these books speak truths about growing in your relationship with God. They give practical guidance for living a life that is full of joy and purpose. Each one outlines ways we can grow and then in turn share that growth mindset with others. Gentle and Lowly gives us an up close and personal look at the heart of Christ. If I were to pick just one book from this list for you to read, that would be the one I would recommend, but honestly, they are all excellent reads.

Teaching and Writing Resources:

There are an abundance of resource books out there. These are just the ones I have used recently with the Ozarks Writing Project this summer. My two favorites from this list are Write Like This and Bird By Bird.

Young Adult Books:

I chose to read each one of these books for completely different reasons. As an ELA teacher I think it is important to read lots of different books with the idea of possibly using them in my classroom. We Were Liars was a book my daughter read in just a few days. It is fast paced and suspenseful. Just Mercy is a true story about the Equal Justice Initiative, Speak is on the banned book list, and Other Words for Home and Esperanza Rising are books about overcoming language barriers and immigration. Each one of these books talks about family and loyalty. Each one also has ample room for discussion and reflection. There are lots of opportunities for empathy and personal connections.

Leisure Reading:

Finding time to read for relaxation can sometimes be tricky when your mind is geared to always reading for a purpose. I have enjoyed each one of these books this summer. They are all completely different but each one shares lovely stories of survival and love. My friend and I are hosting a book club for Into the Abyss. If you are interested in joining us feel free to reach out via the contact page.