Books to build students’ skills

Even if you don’t plan to attend US universities, the books on this list will help you to hone the skills you need to complete your secondary education and go to any university.

Reading is the foundation for all of your learning.

Below is a list of some of my favourite books to build students’ skills. Also, note that the examination timetable has changed in Trinidad and Tobago.

There are now four exams for the SAT I. They are held in October, December March and May. You can check the Collegeboard.org site for more information.

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard – This biography of President James Garfield, assassinated after a mere four months in office is both a biography and a history of medicine of the era.

Millard’s crisp, vivid writing makes this a riveting piece of non-fiction writing. Students who enjoy history, science or just an excellent, action-packed read will enjoy this book.

Prisoners of Geography: Ten Maps that Explain Everything About the World by Tim Marshall – This book is fun, fact-filled read that explains how geography impacts on political divisions in the world. It is a surprisingly light read that will help students to hone their analytical skills while learning more about politics and history.

How the States Got Their Shapes by Mark Stein – Another combination of history and geography to hone analytical skills and map-reading skills. After reading about a few states, students should be able to look at maps and figure out some of the reasons why states are shaped the way they are. There are many esoteric facts that make this book interesting as well.

The American Presidents Series edited by Arthur M Schlesinger Jr – are compact biographies by various journalists or historians, and edited by Schlesinger, a famous historian. Many of these short biographies are the best books I have read about some of the presidents. Reading histories and biographies can build many analytical skills. Most of the books in this series are about a four-hour read.

Washington Square by Henry James – Students need to become more familiar with classics for the SAT exam, and reading this novel will help in that quest. Washington Square, published in 1881, tells the story of Catherine Sloper, a young woman who has inherited enough money from her mother’s estates to make her own decisions in life. But Catharine wants her father’s blessings to marry a young man of questionable character. Reading this relatively short classic is like reading 15 books because the arguments for and against Catharine’s choices change every few pages.

Sailing the Wine-Dark Sea: Why the Greeks Matter by Thomas Cahill – This non-fiction book does much more than show the importance of the Greeks.

It provides students with a framework for understanding the relevance of ancient Greek culture today. It also demonstrates how to develop a compelling argument for a thesis statement.

Next week: Books that will grab young readers’ attention and build analytical and comprehension skills for students ten to 14 years.