Introduction

This summer, you might find yourself sitting with your feet in the sand, laying by the pool or maybe just curled up in bed for days on end. Whatever your summer vacation plans might be, any of those spots might just be better with a book.

“You just lose track of time [when reading],” sophomore Emily Moore said. “It’s a good way to just relax.”

For the book lovers who plan on spending their vacation exploring new books, here are 10 recommendations from avid readers.

“Anatomy: A Love Story” by Dana Schwartz (romance, historical fiction)

“Anatomy: A Love Story” takes place in 19th century Edinburgh, Scotland and follows a young woman named Hazel as she tries to defy all odds and become a surgeon instead of settling down. When society tells her that she should give up, she meets a grave digger named Jack Kerr and together they discover a conspiracy that lies deeper than anyone can guess.

“The best part about the book is seeing the relationship between Jack Kerr [and Hazel],” sophomore Lucy Garbelman said. “You see their collaboration form into this partnership and this very subtle yet sweet romance between them.”

“Anatomy: A Love Story” combines gothic historical fiction and romance. Though the setting incorporates supernatural elements and historical details are occasionally bent to enhance the plot, the medical aspects and history of the doctors at the time were based on real events.

“The Light Pirate” by Lily Brooks-Dalton (post-apocalyptic fiction, speculative fiction)

“The Light Pirate” is about Wanda, a girl born during a disastrous Florida hurricane. The readers follow her from birth to adulthood, experiencing the truth of humanity and climate change.

Mixing genres of speculative and post-apocalyptic fiction, the author focuses on the hope that can be found in a crumpling world, even when everything seems disastrous. Instead of the typical “everything is ending” theme of post-apocalyptic novels, the book shows how the Earth can continue to evolve.

“It was a very suspenseful book,” Moore said. “You didn’t know what was going on [until] the end when it all came together. It made me want to keep reading.”

This book takes a look at a future where environmental concerns like global warming have dramatically changed life in the state. Whether it is to scare people away from harming nature or to make them more aware, “The Light Pirate” is generally recommended for readers 18+.

“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore (fantasy, mystery)

A mystery novel published in 2024, “The God of the Woods” is set in 1975 when a girl goes missing in a similar manner to her brother’s unsolved disappearance from just a few years back. When a state investigator takes control of the case, secrets are unveiled that reveal a deep conspiracy surrounding the girl’s family.

“The scenery and the description of how each different place was set up was really intricate and amazing,” Garbleman said. “I would recommend this to other people if they’re into mystery and want to solve the crime while the book is also trying to solve it. [Great] for mystery lovers.”

The author, Liz Moore is known for her character-driven and plot-heavy novels. Her most popular book, “Long Bright River” (2020), got famous when it became Barack Obama’s favorite book of 2020.

“Mickey7” by Edward Ashton (sci-fi)

“Mickey7” is a futuristic sci-fi novel that explores themes of identity, free-will and mortality. In Ashton’s universe, humans are spread across the galaxy in hopes of finding new planets to live on. The book is told through the perspective of a clone named Mickey Barnes who is considered “expendable” and used for suicidal missions only to be cloned again to do the same thing.

“[You] learn to not always listen to the opinions of others, ” freshman River Park said. “The book taught me to not take what everyone has to say at face value all the time.”

The book is the first in a duology. The next one, “Antimatter Blues,” continues to highlight themes of survival and the true aspect of humanity.

“Mickey7” was eventually turned into the blockbuster movie, “Mickey 17” , where the plot and tone were altered significantly to add more action and chaos.

“Dungeon Crawler Carl” by Matt Dinniman (action/adventure)

The book follows Carl as he is forced to hide in the World Dungeon after aliens destroy all other human-made structures. Little does he know that the dungeon is an 18-floor televised video game-esque game show created by the aliens themselves.

“It’s really funny,” sophomore John Watson said. “It’s light hearted. Before reading it, I read a lot of books that were very dense. … ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl,’ you can read 150 pages in a night.”

“Dungeon Crawler Carl” is for readers who enjoy the adventure of video games and fast paced action novels. The book attempts to emulate unique character and world-building, similar to a video game simulation.

“The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System” by Mo Xiang Tong Xiu (fantasy, comedy)

Considered a web novel, “The Scum Villain’s Self-Saving System” was originally published in Chinese then translated into English in 2021. It follows Shen Yuan, a teenage boy who gets transported into a novel he read. Since he knew that the character he has become will suffer a tragic ending, he attempts to change the plot by attempting to befriend the protagonist of the actual novel.

The book is complimented for its teenage comedy and fast-paced plot. Additionally, the wording of the dialogues are witty, yet sometimes darker than the typical rom-com. This attracts many readers who enjoy a little more thickness in the plot.

“I would recommend this book to people who need comfort,” senior Darby Floyd said. “[It] gave me a lot of comfort in a hard time in my life. It helps me remember ‘hey, it’s okay to struggle.’”

“My Best Friend’s Exorcism” by Grady Hendrix (horror, comedy, coming-of-age)

The novel takes place in the 1980s, the era known for carefree and independent teen years. When Gretchen spends a night in the woods and comes back a completely different person, her best friend, Abby, starts to realize that she was possessed.

“The book [can help] help kids with self-confidence and making new friends,” Floyd said. “There’s a lot of bullying in the book, and it can help with overcoming that.”

“My Best Friend’s Exorcism” explores the trials of true friendship and struggles of teenage believability. Though published in 2016, it features numerous callbacks to the eighties, with several references in chapter titles and conversations between characters.

The author, Grady Hendrix, is a New York Times Best Selling Author, known for his horror novels. Many of his books call back to the 70s and 80s, exploring nostalgia and comparing generations.

“Educated” by Tara Westover (memoir)

“Educated” is a memoir about the author who grew up with parents who did not trust the government. This meant no doctors, no birth certificates and no school. It explores her struggle as she went from completely uneducated to getting a PhD from Cambridge University.

The novel dives deep into the themes of complete isolation and family conflicts. “Educated” became a popular book for those seeking inspiration to establish one’s identity and not be influenced by an over-bearing family.

“It’s truly inspiring,” freshman Stella Jiang said. “In our life, especially for high schoolers, we have some stress about our [studies].,It [shows that] whatever stress comes from [school], we will overcome it.”

“Educated” is recommended for readers who are 16+, as it deals with themes of abuse and the traumatic events that happened between the author and her siblings, sometimes described in great detail. Overall, the book focuses on inspiring future generations to stand above what is expected of them and to hopefully establish a better world for the future.

“Polybius” by Collin Armstrong (horror, sci-fi)

Set up in the 1980s, a new game appears in the local arcade and starts causing players to act violently in real life. When suspicions start to arise, protagonist Andi and her best friend, Ro, try to figure out what is causing so many teens to act so differently.

“I usually don’t like horror [books], but I did like this one,” freshman Meadow Park said. “The character interactions seem realistic and they make me actually care about the characters, even the ones that weren’t like completely good people.”

“Polybius” is a novel suitable for students who enjoy the show, “Stranger Things”, or any Steven King novel. The book follows a similar pattern of King’s work–takes place in a small town, uses slow-burn suspense, and includes dark coming-of-age themes.

“Caraval” by Stephanie Garber (fantasy)

“Caraval” follows Scarlett and her younger sister, Tella, who desperately want to attend the event, Caraval, a week-long enchanted scavenger hunt. Having lived their lives isolated with their oppressive father, they are eager to attend when they receive the invitations. However, just as they get there, Tella is kidnapped and Scarlett goes on the hunt to find her.

The book is targeted towards teens and adult readers, as it includes many coming of age themes. It has some teenage romance that is sprinkled in along with fantasy and supernatural elements. Overall, the atmosphere is luscious and whimsical.

“The best part about [it] was honestly the plot twists,” junior Chelsea Townsend said. “I feel like there was a plot twist every other chapter.It [really] brought me into the book, and I couldn’t put it down.”