Books That Have Impacted Lives

Have you ever read a story that changed your perspective on life completely? Or read about a character who you fell in love with, or cried with, or suffered with? Today, I will share with you some of my favorite ones. But, being the curious mind I am, I also wanted to know which other books had an impact on members of our school community, and most importantly, why. Although it was hard for everyone to pick favorites, knowing why they picked them, made this experience meaningful.

My all-time favorite book, believe it or not, is Dr. Seuss's "All the Places You'll Go!" I adore that book that no matter the age, there is a lesson that applies to you.  Every time I read it, I can find one specific for whatever I am going through in life. Another book that I totally love, because it connected me to Latin American Literature was I was "The House of Spirits" by Isabel Allende. I was 13 when I first read it and it opened my eyes to the immense possibilities writing can give you. I felt empathy and a special kind of love for the character development in Allende's work, and the beauty of her plot.

For Mrs. Fadul, our Literature teacher, it was The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.  In a way, she felt connected to the idea of always giving others what they need; making others feel happy. From Flowers In the Attic by VC Andrews. What most impacted Mrs. Fadul was the suspense and mystery of it, the empowerment of the main character, and how she did what she could for her siblings. Mrs. Fady also mentioned "The Alchemist" and its influence on her path to self-discovery.

Mrs. Rocio Roja's book was “Little Women” by Louise May Alcott. She read it when she was 11 years old, and it made her fall in love with books. That Christmas, she mentions, she only asked for books. Another impactful book in Mrs. Rojas's teenage life was "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. She mentions she has read it more than four times in her life and every time she does, it’s like a whole different story coming alive. Mrs. Rojas loves family stories, and this is one of the best.

Mrs. Sylvia Mena loves "The Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint- Exupery. She has read it many times in her life. Mrs. Mena mentions the first time she read it she was very little and took everything very literally, but as she grew up, she started understanding the different themes about the meaning of life, relationships... She also mentioned La Dama de Las Camelias because it was her first time reading tragedies. She realized then that not all stories have a happy ending.

Mrs. Georgina Calzada en Mrs. Lilian Acosta share their love for "Tuesdays with Morrie" and how the book teaches you to focus on and value what really matters in life. "The Red Tent" is another one of Mrs. Acosta's favorites. She mentions she values beautiful stories that encourage you to pursue your dreams.

For Mrs. Aida Morel, it's not a specific book, it's a genre. Our Elementary Librarian enjoys reading biographies during her free time because they help her understand and analyze the life events in the characters, and how things change through the different times.

Regardless of the genre or book you decide to choose, there is one thing that is inevitable: One day, you will find yourself in front of a book that will touch your life in such a way, that you will never forget it. Who knows, maybe this list can help you start looking for yours.

Mrs. Marial Valenzuela

MCS Head Librarian