LIBRARY HIGHLIGHTS
The ISY Library collection is in constant growth. Here are a selection of the featured books for High School students.
Featured High School Books
Darwin, An Exceptional Voyage by Fabien Grolleau
It is the year 1831. A gifted but distracted young man named Charles Darwin has been offered a place aboard the H.M.S. Beagle, in a chain of events that will change both his life and the course of modern science. Join him on an epic journey of thrilling discovery as he explores remote corners of the natural world and pieces together the very beginnings of his revolutionary theory of evolution. Great for High School students.
The Accidental Veterinarian by Philipp Schott
With insight and humor, Dr. Philipp Schott shares tales from the unlikely path he took into his career of veterinary science and anecdotes from his successful small-animal clinic. Dr. Schott brings to his writing the benefit of many years of expertise. The wisdom he imparts on readers includes the best way to give your cat a pill, how to prevent your very handy dog from opening a fridge, and how to handle your fish when it has half-swallowed another. Through these and other experiences, Dr. Schott also learned that veterinary medicine is as much, if not more, about the people as it is the animals. And he will have you laughing and crying as you embark on this journey of discovery with him. Great for High School students.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Theo Decker, a 13-year-old New Yorker, miraculously survives the accident that kills his mother. Abandoned by his father, Theo is taken in by the family of a wealthy friend. Bewildered by his strange new home on Park Avenue, disturbed by schoolmates who don't know how to talk to him, and tormented above all by a longing for his mother, he clings to the one thing that reminds him of her: a small, mysteriously captivating painting that ultimately draws Theo into a wealthy and insular art community. As an adult, Theo moves silkily between the drawing rooms of the rich and the dusty labyrinth of an antiques store where he works. He is alienated and in love -- and at the center of a narrowing, ever more dangerous circle. Great for High School students and Young Adults.
How We Got To Now by Steven Johnson
Join the author in his detailed account of the unintended historical consequences of innovation and the stories filled with surprising stories of accidental genius and brilliant mistakes behind them. Examine unexpected connections between seemingly unrelated fields: how the invention of air-conditioning enabled the largest migration of human beings in the history of the species—to cities such as Dubai or Phoenix, which would otherwise be virtually uninhabitable; how pendulum clocks helped trigger the industrial revolution; and how clean water made it possible to manufacture computer chips. Great for High School students.
What We Will Become by Mimi Lemay
From the age of two-and-a-half, Jacob, born “Em,” adamantly told his family he was a boy. While his mother struggled to understand and come to terms with the fact that her child may be transgender, she experienced a sense of déjà vu—the journey to uncover the source of her child’s inner turmoil unearthed ghosts from Mimi’s past and her own struggle to live an authentic life. Mimi was raised in an Orthodox Jewish family, every aspect of her life dictated by ancient rules and her role as a woman largely preordained from cradle to grave. As a young woman, Mimi wrestled with the demands of her faith and eventually made the painful decision to leave her religious community and the strict gender roles it upheld. Dual narratives of faith and motherhood form a heartfelt portrait of an unforgettable family. Brimming with love and courage, What We Will Become is a powerful testament to how painful events from the past can be redeemed to give us hope for the future. Great for High School students.
The Resolutions by Mia García
From hiking trips to four-person birthday parties to never-ending group texts, Jess, Lee, Ryan, and Nora have always been inseparable. But now with senior year on the horizon, they’ve been growing apart. And as always, Jess makes a plan. Reinstating their usual tradition of making resolutions together on New Year’s Eve, Jess adds a twist: instead of making their own resolutions, the four friends assign them to one another. But as the year unfolds, Jess, Lee, Ryan, and Nora each test the bonds that hold them together. And amid first loves, heartbreaks, and life-changing decisions, beginning again is never as simple as it seems. Great for High School students.
Free Lunch by Rex Ogle
Instead of giving him lunch money, Rex’s mom has signed him up for free meals. As a poor kid in a wealthy school district, better-off kids crowd impatiently behind him as he tries to explain to the cashier that he’s on the free meal program. The lunch lady is hard of hearing, so Rex has to shout.
Free Lunch is the story of Rex’s efforts to navigate his first semester of sixth grade—who to sit with, not being able to join the football team, Halloween in a handmade costume, classmates and a teacher who take one look at him and decide he’s trouble—all while wearing secondhand clothes and being hungry. His mom and her boyfriend are out of work, and life at home is punctuated by outbursts of violence. Halfway through the semester, his family is evicted and ends up in government-subsidized housing in view of the school. Rex lingers at the end of last period every day until the buses have left, so no one will see where he lives. Great for High School students.
Paper Things by Jennifer Richard
When forced to choose between staying with her guardian and being with her big brother, Ari chose her big brother. There’s just one problem, his brother didn’t actually have a place to live. How can Ari keep up with school, her best friend, and middle-school applications when she’s “couch surfing”- a night here with his brother’s friend in a tiny apartment, another night with his girlfriend and her two roommates- and even, when necessary, sneaking into a juvenile shelter? Great for High School students.
Social Entrepreneurship by David Bornstein
In development circles, there is a growing consensus that social entrepreneurs are a better mechanism to respond to social needs than traditional institutions. A decentralized and emergent force that remains our best hope for solutions that can keep pace with our problems and create a more peaceful and prosperous world. Great for High School students.
PhilantroParties! by Lulu Cerone
Why just party when you can party with a purpose? This creative DIY guide gives readers what they need to know—from inspiration to how-tos—to incorporate philanthropy into one’s social life. It includes party ideas and plans, event checklists, recipes, crafts, personal stories, and brief profiles of causes readers should know about. Organized by month of the year, the book features thirty-six PhilanthroParty concepts paired with vibrant photography and colorful design, to get kids and teens started. Great for Middle and High School students.
Artificial Intelligence in the Real World by George Kulz
Artificial intelligence is all around us. It powers our personal assistants, collects data online, predicts health problems, and builds products in factories. This book offers a look into what A.I. is, how it’s currently being used, and how it might be used in the future. One thing is certain: A.I. Is here to stay. Great for High School students.
Catfishing on Catnet by Naomi
Because her mom is always on the move, Steph hasn’t lived anyplace longer than six months. Her only constant is an online community called CatNet—a social media site where users upload cat pictures. What Steph doesn’t know is that the admin of the site, CheshireCat, is a sentient A.I. When a threat from Steph’s past catches up to her and ChesireCat’s existence is discovered by outsiders, it’s up to Steph and her friends, both online and real-life, to save her. An entertaining, heart-filled exploration of today’s online existence and influence of Artificial Intelligence in our lives. Great for High School students.
I, Robot by Isaac Asimov
I, Robot, the first and most widely read book by futurologist Isaac Asimov, forever changed the world’s perception of artificial intelligence since its publication in the 40s. The book contains stories of robots gone mad, of mind-reading robots, and robots with a sense of humor. Of robot politicians, and robots who secretly run the world—all told with the dramatic blend of science fact and science fiction that has become Asimov’s trademark. Great for High School students.
Always On by Brian Chen
Even Steve Jobs didn't know what he had on his hands when he announced the original iPhone as a combination of an iPod, a cell phone, and a pocket computer; he didn’t envision that over the course of a decade the device would be capable of running thousands of functions. But the iPhone has implications far beyond the gadget market. In fact, it opened the way to the "always-on" future, where we are all constantly connected to a global Internet via flexible, incredibly capable gadgets that allow us to do anything, anytime, from anywhere. This has far-reaching implications--both positive and negative--throughout all areas of our lives, opening the door for incredible personal and societal advances while potentially sacrificing both privacy and creative freedom. Great for High School students.
All This Life by Joshua Mohr
A shocking event witnessed and recorded by a young man that will later post it online for the world to see. An innocent girl finds out that her boyfriend has been secretly posting their intimacy online. With a wide cast of characters and an exciting pace that mimics the speed of our modern, all-too-connected lives, All This Life examines the dangerous intersection of the real and the virtual, where coding and technology seek to highlight and augment our already flawed human connections. Good for High School students, it contains mature content.
Operatic by Kyo MacLear
Somewhere in the universe, there is the perfect tune for you. It’s almost the end of middle school, and Charlie has to find her perfect song for a music class assignment. But it’s hard for Charlie to concentrate when she can’t stop noticing her classmate Emile, or wondering about Luka, who hasn’t been to school in weeks. Then, the class learns about opera, and Charlie discovers the music of Maria Callas. The more she learns about Maria’s life, the more Charlie admires her passion for singing and her ability to express herself fully through her music. Can Charlie follow the example of the ultimate diva, Maria Callas, when it comes to her own life? A story of friendship, first crushes, opera, and the high drama of middle school. Great for High School students and Young Adults.
Driving by Starlight by Anat Deracine
Sixteen-year-olds Leena and Mishie are best friends. They delight in small rebellions against the Saudi cultural police—secret Western clothing, forbidden music that sings about a life filled with romance and freedom, and undercover flirtations. But Leena wants more, she wants college, independence—she wants a different life. Though her story is specific to her world (a world where until recently it was illegal for women to drive, where a ten-year-old boy is the natural choice as guardian of a fatherless woman, and more), ultimately it's a story about friendship, family, and freedom that transcends cultural differences and repression. Great for High School students and Young Adults.
All Summer Long by Hope Larson
Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and more bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story filled with electric guitars, drums, and snares.
Great for High School students.
The Ungrateful Refugee by Dina Nayeri
Aged eight, Dina Nayeri fled Iran with her family to end up living in the crumbling shell of an Italian hotel–turned–refugee camp. Eventually, she was granted asylum in America. She settled in Oklahoma, then made her way to Princeton University. In this book, Nayeri weaves together her own vivid story with the stories of other refugees and asylum seekers in recent years, bringing us inside the different stages of their journeys, from escape to asylum to resettlement. In these pages, a couple falls in love over the phone, and women gather to prepare the noodles that remind them of home. A closeted queer man tries to make his case truthfully as he seeks asylum, and a translator attempts to help new arrivals present their stories to officials. This book invites us to rethink the current worldwide refugee crisis. Great for High School students and Young Adults.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, but as often it makes the heart grow forgetful. Ifemelu and Obinze are young and in love when they depart military-ruled Nigeria for the West. Beautiful, self-assured Ifemelu heads for America, where despite her academic success, she is forced to grapple with what it means to be black for the first time. Quiet, thoughtful Obinze had hoped to join her, but with post-9/11 America closed to him, he instead plunges into a dangerous, undocumented life in London. Fifteen years later, they reunite in a newly democratic Nigeria and reignite their passion, for each other and for their homeland. Great for High School students.
We Are Displaced By Malala Yousafzai
Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai introduces some of the people behind the statistics and news stories about the millions of people displaced worldwide. Malala's experiences visiting refugee camps caused her to reconsider her own displacement, first as an Internally Displaced Person when she was a young child in Pakistan, and then as an international activist who could travel anywhere in the world except to the home she loved. In the book, Malala explores her own story but also shares the stories of some of the incredible girls she has met on her journeys, girls who have lost their community, relatives, and often the only world they've ever known. Great for High School students and Young Adults.
Ghady & Rawan By Samar Mahfouz
A heartfelt and beautifully written page-turner that tells the story of Rawan, who lives in Lebanon; and her best friend, Ghady, who lives in Belgium and visits every summer. The two teens share the struggles of growing up apart from beloved people and show how a good friend can help you through life's difficulties as a young immigrant. Great for High School students.
In Search of Sunlight By Pim Koetsawang
This work gathers real stories of the lives of Burmese migrants in Thailand, who left unstable regions in their native country looking for better life opportunities. The author offers an accurate picture of the journey of a group of men, women, and children traveling across borders towards a country with shared cultural traits and landscape where they expect to resettle. Great for High School students and Young Adults.
Festivals and Flowers of the 12 Burmese Seasons by Khin Myo & Paw Oo
This delightful title is both a calendar and an account of events associated with the months of the Burmese calendar. For each month there is a poem (in both Burmese and English) and a description of the activities of that particular time of year. Each is richly illustrated with a garland of the flowers of the season. Great for Middle School and High School students.
Festivals of the World by Elizabeth Breuilly
A colorfully illustrated and detailed introduction to festivals that are central to the major religions of the world. This book identifies where each faith's calendar year begins, documents the history and significance of each celebration, and describes observance traditions. It features a comprehensive list of holidays, from Rastafarian to Zoroastrian, including Buddhist, Taoist, Christian, and everything in between. Great for Middle School and High School students.
Burmese Folktales by Maung Htin Aung
With moral and spiritual teachings linked to both Buddhist beliefs and the natural world, a broad array of Burmese folk tales is summarized in this detailed compilation by one of Myanmar’s earliest and most prominent scholars, Maung Htin Aung. The book has over 50 tales of romance, humor, wonder, and animals that all offer a view of the deeply rooted beliefs of people in Myanmar. Great for High School students and adults.
Sacred Sites of Burma by Donald Stadtner
The Buddha himself presented strands of his hair to two traveling merchants in India. The pair returned to Myanmar where these hairs became the country's most sacred relics, now enshrined in the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda. Although expressions of the Buddhist faith are widespread in Myanmar, this book features the most significant old and new sacred sites in Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and within the Shan, Rakhine, and Mon states; along with ancient paintings, drawings, detailed history, and artistic analysis that will deepen the understanding of the sacred sites of Myanmar. Great for High School students and adults.
His Hideous Heart by Dahlia Adler
Edgar Allan Poe may be a hundred and fifty years beyond this world, but the themes of his beloved works have much in common with modern young adult fiction. Whether the stories are familiar to readers or discovered for the first time, readers will revel in both Edgar Allan Poe's classic tales, and in the 13 unique and unforgettable ways that they've been brought to life.
Great for High School students.
Pumpkin Heads by Faith Hicks
Deja and Josiah are seasonal best friends. Every autumn, all through high school, they’ve worked together at the best pumpkin patch in the whole wide world. They say goodbye every Halloween, and they’re reunited every September. But this Halloween is different – they are finally seniors, and this is their last season at the pumpkin patch. Josiah’s ready to spend the whole night feeling melancholy about it. Deja isn’t ready to let him. She’s got a plan: what if instead of moping, they went out for their last adventure? Great for High School students.
Scary Stories by Barry Moser
Goose bumps along your arms, the hairs rising on the back of your neck, these are the sure signs you're immersed in a great scary story. Featuring classic stories by such timeless authors as Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, H. P. Lovecraft, and H. G. Wells, this spellbinding collection also includes modern masterpieces by contemporary legends like Stephen King, Roald Dahl, and Ray Bradbury. Furthermore, twenty engravings capture the suspense and horror in these brilliant stories. Great for High School students.
Yes No Maybe So by Aisha Saeed
Two students from the northern suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia, work together on a campaign for a progressive state senate candidate. That situation suddenly turns into a love story between a jewish boy who suffers from being painfully bad at anything girl-related, and a Pakistani American Muslim girl struggling with her parents’ sudden separation. Both sweetly connect over similarities like divorced parents, and their activism will resonate with many. Jamie is sensitive, clumsy, and insecure; Maya is determined, sassy, a dash spoiled, and she swears freely. Great for High School students.
Your Own Worst Enemy by Jack Gordon
Government? What's that? Most children will ask right after hearing the word. Governments! Vote for Me explains politics to children and shows them just who is in charge around the world--from presidents and prime ministers to dictators, autocrats, and monarchs. It also answers important questions that kids have about what do governments do, how are laws made,
and what monarchies, republics, and other forms of government are. Great for High School students.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a Life by Jane Sherron
This comprehensive biography explores the central experiences that crucially shaped Ginsburg’s passion for justice, her advocacy for gender equality, her meticulous jurisprudence: her desire to make We the People more united and our union more perfect. At the heart of her story and abiding beliefs—her Jewish background. Tikkun olam, the Hebrew injunction to “repair the world,” with its profound meaning for a young girl who grew up during the Holocaust and World War II. Great for High School students and adults.
A History of the World in 21 Women by Jenni Murray
They led while others followed. They stood up and spoke out when no one else would. They broke the mould in art, music and literature. Each of them fought, in their own way, for change. Encompassing artists, politicians, activists, reporters, and heads of state from past and present, this book celebrates the lives, struggles and achievements of women who have had a profound impact on the shaping of our world. Great for High School students.
1984 by George Orwell
Winston Smith works for the Ministry of Truth in London, chief city of an oppressive country. Big Brother stares out from every poster, the Thought Police uncover every act of betrayal. When Winston finds love with Julia, he discovers that life does not have to be dull and deadening, and awakens to new possibilities; even if the pursuit of happiness might mean to fight the regime. Great for High School students.
127 Hours by Aron Ralston
Aron Ralston, an experienced twenty-seven-year-old outdoorsman, was on a day’s solitary hike through a remote and narrow Utah canyon when he dislodged an eight-hundred- pound boulder that crushed his right hand and wrist against the canyon wall. Emerging from the searing pain, Aron found himself completely stuck. No one knew where he was; no one was coming to rescue him. With scant water and food, and a cheap pocket knife his only tool, he eliminated his options one by one. Great for High School students.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
In an isolated and silent monastery, Brother William turns detective in medieval Italy when seven bizarre deaths take place in seven days and nights. All deaths seem to be linked to a secret book hidden in the library of the monastery. Great for High School students.
Momentous Events in the Life of a Cactus
In the sequel to Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, Aven Green confronts her biggest challenge: surviving high school without arms. Now 14, Aven has just settled into life with her adoptive parents when everything changes, again. She’s entering high school, which means that 2,300 new kids will stare at her missing arms—and her feet, which do almost everything hands can. Aven resolves to be indifferent to that but a betrayal shakes her self-confidence. Her best friend moved away and made a new friend who, like him, has Tourette’s syndrome: a girl. And is Lando, her friend Zion’s popular older brother, being sweet to Aven out of pity—or something more? This book shows the universal awkwardness of adolescence and the difficulties of navigating a disability. Great for High School students.
Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus by Dusti Bowling
Born without arms, Aven Green can do almost anything with her feet instead—even to solve a mystery. Now that she’s 13, she doesn't need much help with anything; Her adoptive parents have always encouraged her independence. She’s never felt insecure among her friends, playing soccer and making up wild stories about losing her arms. But when her father suddenly gets a job in a different city nothing can stop her new classmates’ stares. Making friends with a boy with Tourette’s syndrome, and Zion, a shy, overweight, black boy, allows her to blend in. Contrasted with the boys’ shyness, Aven’s tough love shows how attitudes toward disability can vary. While investigating her dad’s suspiciously absent boss, the kids discover clues with eerie ties to Aven. Great for Middle School students.
A Taste of Shan by Page Binham
A culinary and photographic expedition through the Shan Province of Myanmar. More than 50 authentic detailed Shan recipes, from dips and sauces to soups, salads, noodle, fish and meat dishes. You will be able to bring the flavors of one of the world’s most unexplored culinary destinations into your kitchen. Excellent for High School students.
The Year I Didn't Eat by Samuel Pollen
Fourteen-year-old Max doesn't like to eat, and he confesses his feelings about Ana---also known as his eating disorder, anorexia--in a journal that his therapist makes him keep. When he hides his journal in a box, someone finds it and starts writing to him, signing it with "E." Although he is unsure of the secret writer's identity, he takes comfort in the words that appear in his journal as they continually confide in one another about their problems. And when his parents begin having trouble and the family is on the verge of splitting up, Max's eating disorder intensifies and he feels himself losing control. Excellent for High School students.
The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Revelations about how the way we eat affects the world we live in, presented with wit and elegance. The dilemma—what to have for dinner when you are a creature with an open-ended appetite—leads us to a fascinating examination of the myriad connections along the principal food chains that lead from earth to dinner table. Excellent for High School students and Young Adults.
Revenge of the Red Club by Kim Harrington
Riley Dunne loves the Red Club because it’s more than a group of girls supporting each other through the ups and downs of menstruation; it’s a Hawking Middle School tradition. The club’s secret locker has an emergency stash of supplies, and the girls are always willing to lend an ear, a shoulder, or an old pair of sweatpants. But when the school administration shuts the Red Club down because of complaints, the girls are stunned. Who would do that to them? The girls’ shock quickly turns into anger, and then they decide to get even. Great for High School students.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The story of life in the dystopia of Gilead, a totalitarian society in what was the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. Great for High School students.
Me & Mr. Cigar by Gibby Jaines
Seventeen-year-old Oscar Lester and his dog/supernatural companion, Mr. Cigar, eager to avoid nefarious forces that are after Mr. Cigar, speed to New York where Oscar's twenty-two-year-old sister, Carla, is being held hostage. Great for High School students.
Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra
The four March sisters were different in every way. They grew up to pursue their separate dreams, until they hear that their mother is sick. All four sisters return to North Carolina for the holidays to rediscover what really matters. Great for High School students.
Mike by Andrew Norriss
Meet Floyd. He's a tennis star. Possibly even good enough to win Wimbledon one day. Meet Mike. He's... different. Apart from anything else, Floyd seems to be the only one who can see him. But Mike must have appeared for a reason and finding out why is perhaps the most important thing Floyd will ever do. Great for High School students.
The International School Yangon
20 Shwe Taungyar Street
Bahan Township
Yangon, Myanmar
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