Books for the Journey: Summary for Librarians/Educators

Books for the Journey Provides Resource for Librarians and Educators Who Work with Teens

This guide helps students make the most of their reading experience.

A library or bookstore can be an intimidating experience for many teens. They might say to themselves, “So many books, how can I possibly choose? Where do I get started?” Now, nearly 1,500 of the best books have been selected by teachers, curriculum directors, and librarians – with help from high school students themselves – and compiled in one easy-to-use resource: Books for the Journey: A Guide to the World of Reading.

From Leonardo DaVinci’s notebooks to modern writers like Alice Hoffman, Books for the Journey includes hundreds of titles that spark imagination, introspection and idealism. It represents dozens of cultures, and includes both classics and lesser known, but equally worthwhile books.

Billy Collins, U.S. Poet Laureate 2001-2003, comments about Books for the Journey: “This is a book full of books — the only guide to reading you will ever need.”

Published by Michaelmas Press, publisher of award-winning parenting and education books, Books for the Journey organizes books by genre (Drama, Mythology, Poetry, and Sacred Writing, Fiction, Biography and History, and Non-fiction) annotates them, and marks them for appropriate high school grade levels. A section at the end of the book lists graduating seniors’ own favorites from childhood through high school.

While many current reading lists cover one genre, Books for the Journey is multidisciplinary and provides two to six lines of description for each book, noting points of controversy or special interest.

According to Katrina Kenison, senior editor for the annual series Best American Short Stories, Books for the Journey provides, “The books that have captured the imaginations, stirred the hearts, and shaped the lives of teens and adults alike. A valuable resource.”

Other useful features include a brief “road map” essay at the beginning of each section, putting the works in an overall context, a complete index of authors and titles, and a wonderful opening poem by Billy Collins, which sets the stage for a love of books.

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