Books+We're+Reading

//Mr. Arkin's reading// Andrew Cohen On two consecutive days in June 1963, in two lyrical speeches, John F. Kennedy pivots dramatically and boldly on the two greatest issues of his time: nuclear arms and civil rights. In language unheard in lily white, Cold War America, he appeals to Americans to see both the Russians and the "Negroes" as human beings. His speech on June 10 leads to the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty of 1963; his speech on June 11 to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
 * Two Days in June: John F. Kennedy and the 48 Hours that Made History**

// Shivani Suresh's reading // Jim Lovell & Jeffrey Kluger On April 13th 1970, three astronauts began their journey to space, on Apollo 13. It was America's fifth attempt at a moon landing. Based on the true story of what is described as "NASA's near disaster," (Howell) astronauts John Swigert, James Lovell and Fred Haise were 200 000 miles away from earth, when a fire damaged two oxygen tanks. The crew attempted to persevere with their intended mission, but further complications lead to a race against time to return home.
 * Apollo 13**

//Annaliese Tan's reading// Robyn Schneider Ezra Faulkner, a popular high school senior, believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them and his theory is proven when his girlfriend cheats on him, before a car accident shatters his knee and ruins his athletic career and social life. He falls in love with a new girl that he meets called Cassidy Thorpe and realize that new beginnings can come from tragedies.
 * The Beginning of Everything**

//Tim Duong's reading// Nagaru Tanigawa Kyon, a seemingly normal high school student, is forced to help run a club (much to his chagrin) by fellow classmate Haruhi Suzumiya, a peculiar girl who claims to want to see "aliens, time travelers, and espers". Much to Kyon's chagrin, aliens, time travelers, and espers do indeed appear. Join the SOS Brigade as they try to prevent the chaos of Haruhi Suzumiya's eccentricity at bay.
 * The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya**

//Nadim Sunderani's reading// William Shakespeare Richard, Duke of Gloucester, is determined to gain the crown of England from his brother, the Yorkist King Edward IV. He woos the widow, Lady Ann at the funeral of her father-in-law, King Henry VI. She yields to his advances and marries him. In the meantime, Richard organises the murder of his brother George, Duke of Clarence, whom he has had imprisoned in the Tower of London.
 * Richard III**

//Pirathapan Ahilan's reading// Andy Weir This is about a man name Mark Watney who is stuck on the planet Mars after a storm when going to space. His teammates have left him and humanity thinks he is dead. He needs to communicate with NASA or else he has to find a way to survive 4 years on Mars.
 * The Martian**