The Seasonal Reading Challenge discussion

10.6 - Spring Break
Spring break is a vacation period observed by most US schools in early spring. Read a book about the high school or college experience. To qualify, the book must have a university or secondary school setting and the main character must be a college or secondary school student, teacher, or professor for the entirety of the book. The school may be fictional (Hogwarts, Hex Hall, Vampire Academy, etc).
Ex: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, The Magicians, Carrie, Fangirl, Juno & Juliet
Required: If the school setting and/or status of the main character is not obvious in the book's description, provide a link that explains how the book fits the task when you post.

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Would Lexicon work for this task?

Coralie wrote: "Would Lexicon work for this task?"

Yes, that would work.

Will a non fiction book work for this task?

Pia wrote: "Will a non fiction book work for this task?


"

In theory, nonfiction is fine. However, this particular book seems to be more about her youth and the education she did not get. If this is incorrect and most the book takes place during her time at BYU, you'll need to explain this and provide a reference when you post the task.

Kristina, I just finished this book as an audiobook. I would say that her growing up years were the strong focus of the book but it follows her efforts to get an education from that beginning through college graduation and post-college studying at Cambridge (I think. Can't reference the book....but England anyway.) Does that help?

It was an impressive pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps kind of story...and she did amazingly well.

Thanks, Bea! That does help.

The intent of this task is to read a book in which the main character is a college or secondary school teacher/student for the entirety of the book. This is not the case with Educated. It does sound like a great book and I hope to get to it this season, too, but it doesn't fit this particular task.

No worries, it might fit in another task
Thanks Kristina and Bea.

Would any of these work?
How I Paid for College by Marc Acito

Best Bet by Laura Pedersen

My Latest Grievance by Elinor Lipman

Is Picnic at Hanging Rock okay for this task?

Sorry about the delay. I had to rethink the wording of this task (which seemed really simple!). Anyway....

The intention of this task is to read a book about the high school or college experience. To qualify, the book must have a university or secondary school setting and the main character must be a college or secondary school student, teacher, or professor for the entirety of the book.

That being said, here are my impressions of the books you all are asking about:

How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater -- "Peter Panning his way through a carefree summer of magic and mischief" -- school setting missing

Best Bet -- "a project that will take her around the world" -- school setting missing

My Latest Grievance -- description: "born and raised in the dormitory" review: "covering a few decades" -- School setting is there. May be missing main character being a secondary school student for the entirety of the book. Another review mentions that her parents are professors. If they turn out to be main characters, it could work. If that's the case, the book's description doesn't make it obvious how the book fits the task. You'll need to provide a link to a review or plot summary to explain the connection to both points (MC student/professor and school setting) when you post.

Picnic at Hanging Rock -- If a majority of the book takes place during a field trip at Hanging Rock, it wont' work (school setting missing). But reviews seem to indicate that the field trip is just part of the story and then they return to the school so it may work. Again, the book's description doesn't make it obvious how the book fits the task. You'll need to provide a link to a review or plot summary to explain the connection to both points (MC student/professor and school setting) when you post.

I hope that makes it clearer what to look for.

Based on that clarification, would either The Secret History or A Great Reckoning work?

Would P.S. I Still Love You or Always and Forever, Lara Jean work?

Bea wrote: "Based on that clarification, would either The Secret History or A Great Reckoning work?"

The Secret History will work but the academy in A Great Reckoning appears to be the police academy, not a high school or college.

Rina wrote: "Would P.S. I Still Love You or Always and Forever, Lara Jean work?"

P.S. I Still Love You doesn't mention a school setting in its description. You would need to read it and, if it fits, provide a link to a review or plot summary to explain the connection to both points (MC student/professor and school setting) when you post.

Always and Forever, Lara Jean definitely fits.

Would Me and Earl and the Dying Girl be acceptable for this task?

Kristina Simon wrote: "Bea wrote: "Based on that clarification, would either The Secret History or A Great Reckoning work?"

The Secret History will work but the academy in [book..."

Thank you. I will go with The Secret History.

Maya wrote: "Would Me and Earl and the Dying Girl be acceptable for this task?"

Hard to say. It sounds like Greg and Earl are high school students, so that part works. The school setting isn't all that clear, though. Since the book's description doesn't make it obvious that it fits both parts of the task, you'll need to provide a link that explains the connection when you post.

would New Boy: William Shakespeare's Othello Retold: A Novel - I am just putting it forward as a suggestion as I really enjoyed it if anyone is struggling to find a book

Marie (UK) wrote: "would New Boy: William Shakespeare's Othello Retold: A Novel - I am just putting it forward as a suggestion as I really enjoyed it if anyone is struggling to find a book"

Unfortunately, no. The task requires a secondary school or university student/setting. The description for New Boy: William Shakespeare's Othello Retold: A Novel states that the book takes in an elementary school.

Would this book work? Whatever.: or how junior year became totally f$@ked
Just trying to get verification.

Brooklyn wrote: "Would this book work? Whatever.: or how junior year became totally f$@ked
Just trying to get verification."

Yes, that works.

Would The Probability of Murder work?

Ellen wrote: "Would The Probability of Murder work?"

Yes, that works.

I think this one works, but just to be sure Blythewood
Thanks,
Andy

Andy wrote: "I think this one works, but just to be sure Blythewood
Thanks,
Andy"

Yes, that would work.

This one sounds like a possibility:

Love and First Sight

Amy wrote: "This one sounds like a possibility:

Love and First Sight"

Yeah, that would work.

Kristina Simon wrote: "Andy wrote: "I think this one works, but just to be sure Blythewood
Thanks,
Andy"

Yes, that would work."

Thanks

Would Piecing Me Together or Lucy and Linh work?

Diana wrote: "Would Piecing Me Together or Lucy and Linh work?"

Yes, either one of those would work.

Would The Hate U Give qualify for this task?

Christine wrote: "Would The Hate U Give qualify for this task?"

Hard to tell without reading it, which means you'll need to explain how it fits the task when you post. If her "fancy suburban prep school" is where most of the book is set, it'll work. If most of the book is set in "the poor neighborhood where she lives" and/or during protests not at the school, then it will not work.

Kristina Simon wrote: "Christine wrote: "Would The Hate U Give qualify for this task?"

Hard to tell without reading it, which means you'll need to explain how it fits the task when you post. If her "fanc..."

I'm not a mod, but I have read The Hate U Give - the school is not the most prominent setting in the book, if I recall correctly. I hope you can find a place for it, since it's a very good book, but I'm not sure that it would work here.

Thanks. I have another spot for it, so no worries! :-)

Would Dear Evan Hansen work? The summary mentions him being a high school senior, but I'm not sure how much of the setting is in the school. Would anyone who has read it (or seen the musical) be able to verify?

Rach wrote: "Would Dear Evan Hansen work? The summary mentions him being a high school senior, but I'm not sure how much of the setting is in the school. Would anyone who has read it (or seen th..."

It may work but, as with all setting tasks, you'll need to read the book to know for sure.

I wanted to check this one and figure out how much information I would need to provide if it does fit.

Wrath

In the description, it talks about the sweetheart of St. Augustine. St. Augustine is the college that everyone attends (main character included). It is also listed as academic/college in the genre section. Is that enough?

Thank you!

Jecca wrote: "I wanted to check this one and figure out how much information I would need to provide if it does fit.

Wrath

In the description, it talks about the sweetheart of St. Augustine. S..."

That works. Just link to a review that mentions he’s in college (like the one written by Valeen Robertson) when you post.

Just checking that there's enough in the book description to fit in the task: The Ghost and the Goth (The Ghost and the Goth #1)?

I wasn't sure how much the book needs to be set in the school? I've finished reading the book and probably about half the book was set in school.

Tien wrote: "Just checking that there's enough in the book description to fit in the task: The Ghost and the Goth (The Ghost and the Goth #1)?

I wasn't sure how much the book needs to be set in ..."

That works.

Thanks, Kristina

Based on the descriptions these both seem suitable. Can you verify that these fit?

Go
The Gray House

Aprilleigh wrote: "Based on the descriptions these both seem suitable. Can you verify that these fit?

Go
The Gray House"

Yes, either of those would fit. Your choice!

Will this work? It takes place in a university extension class.

The Writing Class

Thank you.

Would Getting Lucky Number Seven work?
Thanks!

Kim wrote: "Will this work? It takes place in a university extension class.

The Writing Class

Thank you."

The main character appears to be a university teacher so, yes, that would work.