Summer is here, and everyone is enjoying it to its fullest! But boredom can easily set in. To keep myself busy and occupied between summer activities and work, my favorite thing to do is read. It helps to keep the mind sharp and can help prepare you for the fall semester. Also, you can bring a book or an e-reader with you wherever you go. Whether you take a book with you to read while you tan on the beach or just want to read in bed before you go to sleep, reading is an awesome summer activity. Here are 11 books that I have personally read and recommend!
1. "Binge"- Tyler Oakley
"Binge" is the first book written by YouTube sensation, Tyler Oakley. "Binge" holds the same humor as any Tyler Oakley video but also presents some deep and personal stories. Oakley truly pulls the reader in and will make it nearly impossible to put the book down until it is finished. "Binge" is a great work of non-fiction.
2. "The Darkest Minds"- Alexandra Bracken
"The Darkest Minds " is the first book of the series of the same name. The book is about a plague that either causes children to develop psychic powers or kills them. The children who survive are taken away to work camps. The story follows a young girl, Ruby, as she hides the true nature of her powers and escapes. "The Darkest Minds" is a great fiction story that will pull you in and take you on an emotional ride. It contains action and romance as well as daring escapes that will immerse you into Ruby's world.
3. "Half-Blood"- Jennifer L. Armentrout
The first of the "Covenant" series, Half-Blood has everything you could as for in a book. Drama, action, a forbidden romance, and Greek gods! This series follows 17-year-old Alex who must train to become a sentinel, a demi-god knight, who hunts daimons, or become a forced slave. With danger and romance around every corner, Alex must grow up fast, or risk her life, and the lives of those she loves. This series is one of my favorites, with awesome action and heartbreak that will move you to tear, as well a political power play, it will intrigue you until the end!
4. "Matched"- Ally Condie
This book is great for fans of the "Divergent" trilogy! Cassia lives in a society that makes every decision for her, including who she will fall in love with. But when a "glitch" occurs during her matching ceremony, showing her to be matched with two boys, Cassia must make a choice for the first time in her life. So far I have only read the first book in this series, but I was easily sucked right into Cassia's world. "Matched" is an amazing romance filled with drama that will entertain any day.
5. "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers"- Mary Roach
"Stiff" is a research piece by May Roach which describes all of the different things that can occur to a body after death. Roach approaches a serious and somewhat depressing topic with a sense of humor. She mixes comedy with science and a few history lessons. This book is great for creating a discussion and really makes you think about what happens to the bodies that are donated to science and how they affect our world today. "Stiff" is surprisingly hard to put down and is a good read for fans of non-fiction!
6. "Just Listen"- Sarah Dessen
This book is all about growing up. Like any of Dessen's novels, "Just Listen" is full of drama and difficult to discuss topics such as eating disorders. This book really encompasses the difficulties of becoming an adult and learning to navigate the world. The novel focuses on Annabel, a model who grows apart from her best friend. At the same time, family drama becomes another issue in her life. Throughout the series, Annabel discovers her inability to tell the truth and realizes who much she has changed. This book is full of drama and a hint of romance. It's a deeply emotional story and is great for college readers!
7. "Gathering Blue"- Lois Lowry
This book is a companion piece to Lowry's other novel, "The Giver." It's about a brutish village with minimal technology. It follows Kira, an orphan with a disability who must repair a ceremonial robe. "Gathering Blue" is similar to Lowry's other works in that it is a well-written story that is easy to read. This book is great for a quick read.
8. "The Book Thief"- Markus Zusak
This book is the best fiction WWII book I have ever read. The story is told from the perspective of Death as he reminisces about the life of Liesel Meminger, an orphan whose adoptive family hides a young Jewish man in their basement. The story is deeply emotional and tells the everyday life of a child growing up during the Holocaust in an interesting and captivating way. The 2013 movie cannot capture Zusak's masterpiece well enough.
9. "The Outsiders"- S.E. Hinton
This is one of my all-time favorite books! It follows Ponyboy and his friends, the 'Greasers,' and their turf war with the rich kids in town, the 'Socs.' This story is a classic, along with the 1983 movie. It's a short read that will captivate you. Every time I read "The Outsiders," which I do yearly, it's like I'm reading it for the first time!
10. "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"- J.K. Rowling
Everyone and their mom has read this book and saw the movies when they were younger, but reading this series as an adult bring an entirely new perspective and meaning to the story. The series has some major adult themes, such as racism, classism, and the casualties of war which can only be truly appreciated as an adult. This childhood classic will draw you in all over again, and summer is the perfect time to revisit Hogwarts and Harry!
11. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower"- Stephen Chbosky
This is another one of my personal favorites. It's a short story, written in a unique format. "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" follows the story of Charlie, a boy who has to start high school after the death of his best friend. This story is highly emotional and focuses on the importance of friendship. This book has some of the best motivational quotes and will leave you feeling emotionally raw every time.
