Books to read this February
- Madilyn Brus
- 12 minutes ago
- 4 min read
There is something for everyone this February. Read on for recommendations for books about love for family, friends, romance, and Black History Month.
Cuddle up this February, a.k.a. that month of love, with some amazing books. The books featured this month are all tied to the month's theme, love.
Books About Families That You’ll Love!
Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
Clap When You Land, based on the real-life American Airlines 587 crash, features the fictional stories of two girls as they navigate grief from the loss of their fathers. This book is formatted from the point of view of both main characters, Camino and Yahaira, and features outstanding poetry from Elizabeth Acevedo. Clap When You Land is filled to the brim with relatable emotions, plot twists, and an interesting perspective on life in the Dominican Republic. This outstanding story can be found in the school library.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Little Women, the ultimate coming-of-age story, features the four March sisters, each with their own distinct personality. This book features feelings of joy, hardship, loss, romance, and forgiveness, all of which are faced as a family. A classic story of heartwarming sisterhood and togetherness is a must-read this February. This book is available in the school library.
Heartwarming Stories of Friendship
Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom
Tuesdays with Morrie presents an intriguing story of a middle-aged man bogged down with corporate work. The man takes a break from emails and phone calls to sit down with his old college professor, Morrie. Morrie is dying. His time is limited. Morrie speaks about the joys of living, the difficult times, fearing death, and finding your place. This is a wonderful book that emphasizes the power of love, an important lesson during these times and the current state of the world. This book is available in the school library.
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Lancer Productions is kicking off February by bringing the classic tale of Alice and her adventures through the strange and inspiring world of Wonderland to the stage. Why not read the original tale by Lewis Carroll? Alice meets some…interesting people throughout the story, and the book expands on the characters and develops the kooky scenes excellently. Alice certainly makes some friends, some enemies, and some incredible memories, which is why Alice Adventures in Wonderland is a perfect example of the love that friendship has to offer.
Black History Month
February is Black History Month, learn about the stories of these authors and characters to celebrate!
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a collection of memoirs told by Maya Angelou as a young black girl experiencing racism during the 30s and 40s. The story follows Maya from ages 3 to 16 and recounts the trauma, disadvantage, and struggles of being black in the South. This is a great story of perspective and is filled to the brim with historical context. Maya Angelou was an advocate for human rights and a very talented writer. Her work is exceptionally detailed. It draws the reader into her body and forces them to stand in her shoes and understand the weight of racial oppression on young people. For these reasons, I have chosen her book to be featured for Black History Month. This book is available in the school library, but do be aware of some sensitive content matter.
The Davenports by Krystal Marquis
Representation is a large part of the fight for human rights, and The Davenports by Krystal Marquis is an excellent example of that. The Davenports recount the experiences of the children of upper-class black entrepreneurs in 1910. At this time, in early 20th-century Chicago, it was not common for Black families to be of such high status. The father of the wealthy Davenport family was a former slave and built his carriage company from nearly nothing. This very intriguing tale tells of black success. The book is of the young adult genre and weaves blossoming romance and historical reality so cohesively. It makes for a very enjoyable read. Readers can easily identify personality-wise with one of the three featured points of view. Cozy up with The Davenports this February. This book is available in the school library.
Be Mine? Romance Books To Fill Your Heart
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
(Ahead of its time because it gave women agency in romance)
Pride and Prejudice is an epic tale of romance set in the early 19th century and revolves around the wealthy Bennet family and their daughter Elizabeth (Lizzie) Bennet. She finds herself in a love triangle with Mr. Darcy, an aloof, wealthy gentleman, and Mr. Wickham, a frequent gentleman caller. Don’t be hesitant to start this classic romantic tale that paved the way for women in writing. Men especially dominated the romance genre during this period and often dictated social norms for romance. Austen gave women agency in romance and included them in the narrative. Celebrate love this February with Pride and Prejudice. This book can be found in the school library.
Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Song of Achilles is an epic story of peace, love, and war among men. This story tests the boundaries of love as Achilles and Patroclus navigate their love through the trials of Ancient Greece. They are torn apart through a war that lasts nearly 10 years and social norms that threaten their bond. A tragedy at best, the invigorating Song of Achilles will keep drawing readers in for years, just as it has since 2011. It is also a beautifully told representation of LGBTQ+ in media and reminds us all this Valentine's Day that love is love.
