A Look at Books #2

5. Wait Till Helen Comes, by Mary Downing Hahn

As you can probably tell from the cover, this book is a ghost story. However, it’s not just a ghoulish tale of graveyards and zombies. This book is chock-full of real, tangible characters whom you will immediately identify with. It’s told from the perspective of Molly, a twelve-year old girl struggling to come to terms with her mother's new husband and his unpleasant daughter, Heather. When Heather befriends a ghost named Helen, Molly becomes increasingly desperate as Helen’s true power is revealed. Although this is on a basic level a creepy horror story, it’s also a gripping tale of a girl learning to appreciate her sister and confront her fears.

4. The Martian, by Andy Weir

As soon as you read the title, you can tell that this is a science fiction book, and when looking at the cover, astronauts and interplanetary travel fills your imagination. The Martian is the riveting tale of Mark Watney, an astronaut abandoned on Mars and presumed dead with no way to contact Earth. He’s in a constant fight for survival, refusing to accept death in a dire situation. The author cleverly weaves together scientific detail, humor, and poignant emotion to create a story that will leave you on the edge of your seat.

3. And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie

Agatha Christie, one of the bestselling authors of all time, offers us what might very well be her darkest work in this book. It tells the story of ten strangers invited to a mysterious island who all have one thing in common - a shady past they would do anything to conceal. Once they reach the island, one more similarity draws them together - they are all trapped, and within a few days, they will all be killed. The book travels through the fateful events, dropping scant clues here and there that when threaded together just barely manage to lead you to the murderer.

Note: I recommend listening to the audio version read by Dan Stevens; it deletes the racist remarks present in the original book while leaving everything else the same.

2. Crispin: The Cross of Lead, by Avi

Crispin: The Cross of Lead is a thrilling medieval tale of a young peasant’s struggle for survival. The main character, known only as Asta’s son, is hunted ruthlessly by his town’s steward, John Aycliffe, who will not stop until he is dead. Asta’s son is forced to mature considerably in a short period of time and uncover truths about himself that may cost him his life.

1. I Am the Cheese, by Robert Cormier

Despite this book’s odd title, it will hook you from page one. The story follows a boy named Adam Farmer on two different journeys, neither of which is what they seem at first. Adam is on both a biking trip to find his father and a psychological journey to remember his tragic and dangerous past. This is a tense tale with an unbelievable plot twist at the end that will leave you at the very edge of your seat and hanging on to every word.