The Perks of Being a Wall-flower
by Stephen Chbosky
This novel, released in 1999, instantly became a success as readers found it captivating with a profound life lesson. The letters sent by the main character, Charlie, to an anonymous “friend,” and reads like diary entries. It follows Charlie as he navigates high school, making friends with seniors who change his outlook on life and love. Because Charlie is struggling with the loss of two people very close to him, he finds it hard to acclimate himself to his new environment, and finds support through his English teacher and his senior friends. As the school year progresses, Charlie becomes more comfortable socially, but his life becomes complicated, and his mental health starts deteriorating, which becomes a larger problem as he starts having trouble with his new-found friends. All in all, this books is about self-discovery, coming of age and friendship, and is proof that we are our best selves when we’re accepted for who we truly are.
The Hunger Games
by Suzanne Collins
Have you ever been forced to go somewhere, knowing there was a chance you wouldn’t return?Probably not. For a chance to experience that you should “The Hunger Games.” It’s the first in the series of a best selling Tertology by Suzanne Collins. The book has received awards such as the Booklist Editors Choice. This book remains extermely popular, and still has an active fandom. This dystopian fiction series is set in a world where each year at the annual reaping, one boy, and one girl from each of the 12 districts of Panem is entered in a drawing to compete in the Hunger Games- a fight to the death aired on live television. When Katniss Everdeen steps in for her younger sister Primrose, her life is on the line along with her “lover” Peeta Mellark. This book had me wanting to spend hours reading to find out what happens next. The Hunger Games will make you feel empathy for the contestants, as if you were competing yourself.
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak
Nazi Germany, 1939–a time filled with hardship, struggle, and endless secrets. The Book thief by Markus Zusak chronicles the upbrining of an adolescent girl, Liesel Meminger, and her complicated life in war-stricken Germany. Located on Himmel Street, Liesel’s daily life becomes even more complex when her foster family hides a Jewish man in their basement. With rising tension, secrecy, and speculation between friends and enemies, Liesel must make a number of diffcult, life- altering decisions. Markus Zusak’s blend of historical fiction and suspenseful narration creates a unique, captivating account of life in Germnay during World War II. The Book Thief explores the grief, fear, and uncertaintly felt by a young girl who is doing everything in her power to grow up.
