Almost everyone enjoyed reading as a child. Some of my favorite memories as a child include books, such as reading The Chronicles of Narnia and Goosebumps in elementary school. However, once I got to high school I had little time to continue pursuing my love of reading. Between more rigorous classes, sports, clubs and college applications I found myself reading less and less. Others find they lose their love for reading because of the sheer number of books assigned in school, which are commonly dull or unexciting.
I made this list of books across several genres so anyone can find a book that will interest them. Whether you are trying to get back into reading or you typically don’t enjoy reading at all, you are bound to fall in love with one of these stories.
Young Adult: Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson
Speak follows the life of Melinda as she enters her freshman year of high school. The summer before entering high school, she called the cops on a party she was at. Her friends abandoned her because of this but they don’t know why she called. This book is great because the reader not only becomes engrossed in the character development of Melinda, but the novel also deals with difficult topics such as depression and rape.
Memoir: Jesus Land by Julia Scheeres
I was initially drawn to this book from the title and cover. The cover depicts young Scheeres, blonde hair and blue-eyed, next to her adoptive brother from Africa, David. The two seem like an odd pair and they definitely were in the Midwest during the 1980s.
She details in the autobiography her life from childhood to adulthood. When living with two extremely religious parents, two adoptive black brothers and the racism and abuse surrounding her, it is safe to say her life is unique and engrossing. She and David are eventually sent off to a Christian boot camp where their lives become controlled by strict authority. (*Trigger Warning for abuse and sexual assault)
Mystery: If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio
The story opens with the protagonist, Oliver, being released from jail after serving ten years. He has never revealed the events that led to his imprisonment, but he is ready to do so now. Him, along with six other Shakespearean actors enrolled in a fine arts college are entering their senior year. One of the seven ends up dead one night at the academy. The students all struggle with their grief, guilt and secrets they hold. The reader is given clues as they read along until it is finally revealed how the classmate ended up dead.
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
This is one of my favorite series due to its captivating unique storyline and remarkable writing. This series follows Audrey Wadsworth, a true feminist for her time. She lives in 1800s England and despite the societal standards of the time she chooses to help her uncle in his forensics laboratory. When her work on several mysterious mangled corpses sparks her curiosity, she gets involved in the police investigation of serial killer Jack the Ripper.
Adult: Little Fries Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Bestselling author, Celeste Ng presents the ultimate small-town drama. The focus is on two families: the Richardson’s and the Warrens, which become irrevocably connected with one another in a way one wouldn’t suspect. Mrs. McCullough, who is a close friend of Mrs. Richardson, adopts a Chinese baby. The biological mother of that child is still in town and is fighting to get her daughter back. The town becomes divided on the question: who does the baby rightfully belong with? Well-off McCullough’s who legally adopted their baby or the biological mother who initially gave that child up? This book will also make you question yourself and your beliefs while entertaining you page after page. Little Fires Everywhere also won the 2017 Goodreads award for the best fiction novel. Furthermore, a television show adaptation starring Kerry Washington and Reese Witherspoon is in the works.
Graphic Novel: My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
You may have seen the indie movie trailer for the film My Friend Dahmer but the story was originally crafted into a graphic novel by a man who went to high school with the notorious serial killer. To those intimidated by larger books, I think this novel would be a perfect pick, as it is mainly composed of artwork. The reader is given the rare opportunity to see Jeffrey Dahmer in adolescence and discover how he evolved to become a killer.
Classic: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë
I am aware many people view classic novels as uninteresting. I usually find this to be the case as well. However, this novel is an exception. The reader follows the intense love between Catherine Earnshaw and Heathcliff. Heathcliff flees town as a result of him feeling his love for Catherine is one-sided. He returns years later as a completely changed man. Now he plans to take revenge on those who previously wronged him. The characters the reader is initially introduced to as children are now adults with children of their own. The violent and unsettling events of Heathcliff’s reign over his family makes the reader genuinely feel a spectrum of emotions, from anger to pity, towards all the characters.
Although you might be overwhelmed with classes right now, add these books to your reading list for Thanksgiving or winter break! For those who aren’t fans of reading, these novels may just spark some interest in you. As for the notorious bookworms, try these novels out and rekindle your love for reading (no pun intended).