While the world turns inside out, books act as either an escape from reality or a new insight into it. If you’re looking for titles to challenge your perspective, expand your knowledge, or a new daydreaming scenario, then these are for you. From action-packed stories to intellectually stimulating nonfiction, dive into the world of books with some of the following recommendations.
On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong
Ocean Vuong’s debut novel is written as a letter from a Vietnamese-American man, Little Dog, to his illiterate mother. The story explores identity, sexuality, racism, addiction, and complicated family dynamics. Vuong blends the past and the present, often switching between wartime Vietnam and early thousands Connecticut. Little Dog explains the struggle of immigrating to a new country and the bonds that are formed as a result. Vuong’s novel is one of the greatest debuts in recent years, and an incredible choice for literature lovers.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
This heartbreaking story of overcoming regret and discovering possibilities in even the darkest of times follows 35-year-old Nora Seed. Nora wants to escape the pain from her childhood and present-day life, so she decides to commit suicide. After her attempt, she finds herself lingering between life and death, in a midnight library. Her guide while in the library is her school librarian, Miss Elm, who brings her down aisles of books. Each book represents what Nora’s life could be if only she had made different decisions. The story helps both Nora and the reader understand that every life is imperfect, and rather than lingering on the what-ifs, everyone should live their life to the fullest. Haig blurs the line between fantasy and reality, teaching valuable lessons along the way.
Tuesday’s with Morrie by Mitch Albom
The 1997 memoir by Mitch Albom is about his final months with Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor, who is dying from ALS. Every Tuesday, Mitch visits Morrie in a “final class” at his professor’s West Newton home. Here, Morrie imparted to Mitch life lessons that are broken up into chapters: aging, greed, family, forgiveness, and many more. While the memoir was in part created to pay for Morrie’s medical bills, it quickly became the New York Times’ number one best seller and stayed on the list for four years. The chronicle of the last interactions between professor and student is a touching and authentic story of life and death.
Red Rising by Pierce Brown
Red Rising is the first book in Brown’s science fiction saga, which has been on the rise since its publication over a decade ago. It is set on a future Mars, and it follows Darrow as he infiltrates the elite Golds, the ruling class. Darrow’s goal was to overthrow the Golds so that the color-coded caste system was destroyed. Brown explores oppression, revolution, corruption, and the cost of someone’s freedom throughout the book. Golden Son and Morning Star follow respectively, continuing the story’s arc across the trilogy.
The mature fantasy is revered by all ages, including students at Hingham High School like Aria Giardino, who explained, “I love dystopian novels, so I really enjoyed the characterization and plot twist midway through the novel. I learned about social issues creatively and entertainingly, as well as what the future may hold.”
Atomic Habits by James Clear
James Clear’s self-help book, Atomic Habits, has most likely been on the bedside table of family and friends since its release in 2018. Clear’s writing provides a framework for building good habits and breaking bad ones through small changes. The practical guide uses the Four Laws of Behavior Change: make it obvious, attractive, easy, and satisfying. The inverse of these laws: make it invisible, unattractive, difficult, and unsatisfying. While some self-help books can be misleading, too broad, or unrealistic, Clear breaks it down into something actionable and pragmatic.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
The Goldfinch is a coming-of-age story that explores themes of grief and identity. Tartt’s award-winning novel centers on Theodore Decker, a victim of a terrorist attack at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. He decides to steal a famous painting known as “The Goldfinch,” as he grapples with his mother’s tragic death in the bombing. The painting becomes a symbol of his emotions as he navigates a world filled with love, loss, and uncertainty. Be prepared to empathize with the protagonist and feel his emotions as if they were your own in this profoundly moving piece of fiction. Whether or not you read it over multiple days or weeks, understand that Tartt’s novel is emotionally heavy, and it’s best to read when you have the capacity to read such a story.
The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
Most middle school or high school curricula include The Diary of a Young Girl, but few students appreciate the meaning of this autobiographical work. Anne Frank’s diary is one of the most thorough and well-documented pieces of firsthand accounts that the world has of the Holocaust. Anne’s writing turns the unfathomable events into a human story that the reader can empathize with. The book documents Anne Frank’s, a Jewish girl hiding in Amsterdam, thoughts and feelings during WWII. While the people in the story did not make it out from the war, Anne’s writing carries their voice on; to schools and homes, the lives of those in the “Secret Annex” are told every day.
HHS sophomore Amelia Byrne commented, “I read A Diary of a Young Girl in eighth grade and didn’t know much about the Holocaust at the time. It was really eye-opening to read a firsthand account, especially one from the perspective of a girl who was the same age as me.”
Reading is more important than ever, as it remains a foundational part of personal and professional lives. It can garner new relationships through group discussions and common interests, strengthen comprehension skills, and inform the readers about historical and current events. Although reading has countless pros, the country is falling to its lowest of reading levels in decades. So in future instances, rather than picking up a phone or remote, choose a book that you find interesting; there’s an option for everyone.
