Tuesdays with Morrie

Mitch Albom dedicates this memoir to his former college professor Morrie Schwartz. If you want to engage with your students about meaningful life lessons, this is your book! 

Pre/Post Activities for Tuesdays with Morrie: 

• Tuesdays with Morrie Question’s
• Tuesdays with Morrie Choice Assignments

Having Our Say

This memoir tells the story of two sisters who both lived to be over 100 years old. There is so much history to unpack in this book. Sadie and Bessie were the children of slaves and grew to become professionals living in Harlem, New York. One became a teacher and one became a dentist. This is a perfect book to help students learn about and explore their own history within their own families.

Pre/Post Activities for Having Our Say: 

• Having Our Say Questions
• Having Our Say Final Projects

Warrior Princess

Beck, K., Speckhard, A., & Shepherd, W. (2013). Warrior princess: a U.S. Navy Seal’s journey to coming out transgender.  McLean VA: Advances Press.

Hardback | $24.99 USD | ISBN-13: 978-1935866435 | 254 pages | Adult Non-Fiction 

What is gender? Is it only the physical parts that we are born with?  If our gender changes will society accept these changes readily? Can gender be constructed inside your mind or heart or brain?  Many in our society have their own opinion on this and these opinions differ so widely. Kristen Beck will share her opinion and life story as she transitioned from a man to a woman in her co-authored memoir Warrior Princess.  

Kristen Beck was once called another name: Chris Beck.  Chris was a high school football player, drove a motorcycle and became a U.S. Navy SEAL. He was in the military for over twenty years. He earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star (“Barnes and Noble,” n.d.). He was a man physically, but, he knew at a young age that he was meant to be a woman.  His family was religiously conservative so he didn’t say anything – he had no one to share this with. He withdrew and lived with these feelings internally for a long time. Then, he retired from the military and went through the stages to change his gender completely.  Chris became Kristen and this is her story.

Of course, it was not an easy journey for Kristen – she had to deal with her family’s rejection, failed relationships, and PTSD from serving on thirteen deployments, including seven combat deployments. But, she wanted to share it. Kristen’s story will help all of us to see that it is more important to be who you are and express that freely than hide your true identity.  Her story may help us all to empathize with others experiencing the gender identity issues that our culture judges so intently and so viciously.  Perhaps more coming out stories like this one will combat our society’s strict rules and perceptions of what gender can be in our society.

Beck worked with Anne Speckhard, Ph.D., an Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychiatry at Georgetown University Medical School to write this memoir.  Dr. Speckhard has been working in the field of PTSD since the 1980s (“Anne Speckhard”, n.d.).  Though the book may have needed one more team member to provide more concise editing, this book is recommended for young adult readers (ages 18+) who may be struggling with coming out as a transgender. Also recommended for other readers who want to understand the journey and very difficult path for those among us who struggle with gender identity, perhaps in our own families. U.S. Navy SEALS are the manliest of men – they are warriors. Only men are permitted to be U.S. Navy SEALS. Perhaps this story will show you that it is not the gender of the person that determines who they are, but their actions and service.  Beck worked diligently and served our country well during his tenure in the Navy.  Maybe because Beck was so tough and trained to be strong, she was able to share her story and her struggle.  If she can do this, than anyone can. 

The World's Strongest Librarian

Hanagarne, J. (2013). The World's Strongest Librarian: A Memoir of Tourette's, Faith, Strength, and the Power of Family. Los Angeles: Gotham.

Hardcover | $18.09 USD | ISBN-13: 978-1592407873 | 288 pages | Adult Memoir

 

Imagine growing up with a tic. This tic started when you were on stage dressed as a tree and participating in a school play in first grade. You didn’t seem to mind at the time. You didn’t really notice and you were a busy kid with all of your book reading and library visits (plus other important kid stuff). Your parents and siblings understood the tics, and you can be who you are at home, so it was not an issue. But then, the tics get worse and were compounded with verbal outbursts that you can’t seem to control. This happened in middle school. You were tall so you joined the basketball team. This would both help you fit in and stay under the radar. Still, kids can be cruel and you become a target in the classroom. You start to wonder what if something was wrong with you? This is what happened to Josh Hanagarne. He found out in 9^th grade that he has Tourette Syndrome. What he does next will not only inform you about this unknown disease but inspire you to see what a man can accomplish with it.  

The World’s Strongest Librarian is a memoir of Josh Hanagarne’s life from childhood to adulthood and how he dealt and deals with Tourette’s. Sometimes as Josh explains he would just like to be invisible.  Readers can all agree that sometimes we all find ourselves in situations where we would prefer to be invisible. But when you grow to be 6’7” tall that is just impossible.  It is even more impossible when you have Tourette’s. His tics and his outbursts became very difficult that he was endangering himself. He tried many things to make them stop from drugs to injections. Nothing seemed to work for Josh until he got involved in strength training. And even then that took a few tries, modifications, encouragement and patience in figuring out the regimen that would work best for him.

Josh is more than a 6’7” muscle man extraordinaire. Through weight lifting and training he learns to manage himself. Readers will appreciate his humor; this memoir has plenty of funny stories about his job at the Salt Lake City’s public library (A beautiful place to work he explains). His own memories on the events of his life are light hearted and enjoyable to read. He certainly meets some very interesting characters along his journey– some who challenge him, some who just yell at him, but despite those he encounters, Josh is able to find his place, his comfort, and use his skills within the library’s walls. Josh may have had more difficulties than we ever can personally know – he explains how he was able to get through much of this. It was because of his faith and because he has the greatest family ever. This was his foundation – he now is married and has a young son named Max (“Josh Hanagarne” n.d.). Watch Josh Hanagarne’s book trailer for The World’s Strongest Librarian or connect with Josh Hanagarne on his personal website.  This memoir is highly recommended for every library – readers can learn more about the struggles in living with Tourette’s, appreciate those who have it, and read a powerful story about one who has learned to fight it on a daily basis. Hanagarne’s journey can serve as a life lesson for all readers who have their own struggles, no matter what they are.