Senior Student Assistant Appreciation: 2022

The History of Love by Nicole Krauss

I chose this book because it is one of the most captivating books I have ever had the pleasure of reading. I read it for a class here at Marist, but it was one of those books that I just couldn’t put down. It’s a really impactful work of fiction that really delves into the human experience. I would recommend this to anyone.

Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

This book has had a great impact on my view of the world and my future. After reading Rich Dad Poor Dad, I was able to realize that I have full control over my future and it is up to me to decide if I want to work for someone else for the rest of my life or to become an entrepreneur and be my own boss. 

Love Never Dies [DVD]

Love Never Dies strangest piece of art I've ever seen and it's a huge influence on both my personal writing and academic work. I am obsessed with the creative choices that it made and if there's a meaning behind it. It is not a good musical, but it still has brought me a lot of joy and this is the version I have seen about 50 times. Even though the show is objectively bad, I really do love it and think it should be an important part of theater history because it's so unique. It's also so funny.

The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

I first picked up The Westing Game after selecting it in a sixth grade book swap. It was my first introduction to mystery novels, and was the catalyst for my love of the genre. This book has great sentimental value for me, and continues to ignite my love of reading all these years later.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

I read this book in high school and it has since become one of my favorites. Although it is now a Major Motion Picture, I implore everyone to read it, for this is definitely an instance of the book being far superior to its on-screen adaptation. Told in the form of fictitious letters, it is a quick but fulfilling read that will leave you reveling in the beauty and fortuitousness of human connection.

This book will forever serve as a reminder of where I have come, and of the necessity of sharing stories. I am grateful to be able to add this to the library's literary ranks.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is the coming-of-age story of sixteen-year-old, Simon Spier who is blackmailed into revealing his sexuality to his friends and family. This is an incredibly important LGBTQ+ narrative because it focuses on Simon and Blue's romance first and Simon's coming out story second. It was one of the first LGBTQ+ narratives that I ever read and has influenced my research and interest in queer narratives in children's and young adult literature ever since. I think that everyone should have the opportunity to read this novel and engage in conversations about the importance of LGBTQ+ narratives in young adult literature.