FEATURED AUTHOR - After graduating from Duke University, Glen Dawson owned and operated a flexible packaging manufacturing plant for 23 years. Then, he sold the factory and went back to school to get his Master's degree in biostatistics from Boston University. When he moved to North Carolina, he opened an after-school learning academy for advanced math students in grades 2 through 12. After growing the academy from 30 to 430 students, he sold it to Art of Problem Solving. Since retiring from Art of Problem…
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First there is the L. M. Montgomery classic, Anne of Green Gables. Anne Shirley is such an uplifting and optimistic character that I can't help but smile when reading the story. The original book is the best, but the sequels are also very nice. I know that there have been tons of movies and television shows, but nothing captures the magical feel of the book in my opinion.
1. I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban by Malala Yousafzai and Christina Lamb. - I know it doesn't sound very uplifting due to the title, but this biography of a fifteen year old who was shot in the head is an awe-inspiring read. Malala has gone from a young girl from a remote valley in Pakistan to becoming the youngest ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and it is all thanks to her courage and inner-strength.
2. The Story of My Life by Helen Keller. - This book was published when Helen was just twenty two, but boy does it hit on right in the feels. Everyone knows who Helen Keller was, but this book highlights just remarkable her life was. She accomplished things that nobody ever expected possible from a deaf-blind person, such as earning a bachelor degree, and will forever be an inspiration.
3. The Pursuit of Happyness by Chris Gardner. - This book made me cry at times, but overall it is such an uplifting tale. It is about a man who finds himself homeless and with a toddler to care for. However, he is determined not to abandon his son like his own dad did to him and does everything in his power to look after his son and keep him safe as they cope with being homeless. The book was turned into a movie starring Will Smith, but nothing beats the book.
4. The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: - This is another tearjerker, but reading about Anne and how much she loved nature and life is so inspirational. It is also good for reminding yourself how much you have to be thankful for even when times are hard. Anne's intelligence really shines through in this book and it is tragic that her life was cut short.
-The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society: This book by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows is basically just a collection of letters and notes between the characters, but it is impossible not to get caught up in their lives. It is all about how reading can actually bring people together and get them through tough times. If you are a bookworm then it is impossible to not like this book.
- The Graveyard Book: This book by Neil Gaiman (yes the same one who wrote American Gods) isn't something that screams heartwarming when you see the cover, but trust me it is. It is also classified as a children's fantasy novel, but don't let that scare you off. I know that a story of an orphaned who is raised by ghosts sounds rather macarbe, but I would highly recommend it for something a little out of the ordinary.
- The Red Notebook by Antoine Laurain: Anything by Antoine Laurain always cheers me right up, but The Red Notebook in particular is great. The story is rather whimsical as it deals with a funny little bookseller who finds a woman's handbag just abandoned in the street. It piques his curiosity and he examines the inside only to find a red notebook filled with clues about the owner. What happens next is both sweet, funny and very heartwarming.
These are just some of my favorites.