Outstanding Books for the College Bound: Humanities
These titles are located throughout the library; please find the location in the catalog by clicking on the title.
Anaya, Rudolfo. Bless Me, Ultima. Ultima, a wise old mystic, helps a young Hispanic boy resolve personal dilemmas caused by the differing backgrounds and aspirations of his parents and society.
Belloli, Andrea P. Exploring World Art. Take a fresh look at Western European art in a global context and discover the ways in which artists of different times and cultures express universal themes.
Bissinger, H.G. Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream. In Odessa, Texas, high school football is more than a recreational interest, it is the whole town’s passion.
Blackstone, Harry Jr. The Blackstone Book of Magic & Illusion. This classic of legerdemain describes the rich history of magic and reveals a few “tricks of the trade”.
Card, Orson Scott. Sarah. The character of Sarah, Abraham’s beloved wife, illuminates this rendering of a pivotal story from the Old Testament.
Chevalier, Tracy. Girl with a Pearl Earring. Sixteen-year-old Griet is hired as a maid in the household of Delft painter Johannes Vermeerm where she becomes an assistant and muse to the famous artist.
Gaines, Ernest. A Lesson Before Dying. When Jefferson’s attorney states “I would just as soon put a hog in the electric chair as this”, disillusioned teacher Grant Wiggins is sent into the penitentiary to help this slow learner gain a sense of dignity and self-esteem before his execution.
Goldberg, Myla. Bee Season. Eliza’s extraordinary gift for spelling leads her to understand the sounds of the alphabet in a way that echoes the teachings of the mystical Kabbal.
Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. Emerging from a kaleidoscope of experiences and tasted pleasures, Siddhartha transcends to a state of holiness in this strangely simple story.
King, Laurie R. The Beekeeper’s Apprentice; or, on the Segregation of the Queen. Retired Sherlock Holmes meets his intellectual match in 15 year-old Mary Russell, who challenges him to another case.
LeGuin, Ursula. The Left Hand of Darkness. The first envoy to the primitive world of Winter, Ai must deal with a hostile climate, a suspicious bickering government and his own conventional sexual mores.
Light, Alan. The Vibe History of Hip-Hop. VIBE Magazine looks at the music, dance and fashion that have evolved into hip-hop culture.
Perry, John. Encyclopedia of Acting Techniques. The actor’s life – see how it’s done by the pros in this extravagantly illustrated primer on dramatic performance.
Potok, Chaim. The Chosen. A baseball injury brings together two Jewish boys, one Hasidic, the other Orthodox, first in hostility but finally in friendship.
Smith, Huston. The Illustrated World's Religions. The interconnectivity of the world’s great religious movements, with their parallel and disparate beliefs, is lyrically explored.
Vreeland, Susan. The Passion of Artemisia. This eloquent rendering of the story of Artemisia Gentileschi evokes appreciation of both her magnificent art and her struggles to succeed as an artist, a story that mirrors the experiences of young women today.
List adapted from www.ala.org/yalsa/booklists/obcb for Glendale Public Library
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