Season’s Readings: Book Recommendations from the KUA Community
Is there anything better than cozying up with a good book on a cold, winter night? We didn’t think so. In the spirit of giving this holiday season, members of the KUA community offered up some of their favorite titles read over the past year for your consideration.
From captivating historical fiction to a detailed playbook on choosing the right college, the list below captures titles for a range of readers.
So, find something that strikes your fancy or round out your holiday shopping with a perfect book that sounds perfect for a friend. And if you end up finding something you like, don’t forget to thank the community member who recommended it the next time you see them on campus!Christina Avery, Library Aide
I highly recommend "Landmarks" by Robert Macfarlane, the eloquent and widely praised British nature writer. This book is an appreciation of certain writers who Macfarlane states have "taught me to write, but also...taught me to see." Using these writers as examples he argues that "to use language well is to use it particularly," and he explores how reading the works of such writers can "change minds, revise behavior and shape perception." A fascinating book, and a compelling argument for the power of language to reanimate our sense of wonder in the natural world — and, consequently, to foster a greater respect and care for it.
Darrell Beaupre ’86, P’16 ’20, English Teacher, Arts Teacher
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is a well-crafted novel, presented entirely through the letters exchanged between the narrator, Sybil, and her friends, family, and others (including established authors such as Larry McMurtry). The narrative captures the internal struggle of an individual who has always been highly self-assured in her life and decisions, but is now, in her seventies, forced to confront difficult regrets. Readers who appreciate literary references will enjoy the many books mentioned throughout the novel. While, at first, I was wary of a story shared entirely through letters, I soon found that it works! It made me miss the joy of sending and, especially, receiving mail from old friends. Reading this novel was a unique experience.
Jennifer Blue P’24 ’26, English Department Chair
I just read all of Elizabeth Strout’s work — I was on a tear and couldn’t put anything she wrote down! I started with the most recent, Tell Me Everything, and worked backwards. Something about her sensitivity to her characters’ emotional landscapes spoke to me. Now, without her quietly gorgeous novels, I feel bereft.
Elizabeth Craib, Executive Assistant to the Head of School
I read a book called The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams. It is about a lonely widower and a teenage girl who bond over a mysterious reading list that they discover in the local library. The book is about how literature can bring people together and help them overcome challenges in their own lives. Definitely heartwarming — and gives great ideas for what to read next!
Jennifer Diamond, English Teacher
By Susan Rieger
Like Mother, Like Mother is a family story that follows two generations of mothers and their daughters. It explores the ways our parents shape us with their presence and absence. Seeing two generations lays bare the power of storytelling in shaping family dynamics and how children can break free of these narratives. As the story picks up, there is a bit of a mystery, and I found the final section of the book un-put-down-able!
Asher Ellis, Library Director
By Paul Doiron
Though many readers connect the great state of Maine with Stephen King (and rightfully so), the master of the macabre is not the only Downeast author churning out books. Since 2010, Paul Doiron has published his “Mike Bowditch” novels, rural crime stories that follow the adventures of a Maine state game warden. This year, Doiron took a break from the novel format to release a collection of Mike Bowditch short stories, which serves as the perfect way for new readers to dip their toes into the ongoing Bowditch saga.
Amanda Lighthiser P’28, Learning Specialist and 10th Grade Dean
This Other Eden by Paul Harding is an historical novel inspired by real events. I was in awe of the depth and beauty of the world and characters Harding created in such a short novel. It is the story of the inhabitants of Apple Island, off the coast of Maine, where a small group of residents have lived for a century, escaping enslavement and other societal strictures. Their world is upended when they are espied by the state government. The writing is gorgeous, and the story deeply moving. This book is slow and contemplative, perfect for cozying up with some coffee or tea on a cold winter day.
Marilyn Lord P’09, History Teacher
By Dan Brown
If you're a reader of Dan Brown novels, you know they always center on Robert Langdon, a symbologist. You also know that the disclaimer at the start of his novels is that it is based on true facts, organizations, or history. This one is no different. Langdon's love interest, a neuroscientist, goes missing when she proposes a theory of consciousness after death. Chases through London, Prague, and New York lead to an ancient organization with penchant for futuristic science of eternal life. It’s a page turner!
Tricia McKeon, Director of Marketing & Communications
The Postcard
By Anne Berest
By Anne Berest
Years after her mother receives an anonymous postcard containing the names of her great grandparents and their children who were killed in Auschwitz, Berest investigates the card’s mysterious origins. Her meticulous research becomes a journey of discovery into the plight of her family and her own powerful connection to those who came before her. This French novel, translated to English, is a powerful story of identity, mother-daughter bonds, and the Holocaust’s lasting toll on generations of one family. Although the book reads like fiction, I was even more taken with it after learning it is the true story of Berest’s family, with some parts fictionalized to protect the privacy of those still living.
Gunnar Olson, Director of College Advising
Dream School
By Jeffery Selingo
By Jeffery Selingo
In my work with students and families, I’m always trying to widen the frame: not just “Can I get in?” but “Where could I learn, grow, and be known?” Dream School is a great partner in that conversation. It doesn’t scold anyone for being interested in big-name places; it simply reminds us that those schools are one small slice of a much larger and more interesting landscape.
Instead of focusing on how colleges pick students, Jeff Selingo digs into how students can more thoughtfully pick colleges. He makes a compelling case for moving beyond a narrow “Top 25 or bust” mindset and paying attention to the many campuses — often not household names — where students get real opportunities, strong support, and excellent value.
Jerry Usery, IT System Administrator
I read a book by Shaun Pinner called, Live. Fight. Survive. published in 2023. Shaun is a former British soldier who lived in Ukraine with his wife when the Russian federation began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. The book is told through Shaun's experience as he initially fought off Russians near Mariupol and was then captured, imprisoned, and tortured in Russian prisons. It is a gripping true story of the horrors he endured until he was released in a prisoner swap after several months of captivity resulting in sickness and malnutrition. It’s a fantastic read.
Michele Winham P’25, Learning Specialist, 9th Grade Dean
This year, I read The Abilene Paradox and Other Meditations on Management by Jerry B. Harvey as part of my research for my KUA fellowship. Harvey uses memorable stories, including the famous “trip to Abilene,” to show how groups can make decisions that no one wants, simply because individuals are afraid to voice their true thoughts.
I especially appreciated how relevant the book is to schools and teamwork. Harvey’s central insight, that groups go astray not because of too much conflict, but because people avoid it, feels essential for educators. When students work cooperatively, they require intentional instruction on conflict resolution, effective communication, and articulating their own perspectives. Teaching kids how to voice concerns and navigate disagreements helps them avoid heading in the wrong direction simply to “keep the peace.”
