Former Staff Picks
April, 2011 : Sarah Njuguna, Library Clerk
Joyce Meyer’s book The Confident Woman: Start Living Today Boldly and Without Fearis a source of encouragement and inspiration. It was given to me by a close friend and I was eager to settle in for a good read. With every chapter I read, I felt increasingly bold, confident, and strong. I enjoy Meyer’s empowering, common sense approach as she explains that true confidence stems from having faith, a positive attitude and living honestly. Her teachings are simple, genuine, and effective. Meyer is refreshingly easy to relate to – reading her book is like having a heart-to-heart chat with a close friend. You’ll close the cover certain that you are were created for great things.
I have traveled to southern Sudan twice in the last five years and am always looking for good books that remind me of this beautiful country and its people. They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky: the Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan by Benjamin Ajak, Benson Deng, Alephonsian Deng and Judy Bernstein is an authentic retelling of what life was like during the Sudanese civil war. Benson, Alepho, Benjamin (and thousands of other young boys) fled their homes after attacks on their villages and walked countless miles to refugee camps in neighboring countries. They battled disease, famine, war zones, and wild animals all along the way. Seeing these events through the eyes of children puts a unique twist on stories, facts, and figures that most people only read about in the newspaper. Benson, Alepho, and Benjamin are captivating in their honesty and even humorous when they describe their culture shock upon arriving in the United States. The boys alternate authoring chapters, which allows readers to get a sense of their individual personalities and characteristics. This is a journey of enduring courage that is sure to keep you turning pages.
Do Hard Things: A Teenage Rebellion Against Low Expectations is written by teens Alex and Brett Harris for teens. Self-described “rebelutionaries,” the Harris brothers provide a view of what is possible for teens who choose to “do hard things” in a culture where the expectations placed on them are decreasing. They share examples from teens including themselves, who have overcome their fears and done extraordinary things by targeting their areas of perceived “weakness” and challenging themselves to rise above their insecurities.
The Harris brothers explain that the teen years should be the launching pad of life, rather than a vacation from responsibility. They ignite excitement in the hearts and minds of readers by providing ways teens can respond by dreaming big, working hard, and exercising tenacity. As a Youth Director at Faith Center Church of God, I have seen this book inspire teens (and adults) in that they don’t have to settle for a life of mediocrity and that they shouldn’t shy away from things that appear “too hard.” It teaches readers that they can learn something from every challenge they face and that they can achieve seemingly impossible things with creativity and perseverance. I love that Do Hard Things is written by teens themselves. Having a book published certainly testifies that the Harris brothers practice what they preach.
Available in Book on CD: YA BCD 248.8 HAR
Available for download from OverDrive!