Books

Book Review: College or Not?

The last first day of school. The last homecoming, the last Christmas program or sports event you’ll have to attend. The last spring break, the final prom, and the last day of school, they’ll all be bittersweet, but you’ll manage. As in these new books about college, you’ve got big decisions to make first.

Published

2 years ago

August 18, 2024

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Book Covers. Photo by Terri Schlichenmeyer.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

“Make College Your Superpower” by Anna Esaki-Smith, c.2024, Rowman & Littlefield, $30.00, 189 pages

“Rethinking College: A Guide to Thriving without a Degree” by Karin Klein, c.2024, Harper Horizon, $29.99, 256 pages

There are about to be a lot of lasts in your household in the coming months.

College or not? It’s a big question for every high school senior. And the answer is…

In her new book “Make College Your Superpower” (Rowman & Littlefield, $30.00), author Anna Esaki-Smith says, “It’s a great time to be a student” because, though life has been “weird” with the pandemic, shut-downs, and such, “technology has changed everything.”

Today’s students know a lot about technology, for one thing – possibly more than their professors do, giving students “an edge.” Facial recognition on a variety of campuses has recently shown more “happy” faces than ever before.

To be one of those satisfied students, she says, don’t go by magazine rankings. Learn the smart ways to apply to the right college for you. Play up what you do best, not what you love most. Take the quizzes and the workbook-like questionnaires in this book and know yourself. Be savvy about finances and the lack thereof.

And get out and meet people! That’s part of what college is for.

Then again, college is not for everyone.

In the new book “Rethinking College” by Karin Klein (Harper Horizon, $29.99), you’ll learn that despite what you’ve been told for most of your high school career, you can thrive and succeed without a four-year degree.

Volunteer work is a valid way to gain experience that could open doors in environmental groups, food pantries, and service groups that offer some paid positions within the organization. An apprenticeship may be a way to learn a trade through on-the-job instruction while also receiving a wage; an internship could accomplish the same. Exploring how one’s talents can be turned into a job is always possible, especially if what you love doing is in high demand. Or you could take your visionary skills and start your own business with surprisingly less money than you may have thought possible.

This is the kind of book you want to give the high schooler who’s not so-called college material, or who chafes against what college has to offer. It also opens a whole world of possibility for anyone who’s older, with high school long behind them.

If these books aren’t exactly what you or your high-school senior needs for the next few months and beyond, then ask your local librarian or bookseller for help. They’ll have books for you on surviving Freshman year, on knowing what to expect at college, on homesickness and missing your teenager, and on how to land a great apprenticeship, non-profit position, or how to start your own business. Your librarian or bookseller will have something for your Year of Lasts, and the first book you’ll want for success.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Posts by By Terri Schlichenmeyer

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Oakland Post: Week of February 11 = 17, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of – February 11 – 17, 2026

Published

4 days ago

February 16, 2026

Oakland Post

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Oakland Post

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Arts and Culture

Book Review: Books on Black History and Black Life for Kids

For the youngest reader, “As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons” by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Magination Press, $18.99) is a book for young Black boys and for their mothers. It’s a hope inside a prayer that the world treats a child gently, and it could make a great baby shower gift.

Published

1 week ago

February 10, 2026

Oakland Post

Photo of Black History Month book covers by Terri Schlichenmeyer.

By Terri Schlichenmeyer

Authors: Various, Copyright: c. 2025, 2026, Publishers: Various, SRPs: $17.99-$18.99, Page Counts: Various,

Everybody in your family has stories to share.

Your parents have told you some, no doubt. Your grandparents have offered a few, too, and aunties and uncles have spun some good tales. But there’s so much more to know, so grab one of these great books and learn about Black History and Black life.

For the youngest reader, “As You Are: A Hope for Black Sons” by Kimberly A. Gordon Biddle, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Magination Press, $18.99) is a book for young Black boys and for their mothers. It’s a hope inside a prayer that the world treats a child gently, and it could make a great baby shower gift.

If someone said you couldn’t do something that you were clearly able to do, would you fight to do it anyhow? In the new book, “Remember Her Name! Debbie Allen’s Rise to Fame” by Tami Charles, illustrated by Meredith Lucius (Charlesbridge, $17.99), a young girl in the Jim Crow South is told that she can’t dance because of the color of her skin.

She didn’t listen, though, and neither did her mother, who took her daughter to Mexico, where the girl soared! This is an inspiration for any 5-to-7-year-old; be sure to check out the back-of-the-book information, if you’re an adult fan.

Do you often hear your elders say things that sound like lessons? They might be, so “Where There is Love: A Story of African Proverbs” by Shauntay Grant, illustrated by Leticia Moreno (Penguin Workshop, $18.99) is a book you’ll like. It’s a quick-to-read collection of short proverbs that you can say every day. Kids ages 4-to-6 will easily remember what they find in this book; again, look in the back for more information.

Surely, you love your neighborhood, which is why the tale inside “Main Street: A Community Story about Redlining” by Britt Hawthorne and Tiffany Jewell, illustrated by David Wilkerson (Penguin Kokila, $18.99) is a book for you.

Olivia’s neighborhood is having a block party, but she’s sad when no one shows up. That’s when she learns that “the government” is discriminating against the people and businesses near where she lives. So, what can she and her neighbors do? The answer might inspire 6-to-8-year-old kids to stand up to wrongs they see, and to help make their neighborhoods stronger and safer.

And finally, if a kid wants a book, where can they go to find it? In “I’m So Happy You’re Here: A Celebration of Library Joy” by Mychal Threets, illustrated by Lorraine Nam (Random House, $18.99) is a good introduction to the best of what a library has to offer. The freedom to walk into a library and borrow a book is the theme here, as is the sheer happiness of being welcomed, no matter who you are. This is an easy book for kids as young as two and as old as five to enjoy.

On that note, if you want more, head to that library, or a nearby bookstore. They’ll be glad to see you. They’ve got stories to share.