Read For School

This book is a must-read for anyone seeking inspiration and motivation. Kyle Maynard's story of overcoming physical limitations and achieving greatness is truly remarkable. Through his journey, he teaches us that no obstacle is too big to conquer and that with determination and perseverance, we can achieve anything we set our minds to. Prepare to be inspired and moved by his incredible story of triumph and the power of the human spirit.

Reading Frederick Douglass’s own words offers a powerful connection to American history through the eyes of someone who not only survived the cruelties of slavery but became a pivotal figure in the fight for freedom. As he recounts the brutal realities of his life with such clarity and emotion, you'll be both educated and inspired by his journey from a slave to a renowned abolitionist leader. This narrative isn’t just a piece of history; it's an enduring testament to resilience and the human spirit.

If you're passionate about first-person narratives that transcend mere storytelling, this anthology is a trove waiting for exploration. Each piece has been handpicked for its power to engage and enlighten, offering a panoramic view of the shifts in creative nonfiction over recent decades. It's like attending a masterclass with some of the most influential voices in contemporary literature—without leaving your favorite reading spot.

Spider Eaters is at once a moving personal story, a fascinating family history, and a unique chronicle of political upheaval told by a Chinese woman who came of age during the turbulent years of the Cultural Revolution. With stunning honesty and a lively, sly humor, Rae Yang records her life from her early years as the daughter of Chinese diplomats in Switzerland, to her girlhood at an elite middle school in Beijing, to her adolescent experience as a Red Guard and later as a laborer on a pig farm in the remote northern wilderness. She tells of her eventual disillusionment with the Maoist revolution, how remorse and despair nearly drove her to suicide, and how she struggled to make sense of conflicting events that often blurred the line between victim and victimizer, aristocrat and peasant, communist and counter-revolutionary. Moving gracefully between past and present, dream and reality, the author artfully conveys the vast complexity of life in China as well as the richness, confusion, and magic of her own inner life and struggle.Much of the power of the narrative derives from Yang's multi-generational, cross-class perspective. She invokes the myths, legends, folklore, and local customs that surrounded her and brings to life the many people who were instrumental in her her nanny, a poor woman who raised her from a baby and whose character is conveyed through the bedtime tales she spins; her father; and her beloved grandmother, who died as a result of the political persecution she suffered.Spanning the years from 1950 to 1980, Rae Yang's story is evocative, complex, and told with striking candor. It is one of the most immediate and engaging narratives of life in post-1949 China.