The Student News Site

By: Adella Hand

Summer is coming! People are going on vacation, to the beach, and partying. Others are at home relaxing, ready to binge TV, or sleep. However no matter what you’re doing this summer you have some time to fill. And what better way to do that than with books?

Reading can help improve your physical and mental health. As reported by Paul Wright, Nuvance Health Senior Vice President, “Escaping into the captivating world of books can help lower your heart rate and relax your muscles.” The entertainment that reading books provides also releases endorphins that help to manage pain, stress, and aid relaxation.

For teens and students reading over the summer can help prevent Summer Learning Loss. “Students who participated in the public library summer reading program scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those students who did not,” as noted in a 2010 study by Dominican University.

There are all of these benefits and yet still people don’t know where to start. Well, here are the top 5 choices from your fellow students and teachers.

The Summer I Turned Pretty-Goodreads Rating: 3.75 Stars

If you are looking for something summer themed, the book “The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han is perfect for you. It’s the first book in a trilogy that has a show with its third season coming out this summer. “The Summer I Turned Pretty” is a coming-of-age-story that follows the summer life of 16 year old Isabel (Belly) Conklin. It’s a romance so you can expect love triangles and lots of drama. I recommend this book because it fits the aesthetic of summer. It's super light and easy to read while still being engaging and hard to put down. If you find yourself liking this there are two others you could read to continue the story.

I’ll Be the One- Goodreads rating 4 Stars

Mila Linker, a junior at Washington, recommends the book “I’ll Be the One” written by Lyla Lee. The book follows the story of Skye, a plus-sized girl who dreams of becoming a KPOP idol. To achieve this dream she joins a competition reality TV show where she gets to show her talents to the world. Mila recommends this book because it shows what it is realistically like to deal with fatphobia. This book would appeal to you if you like KPOP, light romance, and are looking for something easy to read.

The Souls of Black Folk Graphic Adaptation- Goodreads Rating: 4.30 Stars

Ms. Lavin, a teacher at Washington, recommends a graphic novel adapted from WEB DuBois’s book “The Souls of Black Folk” into a graphic novel by Paul Peart. Ms. Lavin noted, “This is a beautiful graphic rendition of one of the most important Black writers and thinkers in American history.” This book dives into the different experiences and the challenges African Americans faced after being emancipated. “The concepts that he covers in this book are still highly relevant today, and give a fantastic context for the history of the Black community and how they have overcome struggles in this country.” added Ms. Lavin.

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind-Goodreads Rating: 4.34 Stars

Ms. David, another teacher at Washington, recommends “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind” by Yuval Noah Harari. This book dives into the history of humans from about 70,000 years ago. It uses the history of humans to better understand humans today. Ms. David recommends it because it tells the history without simply using scientific language which is typically boring and difficult to read. This book would be good for anyone who enjoys history or wants something slightly different than a normal history book.

Patron Saints of Nothing -Goodreads Rating: 4.22 Stars

If you’re looking for something more serious, Ms. Kerr, another teacher at Washington, recommends reading “Patron Saints of Nothing” by Randy Ribay. This book follows a Filipino-American high school senior named Jason Reguero who is about to go to college as he tries to find out the truth about his cousin’s murder. Ms. Kerr recommends the book because it talks about and critiques a dictatorship in the Philippines which she believes is very similar to what is currently taking place in our country.

You’d Be Home Now -Goodreads Rating: 4.14 Stars

Gen Martinez, a sophomore at Washington, recommended “You’d Be Home Now”. This book was written by Kathleen Glasgow. It dives into heavy topics such as addiction and mental health issues from the perspective of a 16-year-old, so if those topics are triggering for you proceed with caution. Gen added, “What I most liked about this book is how realistic and relatable the characters are.” 

Girl in Pieces -Goodreads Rating: 3.94 Stars

Gen recommends a second book that might pull on your heart strings. Gen recommended reading the novel “Girl in Pieces” also written by Kathleen Glasgow. It follows the story of a girl who has lost many people who were close to her. She struggles to deal with abandonment and ends up in a psychiatric hospital. “It kinda talks about the true reality of a patient and their journey.” noted Gen. 

Powerless- Goodreads Rating: 4.17 Stars

If you’re interested in something less realistic and more in the fantasy realm, the “Powerless” trilogy is an exciting option. This series is fairly new with the third installment, “Fearless” only having been released on April 8. The first book follows the story of Payden Gray, a girl without powers hiding in a world full of people with many magical powers. This story is full of adventure and many twists and turns. If you want something fun that keeps you on your toes and is hard to put down, you should give this trilogy a try.

Bone Crier’s Moon-Goodreads Rating: 3.64 Stars

Mila recommends a second book, “Bone Crier’s Moon” by Kathryn Purdie. The story follows Ailesse, the heir to a matriarchal magical family. As a rite of passage she must kill her soulmate who is currently seeking revenge against her family after his dad was killed by one of her family members. This book is good for anyone who likes stories with a dual POV, angsty romance, and the enemies to lovers trope. Mila recommends this book because it focuses on female empowerments, and has plot twists that make it an engaging read.