Asbury Park Zest The Rainbow Issue Summer 2015 | Page 39

in her eventual healing destination of Hawaii, Coppola was spiritually informed that she would write this book. She began writing about her recovery process after the tragic death of her husband, but knew the focus would shift. Years later she would recover from a nearly deadly car crash. The former owner of the Garden State Center for Holistic Healthcare, a massage and bodywork school in Lakewood, which closed in the ‘90s, has been on a perpetual healing journey you’ll want to follow whether or not you’re interesting in bodywork. It’s the kind of book that takes you places you might never go otherwise. LOCAL LEGENDS Legendary Locals of Asbury Park by Tom Chesek If you’re hip on local history, this beach read is a must. Chesek, who has enjoyed a long and arduous writing career, says, “I'd characterize it more as excellent bathroom reading.” But no matter where you read it, you will find that Chesek, who has been the writer-in-residence at the historic Stephen Crane House in Asbury Park for the past four years, captures the rich history and magical essence of where the city meets the sea, and, Chesek writes, the “parade of personalities, from the visionaries who challenged nature to the true believers who sought, against tremendous odds, to make a yearround life in this city of summers.” YOUNG ADULT Tiger Eyes by Judy Blume Blume’s book published in 2014 is about a girl named Davey Wexler, whose father has been shot in an Atlantic City 7-11. Davey, who moves to New Mexico to recover near family members, is reminiscent of earlier characters faced with loneliness and something major to be sad about. It’s my 12-year-old daughter’s favorite book so far, the one I believe made her a reader for life. FOR CHILDREN The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister Not easily forgotten for its beautiful story as well as the equally brilliant illustrations, this is a book important for every child’s collection. The life lessons about acceptance, sharing and happiness are delivered with a spoonful of sugar. I happily read this book to my children when they were little until I was rainbow blind. FOR NEW READERS Anything by John Green Sparrow says, “Even though he is basically a young adult author, all of (Green’s) books are complex, imminently readable and contain many wonderful life lessons. All are page-turners and can keep the newest readers of any age excited about picking up a book.” MEMOIR Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson This National Book Award winner is the memoir of a young girl growing up in the south and New York during the ‘60s, says Sparrow, and “is written entirely in stunning verse.” Memoir is my absolutely favorite genre. Sparrow suggests it as the top choice for families to read together and discuss “how grit and resilience can pay off.” TRUE STORY The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot This 2010 biography is still on the Best Seller list. It reads like an exciting novel, according to Sparrow, “and tells the story of how the cells of a poor black woman, Henrietta Lacks, were harvested without her knowledge, bought and sold billions of times and have been continuously used for medical research, etc. And yet, her family is still poor and lacks medical insurance,” she says. “An amazing story!” 37