The Synergy Project Magazine - October 2020

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My Lady Jane by Cythia Hand is
set in the United Kingdom. This
book is a historical fantasy set in
an alternate history 14th century
London. It’s full of humor and witty
dialogue, with a fast-paced plot.
This is the perfect story for those
who enjoy learning about the past,
but with a little imagination thrown
in.
The Fountains of Silence by Ruta
Sepetys is set in mid-20th century
Madrid, Spain. It tells the story of
young people in Spain under the
dictatorship of Francisco Franco.
They see both the beauty and the
carefully hidden darkness to the
country, and must decide how to
navigate relationships and goals in
this tumultuous era. You’ll love this
story if you like history, romance,
and travel with a healthy seasoning
of adventure.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy is
set in Russia. Don’t pass this book
up just because it was on a school
reading list! Believe it or not, some
of the books assigned for English
class can be pretty interesting.
This book is full of memorable
characters that seem before their
time. It’s dramatic and lush, and
just as entertaining as it is thoughtprovoking.
If you like musicals such
as Les Miserables or The Phantom
of the Opera, just imagine a soaring
soundtrack as the setting, and
you’ll fall in love with this book.
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Inside Out and Back Again by
Thanha Lai is a novel-in-verse set in
Thailand. This book may be labeled
middle-grade, but it is so lyrical and
thought-provoking that adults will
enjoy it as well. The story of a Thai
girl fleeing her beloved country
due to war but finding hope as her
family preserves their culture will
stay with you long after you close
the covers.
Time and Tide: The Islands of Tuvalu
by Tony Wheeler is set in the tiny
country of Tuvalu. Tuvalu is less
than 10 square miles and hosts
only about 11,000 citizens. To
put that in perspective, the city of
Chicago hosts 2.7 million citizens.
This book is full of beautiful
pictures of a stunning environment
and unique culture that’s in danger
due to environment change. Read
this for a look into another world
that may be slowly slipping away.
The Whale Rider by Witi Ihimaera
is set in New Zealand. This story
is a look into an indigenous tribal
culture, the Maori of New Zealand.
Read this book and you’ll learn
about the Maori culture through
the eyes of a courageous young girl
who loves her people. The story will
almost remind you of Moana, but
with real legends and traditions as
the foundation.
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Aluta by Adwoa Badoe is the story
of a young woman’s fight for her
ideals in 1981 Ghana. The main
character, Charlotte, loves her
country and passionately heralds
the cause of the revolution. As
political unrest overtakes Ghana,
she must make difficult decisions
about her future. If you have ever
fought for a cause, you will find this
novel relatable.
The Queen of Katwe by Tim Crothers
tells the incredible story of how an
impoverished girl from Uganda falls
in love with the game of chess. You
may have seen the movie, but don’t
pass up the book! It shows both the
beauty of culture and community
and the oppression of poverty in
modern Uganda.
The Stowaway by Laurie Shapiro
is set in Antarctica. Just because
it’s not a country doesn’t mean
it’s off the list! Why wouldn’t you
want to read about a continent
with penguins? The continent of
Antarctica is a fascinating place for
so many reasons, which you can
learn more about in this nonfiction
book. In this true story, a young
man stows away on an expedition
to Antarctica and his ensuing
adventures and discoveries.
36 THE SYNERGY PROJECT MAGAZINE