Summer Books

A Study in Drowning - Ava Reid 

Miserable architect, Effy Sayre, wants nothing more than to be an English major. When a challenge to fix the manor of her favorite deceased author comes along, she jumps to take it. Her favorite book, Angharad, tells the tale of the Faerie King, who haunts the main character. Though she has told no one - Effy has also come across the Faerie King, and he bit off the tip of her finger and promised to come back for her one day. When Effy arrives at the manor she meets the biggest cynic she has ever met and wonders: Will he be a rival? Or become a lover? Will they be able to uncover the secrets of the manor while hiding from the Faerie King?

The Outsiders - S. E. Hinton

(Warning: Very sad; violence)

A classic book often read in schools! It speaks of poverty versus wealth and the clash of two gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. The story is told through a Greaser’s perspective, who is a 14-year old named Ponyboy. When Ponyboy and his friend Johnny accidentally kill a Soc, the kids are forced to run away and hide. (Movie available)

The Graveyard Book - Neil Gaiman

Do you like Coraline? The Graveyard Book is written by the same author. When Jack the Ripper attacks a small house in a small town, he thinks he killed the whole family. Little does he know, the youngest son had escaped out the front door and crawled into a nearby graveyard. With no one but a graveyard full of ghosts to raise him, the child, named Nobody, is left to live a very hard life. But when Jack comes back to finish the job, will little Nobody be safe?

Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson

(Warning: Tragedy)

Another classic book written in 1977 is narrated by young farm boy, Jess Aarons. When a new girl moves in nearby, no one thinks much of it. However, they quickly realize that Leslie Burke is a very unusual girl. She never wears proper clothes, her hair is cut short, and she refuses to conform to the usual societal standards. Throughout the school year, Leslie and Jess become very close friends. In the woods near Leslie's house, the two children create a secret hideout that is a fantasy world that they name Terabithia. To get to Terabithia you must cross the “bridge,” an old tree that has fallen across the river. However, one day Leslie chooses to cross the bridge on her own and falls into the river, leaving poor Jess to cope on his own after her death.  (Movie available)

The List - Siobhan Vivian 

A coming of age book is perfect for kids in high school! Every year at Mount Washington High School, 8 girls, 2 from each grade level, are chosen and their names put on The List. One girl per grade is chosen as either the ugliest girl in school, or the prettiest girl. While the ugly girls have to deal with relentless bullying, the pretty girls have to learn how to deal with the newfound popularity they gain. However, this year the girls intend to break the cycle and stop whoever is sending these lists out. Will they find out who it is in time for homecoming?

Eragon - Christopher Paolini 

This book is excellent for all fantasy lovers! Eragon has been out hunting in the most dangerous part of the Spine Forest, looking for meat to feed his family in the winter, when out of nowhere a blinding blue flash sends him flying backwards. When looking to investigate, he finds a giant blue rock sitting in a small crater. Eragon brings the sparkling rock home with him in hopes of pawning it off to someone for money. After being unable to sell it, he brings it home. That night he hears cracking and rattling coming from the stone. The “stone” was actually a dragon egg! Only one dragon is known to be left, and it is controlled by the tyrant who rules over their kingdom. Eragon chooses to raise the dragon in the woods and chooses to name her Saphira. However, one day Saphira becomes agitated and drags Eragon away for the night. When they come back, Eragon finds his farm destroyed by two shadowy figures who found out he has the egg. Now Eragon and Saphira must flee before they are found. 

(This is a four-book series with a movie available)

Girl in pieces - Kathleen Glasgow

(Warning: extremely intense feelings, self-harm)

This book is one not recommended lightly. The book is for people who have evidently been through a lot, and it is meant to show those people that they are not alone in their struggle, and eventually it does get better. The book starts with young Charlie Davis being admitted to a mental hospital after being found during a suicide attempt. She is there for several months until finally being released into her mother's custody. Her mother, however, wants nothing to do with Charlie and sends her off on her own. Charlie winds up living in an old friend's apartment while learning to live properly. She starts working at a shop and eventually falls into a safe routine, until she becomes romantically involved with a coworker, Riley. And the cycle of abuse begins again. In the end, however, Charlie is left with a better life than the one she tried to take. 

(This series has three other branch-off books also relating to mental health)

I Fell in Love with Hope - Lancali

(Warning: May make you cry)

A beautiful story that takes place in a hospital. A group of 5 terminally ill teens all become extremely close friends, more like family than anyone else. One refuses to eat, another has only one lung, and one has a heart problem. In the end, only two of them beat their illnesses. The book reflects what it's like to love, grieve, and heal.