Compelling books have the ability to change the way a person sees the world, even in small ways. Find out which books had the biggest impact on teachers’ and staff’s lives, and why.
Alan Eaton – The Aeneid by Virgil
One of the first books Latin teacher Alan Eaton remembers reading in high school is “The Aeneid,” by the ancient Roman poet Virgil. The epic poem tells the story of Aeneas, a legendary Trojan hero, whose complicated choices lead him to discover Rome. Eaton appreciates the story’s complexity and constant evolution in new translations, which has led him to reread the book numerous times. “That changed me from someone who had not read a book closely, to someone who had read a book really closely, word by word, in the [Latin],” Eaton said.
Catherine Burton-Tilson – The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
For librarian Catherine Burton-Tillson, the most impactful books are stories where people from different backgrounds connect, even in unlikely circumstances. One of her favorites is “The Outsiders,” by S.E. Hinton, which she first read in middle school. The book tells the story of the social divisions between two different groups, the financially well-off Socs and the vulnerable Greasers. “The author was in high school when she wrote the book, and I think she really captured what it’s like to be a teen,” Burton-Tillson said.
Catherine Burton-Tilson – The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
Another book that Burton-Tillson found meaningful is “The Emperor of Gladness” by Ocean Vuong. The story follows the unlikely connection between two main characters: a 19-year-old Vietnamese-American college dropout and an elderly Polish woman, after a tragedy in New York. She also sees its core themes as similar to “The Outsiders.” “Again, it’s two people that probably wouldn’t normally cross paths that form a relationship across the boundaries that divide them,” Burton-Tillson said.
Zoe Mahony – Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
History teacher Zoe Mahony’s most transformative book was “Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe” by Benjamin Alire Sáenz, which she first read in high school. The book follows two young teenagers and their struggles with their ethnic and racial identities, sexualities, and family dynamics. “It was the first book I read that had queer teenagers in it, and it was really cool to see someone my age figuring out their identity,” Mahony said.
Agnes Evangelista – A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
English teacher Agnes Evangelista sees “A Wrinkle in Time” by Madeleine L’Engle as pivotal, even though she read it in elementary school. She was drawn to the book’s Sci-Fi genre and its strong-willed main character, Meg. She credits it with helping her develop an early love of reading. “A young female protagonist helped me kind of discover [that] there are a lot of stories out there that just are very amazing,” Evangelista said.
