In Celebration of Read Across America (March 2, 2023), we asked American Red Cross volunteers and staff from our Southeastern Pennsylvania communications team to share their favorite books! Their responses are below.

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A Course in Miracles Made Easy: Mastering the Journey from Fear to Love by Alan Cohen
Ava Arteaga – Blogger

A Course in Miracles (ACIM) teaches the way to universal love and peace. It has taught me that nothing external to my mind can hurt or injure me in any way. To clarify, it is a “self-study program of spiritual psychotherapy” rather than a religion. I will leave you with a quote: “Affirmations are more powerful than requests, for they remind you that you already have what you seek.”

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Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Nathan Fligeman – Blogger

I enjoy both mystery and adventure-centric novels, and I consider this to be the epitome of each category! The variety of stories throughout the entirety of the case collection provide readers with a blend of dramatic and intensely compelling recounts. The incredibly witty nature of this novel further cements its status as an all-time classic.

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The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Haley Heisley – Blogger

The Great Gatsby is my favorite book because it is a story of not just romance, inspiration, and excitement, but also greed, betrayal, and power. This incredible novel presents the ultimate American Dream, but quickly shows readers how that may not be as attainable as one would think by showing the true meaning and desires of one’s life.

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The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Alana Mauger – Regional Communications Manager

As a teenager, I fell in love with Holden Caufield. Salinger brings him to life with such authentic and introspective dialogue that you forget an adult is behind those words. But The Catcher in the Rye is more than a coming-of-age novel. Written in 1919, its themes of teenage irreverence, isolation and mental health resonate today with readers of all ages.

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The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
Maxine Mayer – Photographer

The protagonist, Nora, who wants to take her own life, takes the reader through her journey with the help her high school librarian. If only she had the chance to do things different, to choose a different path than she did, would her life had been any happier or fulfilling? She is allowed to experience and see how her life would have turned out differently when she was allowed to choose a different path. What I like about this book is it allows us, the reader, to think if we had made different decisions, would we be better off? Very thought provoking!

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Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Francie Schwabenland – Photographer

Growing up, I hated to read and my mother was an avid reader. She kept offering me book after book that would hopefully ignite that spark in me. This one did it. Not only did I love the sisters growing up but felt so proud that I read a book over 500 pages. This was such a huge turning point for me and I went on to get a master’s degree in education and certification as a reading specialist! I like to think my mother was very proud of me at that moment from above!

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Genuine Fraud by E. Lockhart
Sanaya SinhaRoy – Blogger

This is one of my favorite books because you find yourself entering the conniving and complicated story of Jule and Imogen, two characters who know more than they let on. I was engrossed by E. Lockhart’s phenomenal writing in Genuine Fraud, and it was impossible to pull away from all the mysterious twists and turns of this novel. I suggest this book to anyone who likes mystery because you’ll be on the edge of your seat with each page turn!

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Roller Coasters of Reality by Sadiyyah Delores
Sadiyyah Young – Blogger

I like this book a lot because it’s a poetry-based book about the realities of present-day life. It digs into the mind to look at various issues we Americans face on a daily basis, such as the opioid crisis and mental health.