Miles “Pudge” Halter is only after one thing: The Great Perhaps. Alaska is also after one thing: How do you get out of the labyrinth? The two cross paths at Culver Creek prep, a private boarding school in the south. As they get to know each other, Pudge forms a crush on Alaska. Amid a prank war and keeping his grades up, Pudge must learn how to also navigate his new love life. Will Pudge find The Great Perhaps? Will Alaska find her way out of the labyrinth? Read to find out!
Written in concise but powerful verse, Starfish by Lisa Fipps delivers an important message to people of all ages about body image and self worth. The story follows Ellie’s journey to self confidence and growing up in the wake of her childhood best friend moving away. She deals with her weight in a family that is less than supportive of her, and that doesn’t discourage her from being herself.
Daisy Jones grew up on the club scene on Sunset Strip. Across the country, The Dunne Brothers band plays school dances and weddings, trying to punch their ticket to Hollywood. When famous producer Teddy Price has them collaborate on an album, they become the most famous band in the world: Daisy Jones and The Six.
Evelyn Hugo was born beautiful. The most beautiful girl anyone had ever seen. Her beauty is what brought her fame, but unfortunately not live, as her life is often overshadowed by her seven husbands. This book details the fictional movie star’s seven husbands, the lessons they taught her, and the secrets they kept.
Saint Anything is a fiction novel by Sarah Dessen. Sydney has always lived in the shadow of her brother Peyton. When Peyton is in trouble, Sydney can finally break out of his shadow. She finds people who truly see her and help her become her true self. Sydney breaks through the mold she has been in her whole life and figures out what she truly wants.
Holes by Louis Sachar is an incredible novel about fate, where Stanley Yelnats is incarcerated for stealing sneakers at Camp Green Lake, a deserted desert of a camp, where Stanley is warped into a mystery 200 years into the making. In a story where there are no coincidences, Stanley must reckon with his family’s “curse”. A magical and enchanting book, the coincidences and three concurrent storylines that wrap up together are incredible. This novel is a masterpiece of story retelling and has so many satisfying details.
Hatchet is a novel by Gary Paulsen that is a descriptive look at a near-death survival situation and explores feelings of loneliness, though being more descriptive about the main character’s (Brian) mode of survival. The book takes place in the Canadian frontier wilderness where Brian crashes after the pilot of the small Cessna that is driving him to see his divorced father crashes. Armed with only a hatchet, he must carve up a living alone in the wilderness.
Mockingbird, by Kathryn Erksine, is a deep and moving poetic book that shows Caitlin, a girl with Asperger’s whose brother is killed in a school shooting. Ever since the incident, the world has become shades of gray. It is her story of coping with her loss and dealing with the struggles of the world. A heartfelt piece, it is an approachable yet touching story about loss. The main character is a fifth grader, making the language approachable.
The initial installment in J.K. Rowling's renowned Harry Potter series, this book follows 11-year-old Harry as he receives an invitation to Hogwarts, a school of witchcraft and wizardry. Discovering a plot by a powerful wizard to obtain the sorcerer's stone for immortality, Harry, accompanied by loyal friends Hermione and Ron, ventures to thwart the evil plan. It is filled with imaginative elements, such as a gripping scene where Harry catches a flying golden ball on his broomstick.
To Kill a Mockingbird is a historical fiction book by Harper Lee. The book takes place in Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. The book is from the perspective of Scout as she and her older brother Jem learn about racism and prejudice through their father's defense of a black man accused of rape. They witness the injustice of the legal system and the racism of their community.
