Do you ever get the feeling that you should be doing 100 million other things than watching Netflix at night? You know, like studying for that exam you have, or working on the 10 assignments due on Monday, or even cleaning your room or working out. Instead, you lay there and watch Netflix for hours on repeat, then feel guilty the next day when you realize you did nothing productive at all the night before. Well, if you’re ready to part ways from the tv for a night, try reading a new book because you may be surprised at how entangled you’ll become with it. Plus, you may feel better about yourself for reading and working your brain rather than mindlessly watching Netflix shows; but don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of Netflix, probably too much of one, which is why I decided I should pick up a book instead.
1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
Narrated by Charlie, a freshman in high school who is described as a “wallflower” for focusing on what’s going on around him rather than living in the moment and living for himself. Charlie cares immensely for other people but lets life pass him by instead of going out and experiencing things, until his friends start push him to live more adventurously. Charlie has a dark past that he keeps secret from his whole family, and throughout the book, he writes letters to an anonymous person, who you will eventually learn more about, as well as why Charlie is the way he is. This book is overflowing with issues that plague young people: sex, alcohol, drugs, sexual assault and abuse, mental health, not fitting in, etc… Do yourself a favor and read this book, it’s worth it.
(Photo by Annie Spratt)
2. Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
This novel is also about a high school freshman, this time, narrated by a young girl named Melinda Sordino. From the very first day of school, Melinda gets bullied, harassed, and is gossiped about behind her back about an incident that had happened the previous summer where she called the police at a party. The story revolves around what happened to Melinda at that summer party, and the trauma that the incident caused Melinda is what resulted in her not speaking, hence the title “Speak.” Melinda is a passionate student in art class, and with the help of art, and her compassionate and inspiring teacher, she begins to open up about what happened to her. This is one of the most inspiring, eye-opening, and best coming-of-age novels I have ever read. The book has also been transformed into a movie with Kristen Stewart as the main character, so if you get a chance to read it, watch the movie afterwards too.
(Photo by Chuttersnap)
3. Looking for Alaska by John Green
This riveting, beautifully written and impactful story is about a teenage boy named Miles Halter who travels to a boarding school at Culver Creek in hopes of finding out the meaning behind what Francois Rabelais, a dying poet, called “The Great Perhaps.” His time away at boarding school introduces him to a variety of new experiences, one of those being a girl named Alaska Young, who Miles is inexplicably intrigued and captivated by. Alaska is a troubled, yet ingenious, fascinating, beautiful young girl, who impacts Miles’ life way more than anyone could have thought possible. Not only is this book exciting, thought-provoking, mysterious and hard to put down, it tells a great deal about life, and how just one person can impact someone else’s life in such an extravagant, unexpected way. This book was not only a New York Times Bestseller, but a winner of the Michael L. Printz Award, a USA Today Bestseller, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize Finalist, and featured in TIME Magazine’s 100 Best Young Adult Novels of All Time. This is worth the read, and you won’t be able to put it down because you become so intertwined and fascinated by the characters you feel like you personally know them.
(Photo by John Green)
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