Undergraduate

Author:  Margaret Atwood Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “A woman returns to her home town to try to find her missing father.  While there, she discovers some hard truths about herself.  Not my favorite of Atwood’s books, but worthy of a read.” Ethan: “Margaret Atwood’s Surfacing examines the struggle … Read more

Author: Aprilynne Pike Category:  Growing up What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Taylor: “This book is about a girl who has always been different from everyone else around her. One day she grows flower petals on her back and finds out she is a fairy. She must keep this secret from her parents … Read more

Author:  Elizabeth Bishop Category:  Poetry What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “Bishop is now regarded as one of America’s greatest poets.  While her technique is flawless and worthy of study from anyone who wishes to write verse, some of her poems lack emotional depth.” Ethan: “It took me far too long to … Read more

Author:  Bharati Mukherjee Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “This is a sequel to a book called Desirable Daughters that I didn’t like.  This one is better, but still not on par with some other literature coming out of India.” Ethan: “Tree bride takes the popular “resistance against the corrupt … Read more

Author:  Roger Ailes Category:  Talent What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Daniel: “There are a lot of public speaking and presentation books available. There is no need to pick up any other than Mr. Ailes’ work. From verbal to non-verbal communication, You Are the Message covers it all. This book can be useful … Read more

Author:  Luigi Pirandello Category:  Drama What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “What is real and what is fiction? This exploration of that theme can be tough to read, but has many profound things to say.” Ethan: “Six Characters in Search of an Author reads like a special episode of your favorite tv … Read more

Author:  Kurt Vonnegut Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “Billy Pilgrim has a series of odd experiences, including traveling through time.  A book that thinks it is more than it is, you should read it at least once so that you can say you have.  So it goes.” Ethan: “One … Read more

Author: Jay Asher Category: Young Adult Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Taylor: “This book is about a teenager who receives a box of tapes from a girl at her school after she committed suicide. These tapes contain thirteen reasons why the girl decided to commit suicide. This book is interesting because … Read more

Author:  Laurie Halse Anderson Category:  Growing up What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Taylor: “Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, and people she doesn’t even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own … Read more

Author: David McCullough Category: Biography What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Daniel: “In college there is a saying: “don’t take classes, take faculty”, meaning attend the planned lectures of engaging professors over the selection of a specific topic of interest. David McCullough has a masterful command of words and is a breathtaking storyteller. … Read more

Author:  Henrik Ibsen Category:  Drama What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “Is it possible to have too much truth?  Absolutely.  Read this and discover what happens when hidden secrets are shown the light of day.” Ethan: “Ibsen sets up The Wild Duck with more than enough stage conventions to compete with today’s … Read more

Author:  Nathaniel Hawthorne Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Lisa: “I read this in a high school literature class. It was not a book that I would have chosen at the time but I was glad I read it. It’s an important book that explores the concepts of sin and hypocrisy.”

Author:  Daniel Kahneman Category:  Talent What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Daniel: “Mr. Kahneman is the leading voice of behavioral economics and this work is great for reading about how we as people think and make decisions. Kahneman presents his materials in a very accessible way and this book will hopefully build an … Read more

Author: Scott Westerfield Category: Young Adult What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Taylor: “Tally’s adventures begin in Uglies, where she learns the truth about what life as a Pretty really means. She rebels against the surgery that will make her a Pretty, but ultimately succumbs. In Pretties, Tally has forgotten all about her … Read more

Author: Plato Category: Philosophy What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Daniel: “English philosopher Alfred North Whitehead said, “All of Western thought us nothing more than a series of footnotes to Plato”. Plato’s mentor, Socrates is a main player in this work and leads us up to the his death by the citizens of … Read more

Author:  Thomas Hardy Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “An unwanted pregnancy is nothing new.  In this novel, Hardy looks at the effect it has on the woman involved as well as the man.  A wonderful story that will make you realize some things never change.” Ethan: “Hardy’s work shocked … Read more

Author:  Margaret Wise Brown Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Daniel: My favorite book as a child. I think it should be read at least once a month and this applies to those in any age group.  

Author:  D. H. Lawrence Category:  Fiction What they’re saying in the Prepwise staff room: Chris: “The effect our parents have on our lives has never been explored with such candor.  Decried by many at his publication, the novel is now acknowledged to be the work of genius.  In my opinion, Lawrence’s best work.” Ethan: “D.H. … Read more