Mrs. Hardison is an English teacher at Summit Christian Academy. We recently spoke and I had the chance to ask her about her Top 10 favorite books. I originally asked for her Top 5, but she said that it was too hard to choose. I have included my recommendations on several of her choices too. Here are Mrs. Hardison’s Top 10 favorite books.
1) To Kill A Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee [Mrs. Hardison’s favorite book of all time!]
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird
The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.
I loved To Kill a Mocking bird because of the story line and the bond between the families.
2) Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7624.Lord_of_the_Flies
When a plane crashes on a remote island, a small group of schoolboys are the sole survivors. From the prophetic Simon and virtuous Ralph to the lovable Piggy and brutish Jack, each of the boys attempts to establish control as the reality - and brutal savagery - of their situation sets in.
3) A Separate Piece, by Robyn Spencer
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17715268-a-separate-piece
Mykel, a young mature nine-year-old, learns of her parent's separation; unfortunately, while moving out of the house. Her faith in God, good friends, and great communication skills helps her through this difficult transition.
I loved A Separate Peace because of the bond between the main characters Finny and Gene and the troubles they experience together. I also enjoyed the plot and the time period (40s) of the story.
4) The Last Sin Eater, by Francine Rivers
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95622.The_Last_Sin_Eater
All that matters for Cadi Forbes is finding the one man who can set her free from the sin that plagues her, the sin that has stolen her mother's love from her and made her wish she could flee life and its terrible injustice. But Cadi doesn't know that the “sin eater” is seeking as well. Before their journeys are over, Cadi and the sin eater must face themselves, each other, and the One who will demand everything from them in exchange for the answers they seek. A captivating tale of suffering, seeking, and redemption.
I loved The Last Sin Eater because of the characters and the suspense involved as you discover who actually is the Sin Eater.
5) Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
https://www.amazon.com/Fahrenheit-451-Novel-Ray-Bradbury
Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 is a masterwork of twentieth-century literature set in a bleak, dystopian future.
6) The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1078.The_Good_Earth
This tells the poignant tale of a Chinese farmer and his family in old agrarian China. The humble Wang Lung glories in the soil he works, nurturing the land as it nurtures him and his family. Nearby, the nobles of the House of Hwang consider themselves above the land and its workers; but they will soon meet their own downfall.
7) The Pearl, by John Steinbeck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5308.The_Pearl
Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull’s egg, as “perfect as the moon.”
I loved The Pearl because of the determination and depths the main character will go to ensure his family’s happiness and protection - the no matter what happens.
8) Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10365.Where_the_Red_Fern_Grows
A loving threesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains, and Billy had the will to make them into the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. Where the Red Fern Grows is an exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never forget.
9) The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18114322-the-grapes-of-wrath
First published in 1939, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize winning epic of the Great Depression chronicles the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads, driven from their homestead and forced to travel west to the promised land of California. Out of their trials and their repeated collisions against the hard realities of an America divided into haves and have-nots evolves a drama that is intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, elemental yet plainspoken, tragic but ultimately stirring in its human dignity.
10) The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7190.The_Three_Musketeers
One of the most celebrated and popular historical romances ever written. The Three Musketeers tell the story of the early adventures of the young Gascon gentleman d'Artagnan and his three friends from the regiment of the King's Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
Mrs. Hardison said that she picked all these books because they’re so different, but they all have interesting themes and well developed characters. If you want to read a good book, then try one of Mrs. Hardison’s top picks. I’m sure one of them will have you hooked!
Book Summaries provided by Good Reads and Amazon, links are provided for your reference. Simply click on your pick!
Written by Taylor Avery, Freshman, Summit Christian Academy
1) To Kill A Mocking Bird, by Harper Lee [Mrs. Hardison’s favorite book of all time!]
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2657.To_Kill_a_Mockingbird
The unforgettable novel of a childhood in a sleepy Southern town and the crisis of conscience that rocked it. To Kill A Mockingbird became both an instant bestseller and a critical success when it was first published in 1960. It went on to win the Pulitzer Prize in 1961 and was later made into an Academy Award-winning film, also a classic.
I loved To Kill a Mocking bird because of the story line and the bond between the families.
2) Lord of the Flies, by William Golding
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7624.Lord_of_the_Flies
When a plane crashes on a remote island, a small group of schoolboys are the sole survivors. From the prophetic Simon and virtuous Ralph to the lovable Piggy and brutish Jack, each of the boys attempts to establish control as the reality - and brutal savagery - of their situation sets in.
3) A Separate Piece, by Robyn Spencer
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17715268-a-separate-piece
Mykel, a young mature nine-year-old, learns of her parent's separation; unfortunately, while moving out of the house. Her faith in God, good friends, and great communication skills helps her through this difficult transition.
I loved A Separate Peace because of the bond between the main characters Finny and Gene and the troubles they experience together. I also enjoyed the plot and the time period (40s) of the story.
4) The Last Sin Eater, by Francine Rivers
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/95622.The_Last_Sin_Eater
All that matters for Cadi Forbes is finding the one man who can set her free from the sin that plagues her, the sin that has stolen her mother's love from her and made her wish she could flee life and its terrible injustice. But Cadi doesn't know that the “sin eater” is seeking as well. Before their journeys are over, Cadi and the sin eater must face themselves, each other, and the One who will demand everything from them in exchange for the answers they seek. A captivating tale of suffering, seeking, and redemption.
I loved The Last Sin Eater because of the characters and the suspense involved as you discover who actually is the Sin Eater.
5) Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
https://www.amazon.com/Fahrenheit-451-Novel-Ray-Bradbury
Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451 is a masterwork of twentieth-century literature set in a bleak, dystopian future.
6) The Good Earth, by Pearl Buck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1078.The_Good_Earth
This tells the poignant tale of a Chinese farmer and his family in old agrarian China. The humble Wang Lung glories in the soil he works, nurturing the land as it nurtures him and his family. Nearby, the nobles of the House of Hwang consider themselves above the land and its workers; but they will soon meet their own downfall.
7) The Pearl, by John Steinbeck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5308.The_Pearl
Like his father and grandfather before him, Kino is a poor diver, gathering pearls from the gulf beds that once brought great wealth to the kings of Spain and now provide Kino, Juana, and their infant son with meager subsistence. Then, on a day like any other, Kino emerges from the sea with a pearl as large as a sea gull’s egg, as “perfect as the moon.”
I loved The Pearl because of the determination and depths the main character will go to ensure his family’s happiness and protection - the no matter what happens.
8) Where the Red Fern Grows, by Wilson Rawls
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10365.Where_the_Red_Fern_Grows
A loving threesome, they ranged the dark hills and river bottoms of Cherokee country. Old Dan had the brawn, Little Ann had the brains, and Billy had the will to make them into the finest hunting team in the valley. Glory and victory were coming to them, but sadness waited too. Where the Red Fern Grows is an exciting tale of love and adventure you'll never forget.
9) The Grapes of Wrath, by John Steinbeck
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18114322-the-grapes-of-wrath
First published in 1939, Steinbeck’s Pulitzer Prize winning epic of the Great Depression chronicles the Dust Bowl migration of the 1930s and tells the story of one Oklahoma farm family, the Joads, driven from their homestead and forced to travel west to the promised land of California. Out of their trials and their repeated collisions against the hard realities of an America divided into haves and have-nots evolves a drama that is intensely human yet majestic in its scale and moral vision, elemental yet plainspoken, tragic but ultimately stirring in its human dignity.
10) The Three Musketeers, by Alexandre Dumas
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7190.The_Three_Musketeers
One of the most celebrated and popular historical romances ever written. The Three Musketeers tell the story of the early adventures of the young Gascon gentleman d'Artagnan and his three friends from the regiment of the King's Musketeers: Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.
Mrs. Hardison said that she picked all these books because they’re so different, but they all have interesting themes and well developed characters. If you want to read a good book, then try one of Mrs. Hardison’s top picks. I’m sure one of them will have you hooked!
Book Summaries provided by Good Reads and Amazon, links are provided for your reference. Simply click on your pick!
Written by Taylor Avery, Freshman, Summit Christian Academy
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