As the holiday season approaches, literary-minded triplets from the International School of Kigali in Rwanda have curated a delightful list of winter reading. Even more wonderful? Each book they recommend is written by an author born in December, making this collection feel tailor-made for end-of-year reflection, celebration, and rest.
From a reimagined fairytale filled with hope and heart, to an enduring classic that shaped English literature, to a cozy fantasy romance crafted by a rising indie voice, these NEHS student-chosen reads offer something for every mood of the season. Whether you’re looking for enchantment, wit, or a gentle escape, these authors provide stories perfectly suited to holiday downtime, and a reminder of how books help us travel, dream, and connect, no matter where in the world we are.
Chelsey Noelle: Bringing Hope and Magic to and through Fairytales
Chelsey Noelle, born on December 25th, is a new author whose writing breathes fresh life into beloved fairytales. Living in the USA, by the Rocky Mountains, with her husband and five kids, she juggles her family life with her passion for writing creative heartwarming stories. Inspired by the indie author K. M. Shea, Noelle chooses to self-publish her books to maintain her creative freedom and publish on her own terms. Noelle balances her writing with a love of reading, nature, K-Dramas, and all sorts of bugs and animals. Her favorite types of books are fantasy romance.
My favorite book by Chelsey Noelle’s is A Golden Hope. It is a retelling of the well-known fairytale Rumpelstiltskin, in a light and humorous tone. I found the book extremely interesting and exciting. The plot was captivating and different from Rumpelstiltskin retellings I have previously read. The romance between the female protagonist, Feliz, and Rumpelstiltskin is very heartwarming and inspiring as they both learnt to bravely choose to do the right thing. I really enjoyed the way both characters realized their feelings for each other and how they both developed as characters. Furthermore, though this book isn’t as long as many of Noelle’s other books, it still managed to include a lot of emotion and detail in the story. I would recommend it.
Chelsey Noelle’s A Golden Hope is also part of the Hope Ever After series, which is a 20 book multi-author series. It was written to raise money for Operation Underground Railroad (OUR), an organization aimed at fighting against human trafficking and slavery. I truly admire this commitment, which makes me appreciate not just her books, but also Chelsey Noelle as a person. It shows me that not only can authors inspire people through their books, but that they can also use their writing to help make a tangible difference in the world by supporting important causes and raising awareness for critical issues that need action and support. Her work tells me and many others that they can make a difference simply by doing the things they love.
A Christmas birthday seems fitting for an author who offers readers the gift of hope and magic through her enchanting storytelling.
Anissa Ong is a 15-year-old junior currently attending the International School of Kigali, Rwanda. Born in Malaysia, she has lived in many countries such as Uganda, Timor Leste, and Denmark, and is now living with her mother and two sisters in Rwanda. Like her, they all enjoy reading, having started reading at an early age. Anissa has a deep passion for literature and has always loved to read as many books as she can. In addition to reading, she also enjoys music—she plays both the piano and the violin and enjoys singing. At school, her favorite subjects are Math and English. Anissa is a very creative person who also enjoys writing short stories and poems and looks forward to one day publishing those stories.
An Enduring Legacy: Jane Austen’s Influence on English Literature
Words have power: to teach, to persuade, to encourage people to hope, and to provide an escape for those who need it. Being a prolific and avid reader, I have read a variety of books by a variety of authors, and one author has stood out to me. Jane Austen’s books are widely known, and she is a universally beloved and famous writer. But what makes her books truly impactful? Why have they made such a lasting impact on English literature?
Jane Austen was born on December 16, 1775. She was the seventh child of a clergyman, and her mother was a member of the landed gentry. Her mother’s wit and cleverness inspired many of Jane Austen’s heroines, but her own wit and humor clearly shine through her works as well. Having had a formal education, Austen developed a love of reading, especially through unfettered access to her father’s extensive library. As her entire family was highly literate and creative, they delighted in games, acting, and writing. From here, Austen began nurturing her love for writing.
I believe one of the main reasons Austen’s works have continued to impact readers across multiple generations and across the globe is because she offers an entirely distinct perspective in her books to other authors of her time. Austen focuses more on the thoughts and characters of the heroines of her novels, describing their daily life. Rather than writing epic tales, Austen weaves realistic experiences into her books—and shows that heroes and heroines can come in different forms.
One of Jane Austen’s most popular novels is Pride and Prejudice. Having read the book, I learned a lot about the author’s writing style and fell in love with the witty heroine Elizabeth Bennet. Readers from across the world share this same experience. Austen crafts this novel from her own experience with nobility, and disregards social conventions. Instead of using love as the main plotline of her story, Austen uses it to critique society and to grow her characters. Through her novel, she builds her characters in such a way that they are relatable to readers—her characters learn from their mistakes, learn emotional communication, and their limitations make our own seem less debilitating.
Austen’s works have become an integral part of English literature, and it is easy to see why. Her works nourish our emotional intelligence; they give us a glimpse into the daily lives of heroes and heroines. We can see their struggles, share their joys, and sympathize with the characters.
Austen deserves her place among the English classics. I recommend her books to anyone who has been wondering about this highly acclaimed author. Her attention to the minute details of an ordinary person’s life enables readers to feel less alone as they realize that their struggles are reflected in Austen’s characters.
Alisha Ong is a 15-year-old junior at the International School of Kigali, Rwanda. She is an avid and prolific reader, reading over 300 books a year, who also enjoys playing the piano and authoring stories. Although not exactly an adventurer, she explores many new worlds through the books that she reads. She is very driven and invested in promoting literacy, always trying to get others to share her love of reading. Growing up on fairy tales, her mother instilled in her a love of reading that she has never grown out of. Consistently interested in learning new things, Alisha enjoys Mathematics, Chemistry, and English, and has also begun learning Braille. Creative writing is one of her favorite pastimes. She has authored several short stories, poems, and a novella—and is slowly working her way toward a full-length novel that she can hopefully one day publish.
A Dive Into the Life and Loves of an Indie Author: Gabrielle Landi
Gabrielle Landi, a 28-year-old author born on December 13, offers a fresh and enchanting voice within the genres of cozy romance and fairytale retellings. A new author, her work has captivated readers through warm, heartfelt storytelling and imaginative twists on timeless stories.
As a huge fan of fairytale retellings, I have read hundreds of books in this genre, and I can confidently say that Landi is one of the best. Her books tend to be more light-hearted and “fluffy,” a great escape from the problems of the real world and designed to lift your spirits. Her romance is beautiful, but not nauseatingly sweet, and includes lots of banter and romcom-worthy moments too.
Raised on a goat farm, Landi was inspired to write her first cozy fantasy novel, Once Upon An Apple: a retelling of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs where, rather than dwarfs, Snow White looked after seven adorable baby goats instead! This charming novel uniquely blends elements of the classic fairytale with life in a small town, creating an enchanting atmosphere. I immediately fell in love with the setting and the community of tight-knit villagers. I would highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy gentle fantasy stories with a touch of humor and character-driven plots.
Landi was first inspired to write by her competitive nature. Although she hated creative writing, a friend dared her to participate in Camp NaNo and, unable to turn down the challenge, she ended up writing over fifty thousand words! Motivated by her success, she decided to become a full-time author, publishing several romances and fairytale retellings. Landi is an indie author, preferring to self-publish to allow herself to do what she wants with her worlds and characters. Choosing self-publishing over traditional publishing also allows her to be more flexible with deadlines, considering she has a busy life taking care of three kids.
Indie authors bring a fresh diversity and originality to literature. However, despite their creative potential and the quality of their work, many indie authors remain unknown to the broader reading audience, due to the dominance of traditional publishing houses and the lack of extensive marketing support. Landi is a fitting example of the excellent quality and fresh style of indie authors. Promoting indie authors not only helps diversify literary culture but also encourages writers to take the chance of self-publishing or collaborating with smaller presses, which fosters creativity and literacy.
Amarris Ong is a 15-year-old junior in high school at the International School of Kigali, Rwanda. Born in Malaysia, Amarris developed strong English language skills from an early age, beginning to read at just two years old, thanks to her mother’s encouragement and passion for reading. Growing up in many different countries and going to international schools means that English is the only language that she speaks. By Grade 3, Amarris was confidently reading chapter books, a testament to her dedication and love of reading. Beyond reading and writing, Amarris has a keen interest in Mathematics and Music. Committed to promoting the value of reading and writing within her community, Amarris actively encourages others to embrace literacy. Amarris enjoys drafting short stories in her free time, working her way toward hopefully publishing her own full-length novel one day.
National English Honor Society
The National English Honor Society (NEHS), founded and sponsored by Sigma Tau Delta, is the only international organization exclusively for secondary students and faculty who, in the field of English, merit special note for past and current accomplishments. Individual secondary schools are invited to petition for a local chapter, through which individuals may be inducted into Society membership. Immediate benefits of affiliation include academic recognition, scholarship and award eligibility, and opportunities for networking with others who share enthusiasm for, and accomplishment in, the language arts.
America’s first honor society was founded in 1776, but high school students didn’t have access to such organizations for another 150 years. Since then, high school honor societies have been developed in leadership, drama, journalism, French, Spanish, mathematics, the sciences, and in various other fields, but not in English. In 2005, National English Honor Society launched and has been growing steadily since, becoming one of the largest academic societies for secondary schools.
As Joyce Carol Oates writes, “This is the time for which we have been waiting.” Or perhaps it was Shakespeare: “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer . . .” we celebrate English studies through NEHS.
National English Honor Society accepts submissions to our blog, NEHS Museletter, from all membership categories (students, Advisors, and alumni). If you are interested in submitting a blog, please read the Suggested Guidelines on our website. Email any questions and all submissions to: submit@nehsmuseletter.us.
