What is West Reading? January Edition

Coming back from winter break is always difficult. The drag of time until the next break feels never-ending and filled to the brim with assignments. Entering the second half of the year, the ghostly taunts of midterms, schedule changes, and finals slowly begin to get louder. If you’re like me and are looking for an escape from the stressors of school, here are some books you can easily get lost in.

Senior and Chief Editor of the Blue Devil Beat Gabby Pilat recommends Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven. Gabby describes Holding Up the Universe as a “quick read,” and having read the book myself, I’d have to agree. It’s a YA novel that deals with some tough topics such as bullying and depression. Gabby says if you’re looking for something that will get you back into reading or something you can easily read in one sitting, Holding Up the Universe is a great pick. It’s also a great pick for book projects in English class! Despite a few characters lacking some depth, a very interesting aspect of the book is the characterization. The representation of engaging and subversive perspectives like Jack, who deals with “face blindness,” is very compelling. If you’re looking for a simple, quick read that isn’t very heavy, you should definitely consider Holding Up the Universe. If you find yourself wanting more after reading it, Jennifer Niven also wrote the very popular All the Bright Places, which also has a movie adaptation.

Sophomore and member of the Kenmore West Theatre Program Andrew Digesare recommends If Only I Had Told Her by Laura Nowlin. If Only I Had Told Her is a romance novel that deals with much more. The topic of loss is woven into the story, told through the perspectives of the three main characters: Finny, Jack, and Autumn. The multiple perspectives throughout the story provide the reader with even more emotion and understanding of the story. Andrew describes the book as “extremely sad” and “heart-wrenching,” so bear that in mind before reading. If Only I Had Told Her deals with themes of love, grief, friendship, and healing. Andrew highly recommends the novel and says, “If you're in the mood to cry please read this novel.” If Only I Had Told Her is the sequel to If He Had Been With Me, a book that found high popularity on social media, specifically TikTok.

Lastly, sophomore and writer for the Blue Devil Beat Ahren PaVel recommends Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle. This novel is about a space mission that goes horribly wrong, which results in the discovery of a planet completely ruled by apes, where humans are their prey. Ahren read this book in preparation for the 2024 film, Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes, though now he says the numerous films tell a very different story than the book series, so consider both reading the books and watching the movies. Ahren says that his favorite aspect of the book was how the protagonist was written as“somebody just trying to get out.” This relatable perspective of someone navigating a dangerous new world provides the reader with an even more engaging read. As of 2024, there are 7 Planet of the Apes books and 10 films, so if you find yourself immersed in this world after reading the first book, there's much more to read and watch.