Our Wildwood, Volume 51

BOOK SHELF by Michelle Simon (P. ‘31), Head Librarian Middle and Upper School

BY DISCUSSING BOOKS ACROSS CAMPUSES, COMMUNITY BONDS ARE FORGED AND CONNECTIONS deepen. On professional development days, teachers, administrators, and staff come together and often discuss not only which books they are teaching in the classrooms, but also what they’re personally reading. Teachers share books with each other and with students, and vice versa, and the books make their circuitous rounds. Several times during the year Senior Siblings visit the elementary campus and reminisce about their favorite childhood reads, sparking discussions and sharing the joys of storytelling. These cross-campus interactions cultivate a vibrant, inclusive culture of reading and storytelling, fostering a sense of unity and joy. Here are some titles making the rounds.

THE DECAGON HOUSE MURDERS by Yukito Ayatsuji

THE MAGIC WORDS by Joseph Fasano

Reviewed by Ike M. ‘25

Reviewed by Billy Pugliese, Assistant Director of Upper School for Academic Services, Teaching, and Learning

The Decagon House Murders is a captivating and intricately woven mystery that pays homage to the classic murder mystery tropes we love while adding its unique twists. The story centers on a group of university students who possess a strong fascination with murder mystery novels, which leads them to spend their vacation on an isolated island with a chilling history. Their idyllic getaway turns into a nightmarish scenario when a series of murders mirror a cryptic manuscript they discover. Ayatsuji skillfully combines elements of traditional whodunits with a touch of psychological suspense, creating an atmosphere that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The characters are well developed, each with hidden depths and motives, making the guessing game of identifying the killer all the more engaging. The author’s ability to weave an intricate web of clues and misdirection keeps readers guessing until

Elevated mad libs would be a simplified and unjust description of Joseph Fasano’s The Magic Words . Fasano’s newest book release is a collection of poems and fifty-one poetry prompts, inspiring readers to transform into writers. The collection is introduced with a brief “how to”, where Fasano

walks us through four of the eight types of speech (noun, adjective, verb, adverb). From there, we set sail towards the deep ends of poetry, on a life raft of sorts. Fasano prepares us for our voyage with words of wisdom from poets and philosophers like Audre Lorde, Carl Jung, James Baldwin, and Mahatma Gandhi. Grief, anger, friendship, dreams, siblings, parenthood; there is something for everyone. As land appears on the horizon, Fasano leaves room for guided reflection, and once we’ve got our sea-legs, an invitation to journey out on our own.

the final pages. Cleverly written and masterfully executed, The Decagon House Murders is a thrilling homage to the golden age of detective fiction. Ayatsuji’s attention to detail and clever narrative twists make this novel a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted mystery.

OWW SUMMER 2024

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