Life of Pi 

By: Yann Martel

Martel, Y. (2001). Life of Pi: A novel. New York: Harcourt.

Life of Pi was written by Yann Martel who was born in Spain, however was raised in Costa Rica, France, Mexico, Alaska, and Canada. He currently resides in Saskatoon, Canada. 

Life of Pi has won the Man Booker Prize for fiction in 2002. 

The Boeke Prize, a South African Award, in 2003.

The Asian/Pacific American Award in 2004 for best literature. 

The story begins with Pi, an Indian boy, who describes his childhood, his father owning a zoo, and gives the audience insight into some of his beliefs. Then, we follow Pi and his family onto a japanese ship with his family and the zoo animals. But there is a storm and the ship wrecks, however, Pi survives  and builds himself a raft for him and their tiger named Richard Parker.  We follow Pi and Richard Parker's journey stranded at sea. 

This book has so much to offer students. I think it is a great book to show culture, as well as different beliefs and ideologies.  It is important to teach students about self discovery, maturing, and finding out what they value and believe.