Host An Unforgettable Book Club Party

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah

How would it feel if the sun and the moon where the only things you could count on in your life?

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier is Ishmael Beah’s story of what it took to survive the civil war in Sierra Leone. Under unimaginable conditions he was without his family, traveling the land with a pack of boys. He was then captured by the government army, given drugs and turned into a soldier at the age of 13.

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Infidel is the story of Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s upbringing in an abusive Islamic family/society and the events that led to her losing her faith.

Promise Me by Nancy G. Brinker

Nancy G. Brinker has kept her promise and then some. In 1977, Susan G. Komen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Over the next three years, she dealt with misinformed doctors, depressing waiting rooms, dehumanizing one-size-fits-all hospital gowns and an unawareness of the socially unspoken words “breast cancer”. “It has to be talked about. Breast cancer–we have to talk about it. It has to change…so women know…so they don’t die. Promise me, Nanny. Promise…you’ll make it change.” “I promise, Suzy. I swear. Even if it takes the rest of my life…”

Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend by Susan Orlean

A lonely young American soldier comes upon a litter of pups on a WWI battlefield in France. The dogs are rescued and the young soldier chooses two of the pups for himself. He names them after two popular French dolls considered lucky talismans, Rin Tin Tin and Nanette. Little does Lee Duncan know just how truly special his find really is.

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind is about the resourceful William Kamkwamba, who, at fourteen years old, built a series of windmills from junkyard finds that brought electricity to his impoverished town in Malawi.

The Glass Castle: A Memoir by Jeannette Walls

The Glass Castle is a moving and often shocking memoir about former MSNBC.com writer, Jeannette Walls, who grew up in poverty (an understatement) in an unstable home (a major understatement). This book draws you in right from the beginning when, after she sees her mom digging in the dumpster, she asks the taxi driver to take her back to her Park Avenue apartment. She then tells the story of her upbringing.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

In The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, Rebecca Skloot tells the story of the woman whose cells have contributed to numerous medical breakthroughs without the knowledge or consent of her or her family. This book is also about the family Henrietta left behind and how they have dealt with knowing that part of their mother continues to thrive despite her death.

Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Three Cups of Tea is about one man’s determination to bring schools to the forgotten areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Greg Mortenson’s life work is to provide a balanced education to the children in these regions so they have an alternative to the extremist madrasas (schools) and to teach them skills to build their communities. This book is about his journey – from sleeping in his car and being kidnapped to the triumphs of seeing children become educated.

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

“Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption” is a biographical narrative written by Laura Hillenbrand about the indomitable Louie Zamperini. The novel begins with Louie’s troubled youth, his discovery of distance running, and subsequent participation in Hitler’s 1936 Berlin Olympics. There he roomed with Jesse Owens, shook Hitler’s hand, and stole a Nazi flag. Although Nineteen-year old Louie didn’t medal, he was the top American finisher and set his sites on the 1940 Tokyo Olympics. However, World War II would bring the cancellation of those games, and thrust young Louie into a harrowing and disturbing fight for “survival, resilience and redemption.”

Zeitoun by Dave Eggers

“The true story of one family, caught between America’s two biggest policy disasters: the war on terror and the response to Hurricane Katrina.”