I was asked about some books I read recently on a high school application. Here are my answers:
Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I read this dystopian novel and three other books in the series for literature class this semester. The story was surreally close to our world right now. It describes a lockdown triggered by a natural disaster. The characters’ experiences and emotional reactions were very relatable. A lesson I learned is that even when the entire world is bleak and desolate, you can find a community that accepts and helps you. Another lesson I learned from one of the characters is that if you are bold enough to persevere, then everything will work in your favor.
Educated by Tara Westover. I first read the book a couple years ago and recently reread it as I am thinking about my own education going forward. Initially, I was shocked by the “weirdness” of Tara’s family and impressed by how she broke the boundaries and escaped. Then I started to realize that choices all have consequences. It taught me to value every opportunity for education and do my best.
Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. I’m reading this novel right now. The story is very captivating as it is told from multiple perspectives over thousands of years from ancient Greece to the space age future. I learned that knowledge is precious. It takes a lot of low-probability events to line up for knowledge to survive history. The book touches on many issues concerning our world today, like climate change, poverty, virtual reality and AI, and social isolation. I haven’t finished the book yet, but I look forward to seeing what happens at the end.