Jason's Reading (books by Daniel James Brown)

This story was just plain depressing. I don’t know what else I was expecting – it’s about a group of pioneers that largely starve to death after becoming snowbound on their way to California – but reading about their struggles was painful. It was especially hard to see all the little things that could have gone differently and might have dramatically changed the group’s outcome for the better. But the book was interesting and well-written, so if you’re feeling up for a particularly tragic story, I’d recommend it.

This book about Joe Rantz and his rowing crew mates might be my favorite kind of book. Non-fiction; centered on someone interesting but not too well-known; told at a relaxed pace with lots of detail (but not to the point that I get bored); and told skillfully as a fascinating, heart-warming story. Basically, it’s a wonderfully written inspirational sports story. I loved it. …