Recommended Reads: Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time

In 1993, a lost and drifting Greg Mortenson headed to the mountains of Pakistan to do the only thing that he knew gave him any purpose in life: climb one of the world's most towering mountains, K2. After a failed attempt, Greg found himself disappointed, exhausted, and disoriented in the norhtern Pakistan countryside. Helpless and wandering, he wound up in a small Pakistani tribal village. Although many of the villagers had never seen an American before (and a pale skinned, blonde headed one at that), they welcomed him with open arms and nursed him back to health. With wellness came clarity and Greg knew that his life had forever been changed by the kindness and humbleness of the people of Korphe. He saw the simple lives that they lead but the desperation that they had for more. They weren't greedy by any means; they simply wanted a proper school for their children. They yearned for education and a way to protect their sons and daughters from being brainwashed by the extremist Muslim instituitions that seemed like the only form of education available. While they too were devout Muslims, the villagers of Korphe knew there was a better way to live out their faith. Mortenson knew it too and also saw education as the answer. Before he left the village of Korphe, he promised the people that he would return someday to build them a school...Mortenson kept his promise and the Korphe School was completed in 1996. That was not the end, however; Greg's promise became a vision and his vision became a campaign to improve the lives of Pakistani and Afghani children forever.

A real-life adventure of compassion, this book will touch the heart of anyone who reads it. No matter what your political, religious, cultural, etc. beliefs are, this book will have you sharing a cup of tea with your neighbor and believing that if we just give each other a chance and work together, peace can happen in even the most desolate parts of the world.

-Carrie L. Boyd, intern and book lover

You can find this book on Homewood's shelves
in the Adult Non-Fiction department:
371.822 Mor
OR
Request it online from JCLC

Also, check out the reading guide,
created by Mortenson himself

The Pioneers An American Family Portrait by Jack Cavanaugh

Jesse Morgan grew up on the lower east side of New York City. He and his mother had struggled to live since his father died in a fire. For years now she has been sewing piece work in her home and Jesse works at a glass factory which employs many children. When not at work he is aggravated by bullies on the streets. It was during an altercation with those bullies that Jesse met Emily Barnes. When she gave several blasts on her whistle they thought the police had arrived to grab them.
Emily has wanted to become a reporter. Her job using a typewriter and her unofficial research into unlawful practices by local companies were good experience for this. So when Jesse met her again on a steamboat she was interviewing the captain for an exciting newspaper article about him.
Actually, Jesse left N.Y. on the run from the police. So began his journey west. Whatever jobs were available, he did. He travelled by foot, raft, steamboat, covered wagon, horse and railroad. A hero of dime novels was his "guide" when he met with a challenge or decision to make. What would Truly Noble do? Jesse's aunt was the author of these stories which he had been reading and enjoying when not working or running from neighborhood thugs.
Jesse's reason for leaving home was his secret. Emily's secret was her identity. Because of her parentage, she and Jesse found themselves running from a kidnapper. The secret of all this, ironically, involved a Utopian community. These many secrets finally must come to light as Jesse grows along with the country.

Princess Ben by Catherine Gilbert Murdock

Princess Benevolence of Montagne, aka "Ben," is spoiled and childish for her fifteen years. Still pampered by her parents, she reads only fairy stories, plays with dolls and makes mudpies. She has little to no self-control, is stubborn and wilfull, and is unable to focus on any task she is given. Then her world is destroyed. Her parents, her uncle and a royal guard went to visit her grandfather's tomb one morning. The bodies of her mother and uncle were brought back on carts. Her father and the guard were never found. Queen Sophia moves Ben, as the only surviving royal heir, into the castle and begins the long process of educating the unwilling girl in the ways of royalty. Lessons in deportment, dance, languages, dress, conversation, etiquette and more are suddenly filling Ben's life. She stubbornly refuses to learn. Meanwhile, Montagne's neighbor, Drachensbett, assumed the assassins of the royal family, are threatening war...or alliance through marriage. Their Prince Florian is about Ben's age. But the two take an instant dislike to each other. Drachensbett is determined to have the lands of Montagne one way or another.

Ben is not a likeable character in the beginning. She is interesting, however, and as the story progresses, so does her personality. There is lots of action and adventure and a bit of magic in this tale, and the writing style will sweep you into the midst of it all. With nods at traditional fairy tales, Murdock crafts a story unlike any other. Fans of strong female characters, the Princess Diaries, and Murdocks other books (Dairy Queen, The Off Season), will really enjoy this title.

Sisterchicks Go Brit! by Robin Jones Gunn

This is the latest book by Robin Jones Gunn in her Sisterchick series and it is a winner. (Each of these books is a little different since they have different main characters on holiday in places that are right for them.) In this story, Liz and Kellie have been friends for years and have been talking about dreams and wishes. Kellie's hobby is interior decorating. Liz's gift is shopping for bargains and her wish is to see Big Ben in London. Quite by chance or accident they were hired to decorate Opal's space at the retirement home. Opal is a petite woman with spunk and is the first at the home to step out of the usual decor and make her rooms her own. Others liked it so much that they followed her lead. Rather than pay money for the job, Opal gave Kellie and Liz airline tickets to England so they could be her companions and then enjoy their visit to her homeland. While palnning their trip Liz and Kellie each wrote down the top five places they most wanted to see in England. When they arrived they took Opal to her sister's House and received a big, or petite, surprise. Rose was Opal's twin who lived in a quaint house in Olney. Though the plan had been to return immediately to London, the twins convinced them to stay - for a couple days. Then they were misdirected enroute and landed in Oxford which had much to offer. It became clear that the trip which had been planned by dreams, desires and searching the Internet was being directed by God. Kellie and Liz were following His guideance and growing closer to Him while learning things about themselves and each other. When finally in London they got to their list. I don't want to tell you too much-I'll just say surprises abound up to the very end of the book for Liz, Kellie, Opal and Rose.

Steel Trapp: The Challenge by Ridley Pearson

Revenge of the Nerds meets Indiana Jones? No, that's not quite right. Hmmm...McGuyver meets Bill Gates? Whatever comparison is made, it still won't adequately describe this action-packed novel full of science geeks and terrorist plots. Steven "Steel" Trapp (so nicknamed for his photographic memory) is an out and out science geek, and he totally owns it. He's on his way by Amtrak train to Washington D.C. with his mother and his dog, Cairo, to compete in the National Science Challenge. At the station he notices a young woman disembarking without her briefcase, so Steel runs after her to return it. She vehemently denies ownership, and Steel turns the bag over to the conductor instead. But the thing is, Steel knows it was her briefcase. And now he's curious. The case is strangely light, with the sound of a few sheets of paper wisping around. Steel wants to know what's in that case, and he wants to know so badly that he can't think of anything else. So he cons his way into the baggage car, finds the briefcase and tries to figure out how to get into the case without damaging it. What he glimpses inside turns his blood cold and makes his mind spin. He can't forget it. He has to do something about it. And with the help of a U.S. Marshall, his science project, Cairo, and a new friend, he just might live through the experience. This book is a mystery, and adventure, and an all-around fun read for teens.

The Kon-Tiki Expedition by Thor Heyerdahl

This inspiring true story shows the courage of a group of young men determined to prove to the world that not all legends are wrong. Filled with action, drama, hardships and shark attacks this is a fantastic tale of men pitted against the sea.

After hearing a Polynesian legend of how the pacific islands were populated, biologist Thor Heyerdahl abandons his study of Naturalism and begins to explore the possibilities of the legend. He suspects that the South Sea Islanders are descended from an ancient race of people from South America, who, led by the hero Kon-Tiki, migrated to Polynesia on balsa rafts.

But when his hypothesis is rejected, Heyerdahl sets out to prove his theory by making the journey himself. With a group of five friends, he builds a balsa log raft in Peru and set sail, letting the winds and currents carry them. Alone on the sea, amidst storms and sea life, will they be able to survive long enough to find out if Heyerdahl was right or wrong?