Summer Learning
Reading & Math assignments for Summer 2018
Student Recommended Reading Lists 2018
- curated by SVDP student body -
Recommended Books from the Class of 2026
Baby Monkey Private Eye, by Brian Selznick and David Serlin. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Charley Samaras. Why you'll love it: It's about a baby monkey that solves clues. There are mysteries in the story. It is funny!
It's Duffy Time, by Audrey and Don Wood. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Sophia Morelli. Why you'll love it: Duffy the dog is so funny. He sleeps too much!
That Is NOT a Good Idea! By Mo Williams. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Maria Binstadt. Why you'll love it: It is a funny book about a sneaky fox.
Pig Wants a Peach, by Liza Charlesworth. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Nora Cassidy. Why you'll love it: The pig has to eat everything. He is funny!
My First Book of Superpowers, by DC Comics Genre: fiction. Recommended by Beckett Rahn. Why you'll love it: You will learn a lot about Super Heroes!
Too Many Carrots, by Katy Hudson. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Cole Snyder. Why you'll love it: I like the end of the story!
One, by Katherine Otoshi. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Teddy Jenks. Why you'll like this book: The characters are all colors. It is about being nice to one another.
I Really Like Slop, by Mo Williams. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Mac Moffitt. Why you'll like this book: Almost every page is funny!
Today I Will Fly! By Mo Williams. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Noelle Lundgren. Why you'll like this book: Piggy always tries to fly and it is really funny!
Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? by Dr. Seuss. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Molly Kern. Why you'll like this book: It asks you silly question you need to answer throughout the book.
The Circus Ship, by Chris Van Dusen. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Isabelle Eggert. Why you'll like this book: It doesn't just tell you stories. It makes you think because there are hidden pictures. The pictures are really detailed.
Goat Goes to Playgroup, by Julia Donaldson. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Clare Noonan. Why you'll like this book: Goat keeps knocking over people's stuff by accident because he is so clumsy!
Snowy Bear, by Tony Mitton. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Ashley Infante. Why you'll like this book: It is a nice story.The bear is so cute!
A Unicorn Named Sparkle, by Amy Young. Recommended by Hannah Hornik. Genre: fiction. Why you'll like this book: I like unicorns. The ending makes you feel good.
What Kind of Fairy Is Merry Berry? By Lindsay Renee. Genre: fiction Why you'll like story: It is about fairies. The pictures are very sparkly!
Scooby Doo Museum Madness, by Jesse Leon McCann. Genre: fiction. Why you'll like this book: Shaggy and Scooby are really funny and you have to try and solve the mystery. There are mummies in this story.
I'm a Frog! By Mo Williams. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Mateo Dunn. Why you'll like this book: Piggy is pretending to be a frog. It is funny!
Who Sank the Boat? By Pamela Allen. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Caylie Gonzalez. Why you'll like this book: There is a tiny mouse that sinks a big boat. It is funny!
Izzy the Ice-Cream Fairy, by Tim Bugbird. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Kathryn Gunning. Why you'll like this book: I like ice-cream and fairies!
Great Day for Up, by Dr. Seuss. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Charlotte Medalla. Why you'll like this book: Everyone wakes up in the story except one character. It is silly!
Dream Big Little Pig, by Kristi Yamaguchi. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Briley Miller. Why you'll like this book: The pig is a very good iceskater. At the end she has a really pretty dress.
Ivy and Bean, by Annie Barrows. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Grace Meyer. Why you'll like this book: Ivy is a witch and has magical potions. I also like the ending of the story.
Oh Cats! By Nola Buck. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Allie Piacente. Why you'll like this book: A girl wants cats that are not hers. I like cats!
Froodle, by Antoinette Portis. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Carson Shinn. Why you'll like this book: It is a really nice story about a bird. It is full of silly nonsense words!
Dog Man Unleashed, by Dav Pilkey. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Olivia Syme. Why you'll like this book: The characters are funny!
Stars and Galaxies, by James Buckley, Jr. Genre: non-fiction. Recommended Elliott Williams. Why you'll like this book: It tells you about the solar system. It helps me fall asleep.
Here Comes the Strikeout, by Leonard Kessler. Recommended by William Wraga. Why you'll like this book: I like baseball and this book is about baseball.
Recommended Books from the Class of 2025
Beautiful Oops! by Barney Saltzberg – Recommended by Georgia Straley
Georgia says, "I recommend this book because it reminds you that if you make mistakes it's okay."
Ron's Big Mission by Rose Blue and Corinne Nadine – Recommended by Brooke Gorman
Brooke says, "I recommend this book because it teaches kids to stand up for themselves."
My Wild Family by Laurent Moreau – Recommended by Dominic Carmignani
Dominic says, "I recommend this book because it teaches us that we are all different in a special way."
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn – Recommended by Grant Gazzano
Grant says, "I recommend this book because it is a good book because it teaches you not to be too worried."
Me and My Place in Space by Joan Sweeney and Mars: The Red Planet – Recommended by Victoria Truchan
Victoria says, "I recommend these books because they tell you about the solar system and the solar system makes you smarter. And if you are smarter you can go to Mars!"
Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport – Recommended by Bailey Scribner
Bailey says, "I recommend this book because it helps you remember what he (Martin Luther King, Jr.) did."
The Dot by Peter Reynolds – Recommended by Evelyn Mitchener
Evelyn says, "I recommend this book because it is funny and it teaches you that you can do anything if you set your mind to it.”
It's Okay to be Different by Todd Parr – Recommended by Jake Macauley
Jake says, "I recommend this book because it teaches you it is okay to be different. Everyone is different in their own way."
My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett – Recommended by Moira Kunz
Moira says, "I recommend this book because it tells you to help others."
Elmer and the Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett – Recommended by Shane
Boyd Shane says, "I recommend this book because it gets you curious and it is a good book!
A House is a House for Me by Mary Anne Hoberman – Recommended by Gianna Cardinale
Gianna says, "I recommend this book because it teaches you that you can always have a home to go to."
Miles is the Boss of his Body by Samantha Kurtzman-Counter – Recommended by Deceil Fournouzian
Deceil says, "I recommend this book because it teaches you to tell anyone how you want to be touched."
Sheila Rae the Brave by Kevin Henkes – Recommended by Jackson McArthur Jackson says, "I recommend this book because when you are scared it will help you be brave."
The Family Book by Todd Parr – Recommended by Michael Vieira-Ducey Michael says, "I recommend this book because it teaches you that family is special."
This Is How We Do It by Matt LaMothe – Recommended by Campbell Kaplan Campbell says, "I recommend this book because you can learn about other people and different languages."
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems – Recommended by Tyler Heaton
Tyler says, "I recommend this book because it is a funny book to enjoy!"
Where's Waldo Travel Collection – Recommended by Tyler Clauss
Tyler says, "I recommend this book because if you are a on a long car ride it is fun to look at."
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff – Recommended by Miles Canapary
Miles says, "I recommend this book because it can give you a good imagination."
Five Minute Bedtime Bible Stories – Recommended by Katherine Van
Katherine says, "I recommend this book because it teaches you about the story of God and it teaches you to be nice to God and other people. You will love it!"
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss – Recommended by Charli Krystofiak
Charli says, "I recommend this book because it reminds you to clean up!"
Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne – Recommended by Rocket Wetzel
Rocket says, "I recommend this book because it has really good pictures and illustrations."
I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis – Recommended by Matteo Avila
Matteo says, "I recommend this book because this book tells you about disasters. The kids are not real but the disasters are real."
Five Minute Marvel Stories – Recommended by Declan Rooney Declan says, "I recommend this book because they are fun and funny."
The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak – Recommended by Tory Howard
Tory says, “I recommend this book because it is funny and I read it a lot when I am in the mood for it. It does not have any pictures but it has funny words!”
Book Recommendations from Class of 2024
Geronimo Stilton and the Red Pizzas for a Blue Count, by Geronimo Stilton. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Samantha Gilbert. Why you'll love it: This book tells you to never give up. It is good because at midnight someone called him-he thought it was his cousin. They saw the location and wanted to help him because it sounded like there was danger. This book is a thrilling adventure!
The Boxcar Children: The Yellow House Mystery, by Gertrude Chandler Warner. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Bradley Kaiser. Why you'll love it: This book is mysterious! If you like mysteries, you will like this book. You will love Benny because he is the same age as you! The pictures are black and white, but the adventures are amazing!
The Puppy Place: Buddy, by Ellen Miles. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Violet Daters. Why you'll love it: You'll love this book because there is a cute little puppy named Buddy. In the book, Buddy gets sick, but you'll have to read more to find out what happens next!
The Haunted Clubhouse, by Caroline Leavitt. Genre: Fiction/Adventure. Recommended by Timmy Farrelly. Why you'll love it: This book is full of scary adventures. It is full of surprises. Once you read you are going to love it. I can't wait for you to meet Wish Bone the dog.
Captain Pug, by Laura James. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Luke Wraga. Why you'll love it: This book has a lot of action. It takes place in the ocean. There is a boat race and a seagull that is very mischievous. And the pug in this book is very cute!
Wolves, by Laura Marsh. Genre: Non-Fiction. Recommended by Chloe Schwing. Why you'll love it: You will love this book if you like wolves and dogs. It is also funny because it has little jokes inside. This book has some sad parts, but it gets happy. You will especially love all of the pictures, it is so cute that your head will explode!
Dog Man, by Dav Pilkey. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Scott McKinnon. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because it is hilarious!! It is so funny! Also, it's a comic book. There are three books in the series and this is the first one. I hope you like it!
Rainbow Magic Fairies, by Daisy Meadows. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Harper Valentine. Why you'll love it: You will love this book if you like fashion. It is very funny and filled with great pictures!
Rocks and Minerals, by Gail Tuchmar. Genre: Non-Fiction. Recommended by Olivia van de Braak. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because in second grade we have science lab. This book is about science. I know you will like the first page because it has a crystal cave!
Magic Treehouse: Blizzard of the Blue Moon, by Mary Pope Osborne. Recommended by Ava Lindner. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because it has unicorns. Also, because it has a spooky blizzard. This book takes place in New York and there is a castle in the story!
Chibi, by Barbara Brenner. Genre: Non-Fiction. Recommended by Charlie Syme. Why you'll love it: You will like this book because it is about caring. Also, it's based on a true story! This story has a lot of action. In the book Chibi survives a..... (you'll have to read to find out!).
The Beginners Bible, by Karyn Henley. Genre: Non-Fiction. Recommended by Stella Cowell. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because you can learn more about Jesus. Also, you can learn more about back then. It will teach you how to make good choices and learn more about God.
Pugs of the Frozen North, by Philip Reeve and Sara Mcintyre. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Sam Moore. Why you'll love it: This book is adventurous! If you like pugs, yetis, pirate ships and snow kings, you will love this book!
A New Pig in Town, by Coco La Rue. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Matheos Papazian. If your love funny pictures, this is the book for you. There is a page that shows a parrot and a pig playing chess! Read this book to find out what happens when a parrot drives a train.
Stick Dog Chases a Pizza, by Tom Watson. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Nicholas Lundgren. I recommend this book because it's funny. You will like this book because the characters are funny. Don't get confused! The cardboard circle is a pizza!
Skippyjon Jones: Snow What, by Judy Schachner. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Shalom Estifanos. Why you'll love it: Skippy is very funny and playful. This story has a lot of color and details. The book has a lot of action and is full of funny and interesting pictures!
Jessie: New Nanny, by Lexi Ryals. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Olivia Duarte. Why you'll love it: This book has a lot of dialogue and pictures. This book has a lot of adventure and unexpected plot twists.
Helen Keller: A Life of Adventure, by Heidi Schoof. Recommended by Temperly Taisch. Genre: Non-Fiction. Why you'll love it: This book is great for both girls and boys. It is very inspiring because it teaches you that everyone is the same no matter how different you are.
Geronimo Stilton: The Treasure of Easter Island, by Geronimo Stilton. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Tripp Larson. Why you'll love it: I recommend this book because it is about a treasure. The main character is Geronimo Stilton, he is also the author of the series.
A to Z Mysteries: The Empty Envelope, by Ron Ray. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Claire Julie Gunning. Why you'll love it: This book is full of action! You will love the mystery, it is so exciting to guess what will happen next!
Dark Shadows, by Doreen Crown. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Bronwyn Rahn. Why you'll love it: You might think Dark Shadows is a serious book, but it is not. It’s a story about four funny chicken with 75 cousins!
Ready Freddy and the Super-Secret Valentine, by Abby Klein. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Jack Pacula. Why you'll love it: This book is about holidays and has a lot of action. It teaches you to help others. Also, the characters are super funny. This book even make you a little hungry!
Ranger in Time: Long Road to Freedom, by Kate Messner. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Ella Kummer. Why you'll love it: This book is full of adventures. It is a story of a dog named Ranger who helps bring a family of slaves in the South to live a free life in the North.
Rats on the Roof and Other Stories, by James Marshall. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Stella Brilliant. Why you'll love it: This book is really funny and the characters are silly. Each character has its own personality. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat, I can’t wait for you to read this book!
Dog Diaries, by Kate Klimo. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Isabella Moore. Why you'll love it: You’ll love this book because it has a lot of action and great dialogue. You will like this book if you like George Washington and military stories.
Robotic T.Rex, by Paul Beck. Genre: Non-Fiction. Recommended by Jack Vieira-Ducey. Why you'll love it: This book is awesome! It tells you about a robot that was made to go on the moon and other planets, too! There are great pictures that show the robot, you’ll love it!
Puppy Place: Cody, by Ellen Miles. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Brianna May Hollub. Why you'll love it: This book is about an adorable dog named Cody! He is having some problems tugging on his leash, but his owners Lizzie and Charles find a brilliant solution! You’ll have the book to find out what happens!
Recommended Books from the Class of 2023
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Nicole Babitskaya. Why you'll love it: This book is fun to read. It is funny, and it shows friendship. It is a page turner you can't stop reading.
Blizzard of the Blue Moon, by Mary Pope Osborne. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Kason Kovic. Why you'll love it: It is a mystery, but it is not just a mystery, it's magical. It's about history in New York in 1938, as Jack and Annie rescue a magic unicorn.
Smile, by Raina Telgemeier. Genre: autobiographical graphic novel. Recommended by Gianna Samaras. Why you'll love it: It is about making friends and braces.
The Doldrums, by Nicholas Gannon. Genre: Adventure. Recommended by Harrison Van. Why you'll love it: It's about a boy who has an ordinary life, but his grandparents are explorers. He has never seen them. One day, bad news comes out, and he goes to help them. His ordinary life becomes extraordinary.
Phoebe and her Unicorn, by Dana Simpson. Genre: graphic novel. Recommended by Charlotte Williams. Why you'll love it: It's very funny. Also, it is not very dramatic.
President of the Whole Fifth Grade, by Sherri Winston. Genere: realistic fiction. Recommended by Chole Cotter. Why you'll love it: This book will inspire and encourage you that if you just believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything!
Maybe a Fox, by Kathi Appelt and Alison McGhee. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Grace Kleier. Why you'll love it: It. is just so emotional, and it is just such a great (and long) book. The relationship between the human and the fox is very good.
Then Again, Maybe I Won't, by Judy Blume. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Rowan Davin. Why you'll love it: This book tells you about growing up, how it's hard to move, and everything. It also tells you to treat others nicely and be kind.
Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Niklas Morelli. Why you'll love it: This book is one out of five books in the series of action, adventures, and Greek mythology. Percy Jackson will go through a series of adventures. Will he save the world?
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth, by Jeff Kinney. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Luke Porter. Why you'll love it: I would recommend this book because it is funny. And, it's good to read on planes!
Hilo, by Judd Winick. Genre: graphic novel. Recommended by Haden Dunn. Why you'll love it: It is cool and interesting. Readers will like it because some parts are funny. I love the book a lot. My friends love it a lot, so I think you will too.
The Princess in Black (Book One), by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Kate Embry. Why you'll love it: This story is about a typical, goody princess. Instead, the princess is a secret superhero. She has cool adventures, fighting monsters and still keeping her secret identity.
The Trials of Apollo, by Rick Riordan. Genre: myth/fiction/humor. Recommended by Sam Straley. Why you'll love it: This was an exciting, suspenseful, and humorous book of Greek gods and about a god named Apollo turned into a mortal human. He is conceited, but in a funny way. There was also a funny monster named Peaches. Two thumbs up!
Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Jason Dummel. Why you'll love it: It's a really good series with some funny moments. Their main goal is to fight the evil Voldermort.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The last Straw, by Jeff Kinney. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Sam Stewart. Why you'll love it: This book is very interesting, and the funny characters and the great plot, make you want to read it all day.
Bad Guys, by Aaron Blabey. Genre: humor. Recommended by Christian Dunn. Why you'll love it: It is super funny and it is good for readers in my grade. My friends all really love it.
Agent Amelia #1, by Michael Broad. Genre: mystery/fiction. Recommended by Stella Strain. Why you'll love it: It is a fun, fictional book to read. Amelia is a silly, secret detective.
Agent Amelia #2, by Michael Broad. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Peri Kloes. Why you'll love it: This book will keep you on the edge of your seat. You will not want the book to end!
Dear Mr. Henshaw, by Beverly Cleary. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Andrew McLaughlin. Why you'll love it: You get to experience Leigh Botts' adventures through his letters to Boyd Henshaw.
Night of the Twister, by Ivy Ruckman. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Lewis Fannon. Why you'll love it: It's mysterious and sad, but at the end, it's happy!
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, by J.K. Rowling. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by John Noonan. Why you'll love it: It is filled with witches, wizards, magic, fun, and risks that no one else would take. In this new world, Harry finds friends that will be together for life.
Captain, by Dav Pickley. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Eva Fuller. Why you'll love it: It is really funny. It is a chapter book. It has lots of action and description.
Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, by J.K. Rowling. Recommended by Jack Lundgren. Why you'll love it: It tells you who went to Hogwarts after Harry did. It tells you that Harry became a teacher.
The One and Only Ivan, by Katherine Applegate. Genre: ficiton. Recommended by Gianna Bankovitch. Why you'll love it: This is a story of friendship and kindness. It is about a gorilla who lives in a domain in a mall. I hope you enjoy it.
Recommended Books from the Class of 2022
The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Grace Kaplan. Why you'll love it: This book is full of kindness, fun, and exciting adventure. There are twists and turns that guarantee you'll love it!
Wonder, by RJ Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Grace Alonso. Why you'll love it: Throughout the story, one can read about true friendship and how to not judge a book by its cover. This moving novel will keep you turning the page until the end.
Kid Owner, by Tim Green. Genre: sports fiction. Recommended by Paul Carmignani. Why you'll love it: It is fun, interesting, and mysterious. I think this is a good book to read about a fun story.
Out of my Mind, by Sharon M. Draper. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Colby Heaton. Why you'll love it: This book will make you want to read every night, morning, and afternoon! Sometimes, you might find yourself on the floor.
No Talking, by Andrew Clements. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Layla Venchiarutti. Why you'll love it: It is about friendship and doing a competition. You get so into the book, you'll want to read it again when you finish the book.
Beyond the Kingdoms (The Land of Stories), by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Finn Kaplan. Why you'll love it: This book is full of suspense and leaves a cliffhanger after every chapter. The main characters meet friends, enemies, and relatives along the way.
Refugee, by Alan Gratz. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Sebi Huerta. Why you'll love it: This book is about escaping their country to live a new life where they will be free. All three kids in this book go on harrowing journeys and face unimaginable dangers. The kids in this book are separated by continents and decades. Shocking connections will tie their stories together in the end.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Lauren Alonso. Why you'll love it: It's about the journey through space and time to reunite a family. Through obstacles and challenges, the true power of love and believing in yourself, shine through to overcome darkness and evil.
I Survived 9/11, by Lauren Tarshis. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by TJ Hurley. Why you'll love it: It is cool when Lucas gets to play football again.
The Maze Runner, by James Dasher. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Fiona Kenny. Why you'll love it: This book is an outstanding book. Its adventures pull you into the book. When times get harder, they learn to trust each other. Come read this book!
Spy School, by Stuart Gibbs. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Jeremy Hornik. Why you'll love it: This book is full of mysteries because when you read it, you'll be excited to read the next chapter right away.
The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories), by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Claire Bessette. Why you'll love it: This book is full of fun adventures that you will never imagine. When you read this book, it will always keep you on the edge of your seat. It will teach you many lessons as you read along.
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Natalie Bessette. Why you'll love it: This book has many fun adventures for Edward Tulane. He gets to fall in love with new people in each chapter. Very happy ending!
The Meanest Doll in the World, by Ann M. Martin and Laura Godwin. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Bella Levantini. Why you'll love it: It is so creative, and I think you'll like it if you really like dolls.
Spy School, by Stuart Gibbs. Genre: mystery. Recommended by: Luca Avila. Why you'll love it: Because of all the twists, the outcome is always in doubt and exciting. Along with the mystery, Benjamin Ripley, learns how to be a spy.
Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy, by Tui T. Sutherland. Genre: fantasy/mystery. Recommended by Sean Kummer. Why you'll love it: This book is about a war that has lasted twenty years. While the five main characters are trying to stop the war, there is excitement all around. As they escape all the kingdoms, they face many challenges along the way. This is my favorite book.
The Wishing Spell (The Land of Stories), by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by: Bryce Pacula. Why you'll love it: Everything that happens ends up making sense at one point. It also connects real world life to a fantasy world.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'Engle. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by: Julia McKinnon. Why you'll love it: It is very mysterious. You won't be able to stop reading it.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by: Graydon Gambino. Why you'll love it: This book will suck you into what's happening. It is full of mystery and has unexpected surprises. It will keep you entertained for hours.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L' Engle. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Isabella Truchan. Why you'll love it: It puts you on the edge of your seat while you're reading nonstop and can't get enough of the book. It also has very descriptive writing, which allows you to picture exactly where and what is going on and how it looks. I assume you will totally love this book, just like I do.
The Witches, by Roald Dahl. Genre: fiction. Recommended by: Brennan Muscio. Why you'll love it: This book is full of stuff that will chill your bones. This book will also make you laugh your head off. I could be wrong, but you will LOVE this book!
The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Sophie Penwell. Why you'll love it: It's a great book to teach you about people's differences and how to find who you truly are. This book takes you off your seat while you find out about two girls who try to escape the high schools between good and evil.
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Carter Wraga. Why you'll love it: It's a great way to learn not to judge a book by its cover. Except with humans. It's a cheesy way to let out your tears and be kind to others.
Miracle at the Plate, by Matt Christopher. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Charlie Binstadt. Why you'll love it: It is about a boy who loves baseball and goes on vacation and watches his cousin play on a baseball team.
Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Chelsea Blair. Why you'll love it: It's filled with amazing characters and technology. Wade is in the OASIS trying to find Haidally's egg. This book is filled with action and fun.
The Mystery at Disney World, by Carole Marsh. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Daniella Carmignani. Why you'll love it: It's a fun mystery and a little scary. Every chapter ends in a cliffhanger!
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Gilli Stephens. Why you'll love it: It's like you're one of the characters in the story. This book is so real and fun, but it can also be a little bit sad. The author describes all the characters' emotions very well. At the beginning of each chapter it says a nice sentence that will make you feel really good. This book will make you want to keep on reading because it leaves off with a cliffhanger on some of the chapters.
Because of Mr. Terupt, by Rob Buyeu. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Sylas Taisch. Why you'll love it: This is a great book because it has lots of moments that get you thinking and lots of cliff hangers.
The Mysterious Benedict Society #1, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Donovan Shinn. Why you'll love it: It's exciting and all the kids are really smart. It shows friendship while determining who is bad and good.
The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: mystery/fiction. Recommended by McCann Stephanie O'Brien. Why you'll love it: It is a fun mystery book with lots of surprise. You learn something new with every chapter and you'll want to keep reading it every day.
The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Finley Farmer. Why you'll love it: This mystery story can get you hooked every day on it. With its intimidating cliffhangers, to its relieving, happy moments, you'll want to read this book right away.
The Lightning Thief, by Rick Riordan. Genre: fiction, adventure. Recommended by Charlotte Dickman. Why you'll love it: This book is full of magic and swords. This book teaches you about Greek mythology and has so much friendship.
Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Luke Van de Braak. Why you'll love it: It is filled with adventures that will keep you squirming for hours, not wanting to stop reading. It is about friendship and teamwork.
My Secret Guide to Paris, by Lisa Schroeder. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Emily Alvarez. Why you'll love it: It feels like you are in Paris when the character, Nora, visits seen different places. Once you read this book, you will ask your parents to go to Paris. Having been there, it feels like you're with Nora.
Pirate and the Princess, by Mio Chizuru. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Caty Kunz. Why you'll love it: It's about a pirate who saves children who are captured by other pirates. It's dramatic, thrilling, very adventurous, and super mysterious.
Recommended Books from the Class of 2021
Beholding Bee, by Kimberly Newton Fusco. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Caterina Ballerini. Why you'll love it: This book shows that people's true values are on their inside and not on their outsides. This also shows that true friendship and imagination can help you through any situation.
Indian in the Cupboard, by Lyne Ried Banks. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Alexander Hughes. Why you'll love it: There are adventures and thrills that have close calls. This book is appropriate for everyone and keeps you reading and reading because you can't expect what happens next, but you want to know what happens next. It is full of friendships and drama and a little pinch of mystery. I know many people, including me, who have loved it, and that's why I recommend it to you.
Book Scavenger, by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman. Genre: mystery/fiction. Recommended by Avery Robins. Why you'll love it: This mystery novel is set in San Francisco with two best friends whose interests overlap perfectly. They both love puzzles, books, and San Francisco. This is a book version of geocaching but filled with even more adventure!
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Danny Noonan. Why you'll love it: This book is about the teenaged boy, Eragon's, journey to kill the monsters that killed his uncle. He finds a dragon egg and raises it. After his uncle's death, he vows to kill those responsible, with his friend, Bram. By doing this, he unwillingly enters a bigger fight to overthrow the evil king, Galbaforit.
Finding Mighty, by Sheela Chari. Genre: mystery. Recommended by Zachary Aguilar. Why you'll love it: There are many turns and twists. You never see anything coming and you're always on the dge of your seat.
Land of Stories, by Chris Colfer. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Sierra Murphy. Why you'll love it: This book is a fantasy book full of exciting twists and tons of humor. The characters face a lot of adventures and obstacles when they fall into the book, The Land of Stories.
A Properly Unhaunted Place, by William Alexander. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Maggie Strain. Why you'll love it: It has mysteries, friendship, and craziness. People say the town of Ignot is haunted, but is it really?
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Joaquin Vasquez. Why you'll love it: This book takes turns you won't expect and you'll have to find all the fun characters. You will have a fun time reading this book and finding their relationships/friendships.
The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Emma Kiehn. Why you'll love it: It's a complex story for young readers. It is full of suspense and sadness, with a hint of happiness.
Prisoner B-3087, by Alan Gratz. Genre: biographical fiction. Recommended by Tyler Perun. Why you'll love it: This is a good book that you will be hooked on. Personally, this book amazes me how harsh the Nazis were. This book is a good reminder.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L'engle. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Beckett Shinn. Why you'll love it: With a plot set in the future, you never know what's going to happen.
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Jack Brilliant. Why you'll love it: This book teaches you how to be kind to others and it is what's on the inside that counts, not the outside. There is also a little humor and when you finish the book, you can see the movie.
Hero Resue Mission, by Jenifer Li Shotz. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Tyler Hurley. Why you'll love it: It's about a dog named Hero that helps Ben's dad and the cops find the prisoners who escaped jail. Also, it has some parts of Ben helping his baseball team win the finals.
The Mark of Athena, by Rick Riordan. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Finn Gilbert. Why you'll love it: It is about Percy Jackson (a Greek demigod) that has to save Greece, Rome, and the world from Gaes Giants.
Hatchet, by Gary Paulson. Genre: young adult fiction. Recommended by Connor Braham. Why you'll love it: This book is an eye-catching thriller that I recommend for 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders. Along with the excitement, Hatchet shows bravery, courage, and strength, necessary for surviving in the wild.
The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Laila Muller. Why you'll love it: This book is full of sadness and happiness which makes you cry at times. But, then it gets happy and you're fine. Along with all the emotion, it shows how it was during World War II, and it really gives you a perspective on friendship and bravery.
The One and Only Ivan, by K.A. Applegate. Genre: children's literature. Recommended by Brooke Latch. Why you'll love it: This book is so addictive with unexpected turns. It's breathtaking! Once it's in your hands, it feels like a magnet with dramatic twists to turn you into a page-turner.
The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Lilly Euster. Why you'll love it: This book is emotional and full of events, sad, and happy. It demonstrates love for one another through thick and thin. It is a book of courage and never giving up.
The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Genre: historical fiction. Recommended by Eloise Stone. Why you'll love it: This addictive, breathtaking, and sad World War II story will take you through the harsh and unbelievable events these characters experienced. Along the way, you get to know the protagonists, antagonists, and minor characters, like you know your best friends.
The One and Only Ivan, by Kathrine Applegate. Genre: children's literature. Recommended by Sofie Daters. Why you'll love it: This novel is an emotional roller coaster. It brings out happiness, sadness, anger, hope, and fear. This book teaches you to fight for what and who you love. This is about Ivan, the gorilla, and his friends and all the hardships they go through.
Wonder, by R.J. Palacio. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Phoebe Bridges. Why you'll love it: I love Wonder because you are constantly trying to read more. I was inspired by their friendship. It shows that it doesn't matter what's on the outside, but what's on the inside. The protagonist is Auggie who goes through so many challenges to get where he is.
Out of My Mind, by Sharon Draper. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Maddie Fong-Arsenault. Why you'll love it: Ever wonder what it's like to be paralyzed? Eleven-year-old Melody has cerebral palsy? She can't speak or do anything and each year, she's learning the alphabet. She gets her own "voice" which comes from a machine. What will her friends think of this?
Sammy Keys and the Hollywood Mummy, by Wendelin Van Draanen. Genre: mystery/fiction. Recommended by Victoria Babitskaya. Why you'll love it: Once you start reading this book, you won't stop until you finish reading it. It is about two girls, Sammy and Marissa, who decide to visit Sammy's mother in Hollywood, who is trying to become a movie star. When they find another actress dead in bed, the mysteries just start unraveling.
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, by J.K. Rowling. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Ashley Villing. Why you'll love it: When someone mysteriously puts Harry Potter's name into the Goblet of Fire to enter a life and death competition for fame and glory, Harry must complete the riddles and challenges that lie ahead. If you love an action story, you will love this novel.
Eragon, by Christopher Paolini. Genre: fantasy. Recommended by Margot Rodgers. Why you'll love it: This book is overflowing with twists and adventures that will immediately hook you like a fish and make you hunger for more of this delightful series, The Inheritance Cycle. This book clearly demonstrates how important friendship and devotion are to becoming a good companion.
Emily Windsnap #1, by Liz Kessler. Genre: fiction. Recommended by Caitlin Macauley. Why you'll love it: This book is enchanting and bizarre. It demonstrates that it is what is on the inside that counts and that true friends can help you get through the tough times in your life.
Recommended Books from the Class of 2020
The Selection, by Kiera Cass. Genre: Dystopian Fiction. Recommended by Sofia Andronaco. Why you’ll love it: This book will leave you on your toes and wanting more. If you like this book, I definitely recommend the rest of the series. Reading this book will not be a waste of time.
Chains, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Liliana Arguello. Why you’ll love it: This book is full of hardships and adventure, love and loss, and many other things. The female protagonist takes on a strong and powerful role.
A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Ava-Lucia Barbagelata. Why you’ll love it: I didn’t think that I would like a Sci-Fi book but I loved it and it’s part of a series.
Refugee, by Allan Gratz. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Sam Bessette. Why you’ll love it: I love this book because it is an occurrence of natural disasters through multiple stories.
Treasure Hunters, by James Patterson. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Bay Brandon. Why you’ll love it: You’ll love Treasure Hunters because when you read the book it is very descriptive which really helps to get a vivid image of what is happening. A challenge the protagonists goes through is trying to find their parents.
Orphan Train Girl, by Christina Barker Kline. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Arianna Candido. Why you’ll love it: Molly Ayer is an interesting character with many secrets that will leave you wanting more!
Percy Jackson & the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Brianna Carmignani. Why you’ll love it: Percy Jackson has so many things to accomplish and it is impossible to put down. It is about saving the world and meeting his dad, trying to stay in school, and trying to stay alive.
I Survived- Nature Attacks, by Lauren Tarshis. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Marco Esposto. Why you’ll love it: I loved this book because it is very action packed and mysterious.
Children of Eden, by Joey Graceffa. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Maggie Fannon. Why you’ll love it: I loved this because it had a lot of action and was something different than I usually ready. I really enjoyed this book.
The Maze Runner, by James Dashner. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Sebastian Gonzalez-Moore. Why you’ll love it: You will like this book if you like a lot of action. The Maze Runner has a lot of jumpy scenes. It is also a movie and another two books follow in the series.
Towers Falling, by Jewell Parker Rhades. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Sophia Hagan. Why you’ll love it: I loved it because it wasn’t completely made up. It is based on something that already happened.
The Thousandth Floor, by Katharine McGee. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by McCoy Heaton. Why you’ll love it: It’s about a girl who lives on the thousandth floor and is genetically designed to be perfect. I liked it because there is always a new problem that needs to be solved and it pulls you in at every page.
Prisoner, by Allan Gratz. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Travis Hurley. Why you’ll love it: I love this book because a boy named Yanek Gruener goes on a journey of a lifetime. This book teaches good life lessons and has a lot of action.
I Will Always Write Back, by Caitlin Alfifirenka, Martin Ganda, and Liz Welch. Genre: Nonfiction. Recommended by Deirdre Kenny. Why you’ll love it: It is full of excitement and truth. It is amazing to see how two people can change each other’s lives without even seeing each other.
The Trail, by Meika Hashimoto. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Aidan Klingelhoffer. Why you’ll love it: This book has a lot of amazing adventure. The protagonist, Toby, is trying to finish his bucket list by hiking the Appalachian Trail. Toby must survive through extreme dangers and hike on his own.
The Blackthorn Key, by Kevin Sands. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Anthony Kunz. Why you’ll love it: This is strictly a book for science and fantasy fans! Kevin Sands’ book is a very interesting book because it is one of the only fantasy books that doesn’t have an army vs. another army conflict. It is a realistic type of fantasy with alchemists, recipes, and potions.
The Name of this Book is Secret, by Pseudonymous Bosch. Genre: Mystery. Recommended by Hadley Leventini. Why you’ll love it: It’s about finding out about a mystery and having to keep it a secret to your family. The main character finds a mysterious box with a bunch of different fragments. What does it mean? What does it do?
Goodbye Stranger, by Rebecca Stead. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Ava MacNamara. Why you’ll love it: I love this book because it tells many different stories. There is a mystery chapter coming from a character’s point of view. This book will leave you wanting more.
Legend, by Marie Lu. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Joseph McLaughlin. Why you’ll love it: I loved this book because it was filled with action and romance. I also loved it because the book was a mix of realistic fiction and science fiction. If you liked this book you will like the rest of the series.
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Jonas Morelli. Why you’ll love it: I love this book because it is full of action and adventure. It also has lots of sudden plot twists that kept me reading. The book is super funny at parts that make me laugh. This book is really fun and full of action.
Nerve, by Jeanne Ryan. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Cece O’Brien. Why you’ll love it: Nerve is an adventurous book about a goody-two-shoes girl turning into a rebellious diva. She goes on a website called Nerve and completes dares that are dangerous and extremely embarrassing. During the process, she loses friends and gains enemies. This book is very intriguing and even scary at some points. It’s a hard book to put down.
Spy School, by Stuart Gibbs. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Graham O’Brien. Why you’ll love it: This book is about a boy who gets called to be a spy. I love this book because it is action packed and fun to read.
Al Capone Does My Shirts, by Gennifer Choldenko. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Spencer Phillips. Why you’ll love it: Many of the places in the book are near SVDP. I recommend reading the whole series because the other books are better and more emotional.
Scythe, by Neal Shusterman. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Cameron Schwing. Why you’ll love it: It’s the perfect reality. You can’t die unless you are killed by scythe.
The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Cyrus Skomra. Why you’ll love it: This story is about a kid named Jason who loses his memory. He has to save Hera, one of the gods, to restore his memory. This book not only teaches you about gods but it does it in a fun way.
The School for Good and Evil, by Soman Chainani. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Brynn Slattery. Why you’ll love it: The School for Good and Evil is about two girls who went to school for good and evil. Sophie (the beautiful blond who is obsessed with the color pink) went to the school for evil. Agatha (the greasy black-haired girl with pale skin) went to the school for good. You have to figure out why they’re there and learn about other characters you’ll fall in love with. This is a series of books that is still going on.
Walk Two Moons, by Sharon Creech. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Logan Stern. Why you’ll love it: You’ll love it because it has many unpredictable scenes that will leave you amazed. You get really attached to the story and most of the characters.
The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Talia Venchiarutti. Why you’ll love it: This book is full of adventure and great characters. There are many dangers that the characters must face like a dragon, giant spiders, goblins, trolls, and more. This book not only has action but also tells a great story about friendship.
Ruby Lee and Me, by Shannon Hitchcock. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Kit Vernon. Why you’ll love it: This book teaches you how to go through hard times and teaches you a lot about friendship and how to forgive.
The London Eye Mystery, by Siobhan Dowd. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Hansen Whipps. Why you’ll love it: It is a compelling mystery novel with great characters and an unpredictable ending.
The Mysterious Benedict Society, by Trenton Lee Stewart. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Quinn Whipps. Why you’ll love it: There is a cliffhanger at every chapter. Impossible to put down. It shows connection between family. Most importantly, it has really cool adventures.
The Selection, by Keira Cass. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Dylan Whisenant. Why you’ll love it: This is a thrilling novel about a futuristic dystopia. There are signs of war at every turn and romance as a distraction. It keeps people on their toes. America Maxon and Aspen are influential characters that will leave you wanting more. Luckily there are five books.
Book Recommendations from Class of 2019
1. My Story, by Elizabeth Smart and Chris Stewart. Genre: Nonfiction. Recommended by Rio Alvarez. Why you'll love it: This book is filled with an extreme variety of emotions. There were moments of nail biting suspense, and extreme happiness. The author does a wonderful job of putting you in Elizabeth’s shoes, and allows you to understand her situation very clearly. Elizabeth was taken from her bed at knifepoint by an evil man, Brian David Mitchell. The story takes you through her experience of kidnap and abuse and allows you to understand her struggles and triumphs.
2. Lord of the Flies, by William Golding. Genre: Psychological Fiction. Recommended by Dominic Bankovitch. Why you'll love it: This book is about a group of Catholic school boys who crash land on an island and how they try to figure out how to survive. A boy named Simon claims he saw a beast on the island. The kids become so scared that they decide to find the beast and kill it instead of logically facing their problem. It all goes downhill from there. I loved the book because it was very shocking, and it made me think about humans and how they react to problems. Every scene in the book was described with great detail and the characters were very well developed.
3. Reconstructing Amelia, by Kimberly McCreight. Genre: Mystery/Fiction. Recommended by Jocelyn Branham. Why you'll love it: This book is a chilling mystery about a girl named Amelia who supposedly commits suicide. After hearing the news, her mother sets off on a journey to uncover the true reason for Amelia’s death, and what she discovers will change her life forever. This is a suspenseful, yet heartwarming, story about the importance of family and being careful of the decisions you make.
4. Refugee, by Alan Gratz. Genre: Historical fiction. Recommended by Luke Bridges. Why you'll love it: This is a book about three different refugees who have to endure many hardships. The first protagonist is a boy named Josef, who is Jewish in the 1930’s and has to get away from the wrath of Hitler. The second protagonist is a girl named Isabel, who lives in Cuba in 1994 and has to flee because of Castro. The last protagonist in a boy named Mahmoud, who lives In Syria in 2015 and has to leave his homeland so get to safety. I like this book because it was a rollercoaster of emotions and really put me in the shoes of refugees.
5. Theodore Boone, by John Grisham. Genre: thriller, mystery. Recommended by Mark Carella. Why you'll love it: This book is about a 13-year-old Theodore Boone who lives in Strattenburg. While having to cope with the eighth-grade stress, he has to help his friends in court with his knowledge of the law, which he gained from his parents, who are lawyers. And when he’s already in enough trouble, he gets caught up in Strattenburg’s biggest murder mystery in its history.
6. Under Rose-Tainted Skies, by Louise Gornall. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Riley Dickman. Why you'll love it: This novel tells the story of Norah, who is battling agoraphobia, the fear of going outside, and OCD at age seventeen. Over the course of the novel, Norah is befriended by a neighbor named Luke, who, unlike others Norah has met, truly cares about Norah. This book is a realistic take on mental illness and shows the strength it takes to fight one such illness. I loved this book because it didn’t glamorize mental illnesses, but developed a great story focused on forgiving someone’s faults and loving them for who they are.
7. The Girl I Used to Be, by April Henry. Genre: Fiction/Mystery. Recommended by Jillian Dummel. Why you'll love it: This book is very interesting, and the main character has a very interesting backstory. We get to know the main character when she gets some very big news about her family. The author wrote a teenage girl’s mindset very well, and I love how she wrote this thrilling murder mystery.
8. Harry Potter, by J.K. Rowling. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Sumner Estes. Why you'll love it: I loved it because it had a great plot and setting. The author creates the image so that you picture it very clearly. The characters were very captivating. You will enjoy the adventure of Harry Potter.
9. A Series of Unfortunate Events, by Lemony Snicket. Genre: Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy. Recommended by Saifo Haddad. Why you'll love it: I love this book series because it’s creepy but it’s also kind of funny at times. This series teaches you to keep going even through tough times in your life because in every book the Baudelaire children get into a problem. This book is about three children who have just lost their parents in a fire, and the children do need to solve their problems by themselves.
10. The Shining, by Stephen King. Genre: Horror. Recommended by Colten Hitchcock. Why you'll love it: It has a very intricate storyline and a very unique writing style. This book is about a man named Jack Torrence, an ex-alcoholic; his wife Wendy Torrence; and his son Danny, a uniquely gifted five-year-old, living in the sinister Overlook Hotel as winter caretakers. During their stay, it becomes apparent that evil spirits are living in this historic hotel, all inhabiting places like the playground, the hedge animals, the ballroom, and the ominous room 217. As the spirits try to push the Torrence family off the cliff or sanity, the only one who can notice them is Danny, with his unique and terrifying ability called the Shining. This book does have a lot of profanity and an inappropriate scene, but overall, it is a good read.
11. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Lucas Kern. Why you'll love it: I loved this book because it’s very action packed. It is about a boy who goes into a VR world called the Oasis, to live in an alternate reality. He meets a ton of people and a very special girl, while trying to win three trillion dollars. He finds the first key, in which there are three, and he needs to get all of them to win. I enjoyed reading this because I am a hardcore gamer and really liked all the 80’s references. I would recommend it because if you like gaming, action, and a little cheesy love story, you are in for a good time.
12. The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. Genre: Non-fiction. Recommended by Ryan Kovic. Why you’ll love it: This is a book about the inspiring true story of a Washington rowing team’s quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. This story takes place during the Great Depression and shows the struggle the main character Joe Rantz has to go through to get enough money to get into college. If you like inspirational stories about real people and real events, then this is the book for you.
13. The Life of Pi, by Yan Martel. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Brigette Mahoney. Why you'll love it: This novel is extraordinary. Despite the simplicity of the plot, it portrays a deeper message than what it seems on the outside. Pi, along with a Royal Bengal Tiger, hyena, wounded zebra, and orangutan have just survived a catastrophe at sea but were one of few to survive. This novel opens your eyes and makes you feel empathy for a boy, Pi, that is just trying to stay positive in an ominous time.
14. A Long Way Gone, by Ishmael Beah. Genre: Autobiography. Recommended by Lucy Mahoney. Why you'll love it: This novel is about a thirteen-year-old boy who is forced to flee his home in Sierra Leone, Africa, after the rebels attack his village. He was recruited by the government army, and he witnessed horrid, terrible acts. This novel shows us his journey to recovery and healing. In this tragic but heartwarming book you will experience one person's journey of persistence and learning to trust in yourself again.
15. Everything, Everything, by Nicola Yoon. Genre: Romance and adventure. Recommended by Kate O'Flynn. Why you'll love it: This book is so exciting and adventurous, and I could never put the book down. It’s about a young girl who is allergic to pretty much everything and falls in love with a guy across the street. Will she ever get to meet him and step outside to see the magnificent world? This was one of my absolute favorite books, and I definitely recommend it!
16. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, by Ransom Riggs. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Callen Porter. Why you'll love it: This book is full of unusual things, which is why I loved it! There are children with random talents, including one who can create fire with her bare hands and a boy who’s invisible. You are on an adventure the whole time. I was never bored while reading this book. There are times where what you thought was going to happen, never did. It is an amazing book, and I recommend it.
17. Dear Martin, by Nic Stone. Genre: Young Adult Fiction. Recommended by Ryan Maddock. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because it really makes you open your eyes and realize all the things going on in the world. You will understand the struggle African Americans go through and how you can help the tragedy of racism and discrimination.
18. Every day, by David Levithan. Genre: fiction, adventure, romance. Recommended by Shalizeh Shamskhou. Why you'll love it: This book is about someone who wakes up in a different body every day. I would recommend it because it blends so many different genres, keeps you engaged, and shows you how to see things from different perspectives.
19. GreenGlass House, by Kate Milford. Genre: Mystery. Recommended by Jackson Stizza. Why you'll love it: The book has a very interesting cast of characters that are really fun to read about. The book’s setting is very mysterious and interesting because it focuses on one specific location. I also really enjoyed this book because throughout the story, you learn new things about the characters and new things about the house as you progress through the story.
20. The Art of Racing in the Rain, by Garth Stein. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Quincy Stone. Why you'll love it: This book is very special. It is told from a creative dog’s perspective, and that helps you to feel very immersed in the story. The old-souled dog tells basically about absurdities of human life. You could call this dog a philosopher with a human soul. Sadness but hope, hate but love, loyalty and family. You will fall in love with this unique book and cry, cries of joy for what comes and goes.
21. The War That Saved My Life, by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Katrina Strain. Why you'll love it: You can never put down this book and it is a mixture of sadness and hope. It is about a young girl named Ada with an abusive mother and a twisted foot. Ada’s brother Jamie is getting shipped away because a war is coming to London. Ada sneaks away with Jamie and gets stuck with a woman named Susan Smith, who is reluctant to have kids in her house. This book exemplifies great hardship, pain, and bravery, and I highly recommend it.
22. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Genre: realistic fiction. Recommended by Charley Taisch. Why you'll love it: This book is really inspiring and taught me to stand up for my rights and the rights of others. This book is about Melinda, who starts off her freshman year horribly after having something very traumatizing happen to her at an end-of-summer party and having to call the cops; she starts off the year with no friends. Melinda then tries to tell her ex-best friend about what happened, and when she doesn’t believe her, Melinda uncovers her power to speak.
23. Shatter Me, by Tahereh Mafi. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Anthony Tejada. Why you'll love it: I like this book because the protagonist Juliette is a kind, loving, and caring young girl living in a dystopian society. She has the gift of a lethal touch and is being forced to use it against her own will. She discovers the strength deep down to use her power for the greater good of the society.
24. The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Sophia Terebilo. Why you'll love it: What I love about The Hate U Give is that the novel is written from the perspective of a black sixteen-year-old girl named Starr. After witnessing Khalil (her best friend from grade school) being shot while unarmed by a white police officer, she reluctantly admits that she is the sole witness of the events. However, as time passes, she loses her reluctance and starts to participate in activism. This novel is the perfect combination of friendship, love, justice, race, and belonging. Although she is a fictional character, she inspires me, and everyone who reads the book, to speak up for what’s right.
25. What Light, by Jay Asher. Genre: Fiction. Recommend by Avery Tirva. Why you’ll love it: This book is about a girl named Sierra, whose family runs a Christmas tree farm in Oregon. Every year around Christmas time, she leaves her home in Oregon and all of her friends to go to their Christmas tree lot in California. This particular Christmas is different, however. Sierra meets a boy named Caleb who made a huge mistake years ago. Sierra can see beyond Caleb’s past and is determined to help him. I highly recommend this book because it is a very heartwarming story about love and forgiveness.
26. The Schwa was Here, by Neal Shusterman. Genre: Young Adult Fiction. Recommended by Aidan Walsh. Why you'll love it: Ansty the protagonist meets a boy he has never even seen in his life, who turns out to be in his class. They come to the conclusion that he is invisible/unnoticeable. They start doing experiments to see what and who he can pass by and not get caught, but can he make it through Crawleys without getting caught?
Book Recommendations from Class of 2018
1. The Reader, by Traci Chee. Genre: Fantasy Fiction and Adventure. Recommended by Claire Alonso. Why you'll love it: This book brings you into a new world filled with things we could never imagine and with the best characters. Each chapter has something exciting going on ranging from battles to magic. Another bonus is that it's also a series of three, and each book is as amazing as the last.
2. Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Genre: science fiction. Recommended by Devin Blair. Why you'll love it: This book is the holy grail for sci-fi nerds. It’s packed full of 80’s pop culture references and bright characters. You get to follow teenager Wade Watts as he navigates through virtual reality to find three keys and to win a contest to decide the fate of the world as he knows it. This adventure book is filled with twists and turns that make this book impossible to put down.
3. Driven from Within, by Michael Jordan. Genre: Biography. Recommended by Aaron Bolcerek. Why you'll love it: This book takes you through the thorough process of an elite athlete and what it takes to be successful in and out of sports. The book talks about Michael Jordan’s experience of creating his own brand as well as him playing in the NBA. Michael’s determination on and off the court are truly admirable, and it is worth reading about.
4. My Journey to Lhasa, by Alexandra David-Neel. Genre: Autobiography. Recommended by Fiona Brandon. Why you'll love it: This is an amazing tale of how one woman made her way into the forbidden city of Lhasa. This book follows Alexandra’s adventure through the Himalayas and into Lhasa. I recommend this book to all aspiring adventurers and those with a daring mind.
5. It Gets Worse, By Shane Dawson. Genre: Comedy. Recommend by Dresden Calabrese. Why you'll love it: This book discusses the young life of YouTube star, Shane Dawson. It's an autobiography and collection of essays. Shane discusses his issues with obesity, poverty, career struggles, and finding his sexuality. He sheds light on topics that aren't usually talked about in the classroom. When I read this book, I didn't feel like I was reading; instead, I felt like I was watching the story play out on my computer screen, which is how Shane Dawson intended it. If you love comedy, or watching Shane Dawson, I highly recommend this book!
6. Looking for Alaska, by John Green. Genre: Romance. Recommended by Mina Chandler. Why you'll love it: Throughout this novel you’ll learn about a teenage boy named Miles who falls in love with a young girl named Alaska Young. She’s mysterious, intelligent, daring, and beautiful. Miles first meets her when he moves to a boarding school. But will he ever gain the courage to tell Alaska he loves her? Read the book to find out. Reading this book will remind you to appreciate something while it still exists and to never take someone you love for granted.
7. An Abundance of Katherines, by John Green. Genre: Young Adult Fiction. Recommended by Fiona Deasy. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because you are able to realistically explore teens facing their anxieties and fears as they grow up. You will also be able to jump into the shoes of the main character, Colin, who goes through important relationships that impact his life. This book also taught me about individualism, and how being on your own in life is not always a bad thing. Overall, I would recommend this book to people who want to read about dreams for the future or being yourself.
8. Divergent, by Veronica Roth. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Makena Eugster. Why you'll love it: This book is in the perspective of a young girl, Beatrice. She is normal until she has to decide which faction to be in. Throughout this book, you will grow attached to the characters, and it will leave you wanting more. There are many unexpected twists and turns, along with a budding romance. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves adventure and page turners.
9. Looking for Alaska, by John Green. Genre: Young Adult Fiction. Recommended by Grace Fannon. Why you'll love it: In this book the characters are so fun, goofy, and very relatable. They go through a lot of struggles and fun adventures, which makes the book impossible to put down. The story is filled with almost every genre possible and if you love all kinds of books, this is a great book for you.
10. Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, by Becky Albertalli. Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Romance, LGBTQ+. Recommended by Lola Gambino. Why you'll love it: Simon is an ordinary teenage boy. But there is a secret that he has kept from the world: he’s gay. When he meets another gay person on his school’s website and they start emailing back and forth, he falls in love. But when another classmate reads his emails and decides to blackmail Simon, his life will change forever. This is a great book if you love action, drama, and romance. The story is filled with A LOT of drama. While reading the book I couldn’t put it down. I’ve read it five times already!
11. The Young Elites Series, by Marie Lu. Genre: Fantasy. Recommended by Colin Hagan. Why you'll love it: You’ll love this series because it explores the wonders of the imagination and makes you crave more. You’ll also love this book because it makes you want to become each character because of the connection you develop with each one throughout the storyline. This book explores the boundaries of fantasy while reflecting on people and their actions today.
12. If You Survive, by George Wilson. Genre: Nonfiction. Recommended by Boden Hammett. Why you'll love it: If You Survive is written in the first-person perspective of George Wilson. This book is about George Wilson’s crazy experiences of World War ll. He describes everything in great detail so that you can envision everything in your head as if you’re watching a movie. If you are fascinated by history and are interested in war, then this book is perfect for you.
13. Turtles All the Way Down, by John Green. Genre: Mystery. Recommended by Lucas Havlin. Why you'll love it: Turtles All the Way Down is about a girl named Aza with severe anxiety. She worries that she’ll die from a disease on a daily basis. The book follows Aza and her friend Daisy, who try to solve a mystery of Aza’s old friend’s missing father. This book is very well-written, but sometimes a little complicated. The intricacies of the metaphors John Green uses about anxiety blew my mind every time he whipped one out. If you are looking for a smart book that really makes you think, this book is perfect for you.
14. Everything, Everything, By Nicola Yoon. Genre: Romance and realistic fiction. Recommended by Fiorella Kennedy. Why you'll love it: If you want to learn a little about the disease SCID, and want a few twists of romance, this is the perfect book for you. Madeline Whittier, a girl with a disease, has lived with her mother and her nurse for 17 years with no exposure to the outside world. She sees white everything, from walls, to doors, to book cases. She has the same routine until a mysterious boy moves next door and she instantly falls in love. She is willing to do anything for him, but will these risks go too far? Read the book to find out!
15. More Than This, by Patrick Ness. Genre: Dystopian Fiction. Recommended by Dominic Kunz. Why you'll love it: The chapters are short but there are a lot of them. The chapters usually end in an open-ended manner so that you can really choose how it ends. The book is about a teenage boy who wakes up in his old house in England, and he is the only one in his town. He thinks that he is in hell and his memories are slowly returning to him, but he finds things throughout the way and makes many discoveries.
16. The Twilight Series, by Stephenie Meyer. Genre: fantasy fiction. Recommended by Christy Latch. Why you'll love it: This series always keeps you on your toes with twists and unexpected turns in a world where monsters, like vampires and werewolves, are real. As the characters tell the story, you will be on the edge of your seat in the midst of a battle vampire on vampire, or pondering deep thoughts that the main characters, Bella, Edward and Jacob, have. With all of the complicated bumps in the road, there is smooth sailing when everything is resolved, leaving the reader satisfied and content with this thrilling and amazing series.
17. My Story, by Elizabeth Smart. Genre: Nonfiction Biography. Recommended by Mimi Ludwig. Why you'll love it: You'll love this book because it goes through the struggles of Elizabeth Smart, who was kidnapped from her bed at night. This book is about the struggles she faced while being held captive for nine months. This book also talks about how Elizabeth stays true to her religion by not letting her capturers steal her hope.
18. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas, by John Boyne. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Ella MacNamara. Why you'll love it: You’ll love this book because it captures the harsh reality of World War II through the perspective of an eight-year-old boy named Bruno whose dad has just been promoted to Nazi commandant. Along the way, Bruno connects with a Jewish Boy named Shmuel who is in a concentration camp. Although the ending is tragic, it is still a fascinating Historical Fiction Book, and I highly recommend it.
19. The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak. Genre: Historical Fiction. Recommended by Harry Mahoney. Why you'll love it: This historical fiction novel captures a perspective of what it’s like being a young girl in Nazi Germany throughout WW2. What’s interesting about it is it is narrated by Death looking down upon all people’s lives. Throughout the book we learn what life was like in a war zone and how it affected what people did in their daily lives.
20. IT, by Stephen King. Genre: Horror/Fiction. Recommended by Nicholas Meilbeck. Why you'll love it: You will love this book because there are so many twists and turns that happen throughout the novel. As you read the novel, there will be clues that lead to the ending, and it’s so interesting trying to figure the clues out. All the main characters have very specific roles to make this book run perfectly. Stephen King’s typical mysteries and scary appearances happen throughout this novel.
21. The Nine Lives of Chloe King, by Liz Braswell. Genre: Fiction. Recommended by Milan Murphy. Why you'll love it: You’ll love this book because it follows the life of a not-so-normal teenager, who has special powers. She has fast reflexes, heightened night vision, claws, and most importantly, nine lives. She finds out that she is not alone and that a group not so fond of her species is after her. This book involves real-life examples that readers can connect with along with some fun and fictional events that make the book more interesting. I think you will enjoy this book and enjoy the adventure of Chloe King in a familiar place, San Francisco.
22. Speak, by Laurie Halse Anderson. Genre: Realistic Fiction. Recommended by Seamus Ryan. Why you'll love it: Speak is an amazing book that follows the teenage protagonist, Melinda, a sexual assault victim. Melinda must learn to balance the difficulties of high school along with depression and the other side effects of her rape. Speak might not be right for all readers because of the mature content that it deals with. If you think that you can handle it though, it is a great read. Melinda is so interesting, and she is relatable even if you are a male and not a victim of sexual assault— such as myself— her feelings and teenage experiences make it easy to connect with her.
23. The Alchemist, by Paulo Coelho. Genre: Fantasy/Adventure. Recommended by Veer Sahai. Why you'll love it: This story is about a shepherd named Santiago, who leaves his sheep and his former life behind to pursue a journey to the Egyptian Pyramids. He has been having a repeating prophetic dream that he will find treasure there. Throughout his journey he suffered through many hardships and gets set back by multiple years. During this setback he learns many valuable lessons.
24. Backlash, by Sarah Darer Littman. Genre: young-adult fiction. Recommended by Natalie San. Why you'll love it: Backlash is one of those books that will always keep you on your toes. The book is about cyber bullying and the effects of social media and how damaging it can be for young teens, such as self-harm and overdose. All the characters have such different personalities and mindsets, that you can really relate to them in a positive and negative way. This story can be quite harsh in some parts of the novel, but a really important and inspiring theme is shown throughout the story.
25. The Unwanteds series, by Lisa McMann. Genre: Fantasy, Fiction. Recommended by Jenna Serrano. Why you'll love it: The books take the reader through twin Alex Stowe’s life as an Unwanted after being separated from his Wanted brother Aaron. He meets friends along the way and experiences a new life in Artime filled with magic. Expect events beyond belief and unforgettable characters. With many twists and turns you’ll be on the edge of your seat and will easily find one of your favorite book series.
26. Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card. Genre: Science Fiction. Recommended by Clara Slacik. Why you'll love it: Ender’s Game is one of those rare books that keeps the reader engaged throughout the entire novel (yes, even the introduction). It gives every kind of reader a chance to open their imagination and dive into a mysterious future. The description of the story and its exciting characters has caused me to not only read the book voraciously but also create the unique story in my mind and stare as it flourishes.
27. Haroun and the Sea of Stories, by Salman Rushdie. Genre: Magical Realism. Recommended by Sydney Srivastava. Why you'll love it: This book was very enjoyable to read. As you get to know your characters, you also go on a roller coaster of magic. The main character is a young teen, and his need to help is family is easy to relate to. It shows the importance of telling stories and expressing creativity. Overall, you will get sucked into this book, and you will grow a new-found love of magic!
28. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. Genre: Young Adult Fiction. Recommended by Bailey Stern. Why you'll love it: This book is a great coming of age story about a boy named Charlie. As you read this book, you grow to love his friends and the people around him. His story is intriguing, and all the things that he has to face are very relatable. This story is a page turner for sure.
29. Hatchet, by Gary Paulsen. Genre: Survival/Adventure. Recommended by Cal Stewart. Why you'll love it: Hatchet is a captivating book about a 14-year-old boy who got in a plane crash and is now stranded in a forest, alone. You will never stop reading after one chapter because you will be craving to know what will happen. You may even learn something about survival in the wilderness. I recommend this book for people who enjoy breath-holding survival books.
30. The Throne of Glass, by Sarah J. Maas. Genre: Fantasy Fiction. Recommended by Victoria Wade. Why you'll love it: This book is like no other and is very creative. It pulls you into this fake reality that you’ll never want to leave. You’ll love the characters, and the plot will keep you on your toes. It tells the story of an assassin who goes through a competition made by the king, where she faces many challenges she has to overcome. (To learn about these challenges, read the book!)
31. The Boys in the Boat, by Daniel James Brown. Genre: Historical Non-Fiction. Recommended by Grace Walsh. Why you'll love it: This book tells the story of young men who overcome hardships through perseverance in order to reach the highest level of athletics. This book gives a human perspective to events including the Great Depression, Nazi Germany's reign, and World War II. I recommend this book for people who enjoy historical non-fiction books.
32. A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle. Genre:Fiction. Recommended by Kate Walsh. Why you'll love it: A Wrinkle in Time is a fiction book that is about a girl named Meg and her friends who travel (or should I say tesser:) through space and time to find her father. This book is written with such creativity and beautiful language that will transport you into the book. There are so many plot twists and adventures that it will be very hard to put the book down.
