During the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order, many of our teen coaches have been spending their free time reading and discovering new books. We asked them to share some recommendations with the Team Read community. Here’s what they’re reading:
Reading coach Cyrus
Claire: “I just finished Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and started Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.”
Cyrus: My upmost favorite would have to go to Percy Jackson & the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. Anyone who hasn’t read that series absolutely must. It’s about Greek Demigods in modern times, fighting resurrected ancient monsters such as Medusa, the Minotaur, and Cerberus. The following series, The Heroes of Olympus is almost as good. I practically worship both of them.
Second, the series Renegades, by Marissa Meyer, is wonderful. It’s a classic hero-villain tale, but both are main characters and both are neither fully heroic nor fully villainous. The same author wrote another series called the The Lunar Chronicles, which is filled with more classics, this time fairy tales. There’s a twist this time, as well, but now it’s that Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Rapunzel, and Snow White live far in the future, among cyborgs, androids, and even aliens. Saying any more would be too big of a spoiler, so go out and read it yourself.
Third, I’d have to recommend The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart. It features four young kids who must act undercover in increasingly dangerous and terrifying situations, and get caught in far over their heads. It’s spectacular and surprisingly funny.
Finally, I’d have to recommend the The Mistmantle Chronicles by M. I. McAllister. It’s a series that takes place on a legendary island ruled by hedgehogs, along with otters, moles, and squirrels. The main character, a young red-furred squirrel, is taken as a page by a captain of the island. He starts by learning swordplay, cleaning cloaks, and preparing rooms, but is soon roped into uncovering an assassination that gets more and more complex.
And one more! The Arc of a Scythe by Neal Shusterman, takes place far, far in the future, when humanity has conquered all things – even death. People can reset their age, cure blindness, deafness, and other disabilities, and even be resurrected when they die or are killed. Unless, of course, they are killed by a scythe. Scythes are people whose only job is to kill, or ‘glean,’ a certain number of people a year to control the population. As one character put it, “the ones who want the job the least are the ones who deserve it the most.” Unfortunately, some people who did want the job actually got it, and enjoy the act of killing a little too much. This causes mutiny, violence, and revolts among the Scythdome and the general public.”
David: “The book I’m reading at the moment is called Furyborn by Claire Legrand. This book is about two girls set a thousand years apart. They’re both individuals who are magically gifted and their actions determine the fate of the world, and it’s up to us to find out who will change the world for the better, or bring upon a period of chaos. There’s a second book in this trilogy called Kingsbane. I haven’t read it yet, but I’m hoping to figure out what happens soon.”
Emma: In The Time of the the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
Ibrahim: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid, and The Crossover by Kwame Alexander
Isatu: “My book recommendation is SLAY by Brittney Morris, featuring a female black high school student, named Kiera Johnson. She creates a video game where she and her fellow black people can play without being treated badly and with racism. Other games portray a lot of negative characteristics of a black person. She primarily created it because of whenever she goes to her school Jefferson, which is mainly white students, she doesn’t feel as if she can be herself. The video game she made is an outlet, but until one day something tragic happens which includes her game!”
Sabrina: “My book recommendation for Team Read is The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Open Count of Monte Cristo on a dreary night and watch adventure unfold right before your eyes. With a dashing protagonist, convoluted plot and pressing moral quandaries, this classic is a timeless must-read.”
Samuel: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang, Annie John by Jamaica Kincaid, and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.