Most high school students know that it's coming every year, yet they drag their feet when they have to do it. Yup, I'm talking about summer reading assignments! Each summer before 7th to 12th grade, I had to read at least two books. Some years were lax with the requirements, while other years I had to read five books or write essays based on the books. I didn't always like the books that I was assigned to read, but here are the standout few that I wouldn't mind reading again.

(I also threw in a few that I have read for fun over the summer because why not?)

1. Paper Towns by John Green

I recently finished this book for the second time, and honestly, it's still just as good. It brings back the bittersweet memories of finishing senior year of high school and feeling scared yet optimistic about the future. Plus, two of the main characters are hardcore band kids and I am in full support of it.

2. Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them: the Original Screenplay by JK Rowling

This one I am actually in the middle of reading right now! The movie had me in awe; it was honestly so amazing. I can even picture the movie in my head as I am reading the book, and it is like I am in the theater all over again.

3. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child by JK Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany

I still remember staying up until midnight last year to pick up my copy of this book and then subsequently finishing the entire thing in only one day. It's a little different than the original Harry Potter books, but still equally captivating. TBH, it's basically the canon version of a Potterhead's fanfiction dream.

4. Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen

I attempted to read this book once in elementary school, but I was put off by the dual narration. I reread Flipped the summer before I started 7th grade, which also happened to be the same year that Flipped the Movie came out! This story is not the run of the mill "boy meets girl" romance, yet it is still as adorable as ever.

6. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of the classics. The symbolism in this one is pretty obvious, which for me is good when we had class discussions or had to do a quick-write in class. The Roaring '20s was a decade to remember, forever immortalized in this book (and the Leonardo DiCaprio version of the movie).

9. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This book is classic and iconic. When I read it, I was a little confused, to say the least (I don't quite remember the plot all that well). I am keeping this on the list because of its fame in the literary community and because you can read this book when it feels like 451 degrees Fahrenheit outside too.

10. Rocket Boys (or October Sky) by Homer Hickam Jr.

I got a preview of this story when I watched its based-off-a-true-story movie, October Sky, in my freshman biology class. This book was a suggested title on the summer reading list for my sophomore year. I obviously picked it because I was familiar with the story, but it was about SCIENCE! The author, Homer Hickam Jr. wrote this story of how he defied his town's status quo to ultimately become a NASA rocket engineer. It's an inspiring story for all young scientists out there, including myself.

11. Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

I read this book in preparation for the 2012 movie adaptation - I try to read the book before the movie comes out- but never bothered to use it for AP or SAT essays (shame on me). I loved this story because of its witty characters, honest friendships, and excellent storytelling. It's a great coming-of-age story because the main character is starting his freshman year of high school, and we are all able to relate to being new to a school and feeling alone and helpless too. Luckily, he finds his path and makes some great friends along the way.