The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a great read. Instead of being written in chapters, it’s written from the viewpoint of a high school freshman, Charlie, who is writing anonymous letters to the reader about his life. I love this book because it’s relatable. In his letters, Charlie writes about how he struggles with love, depression, drugs and many more issues any student would have to deal with. Overall, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-read. –Bridget O’Malley

Year of Wonders: a Novel of the Plague by Geraldine Brooks
Year of Wonders is a historical fiction about an English village being quarantined during an outbreak of the bubonic plague in 1666, from the perspective of a young maid. The beauty of this story is that it presents how even times of despair bring times of joy, and how humans are somehow able to draw strength from hope, even if it’s all they have. –Kayla Peterson

Maximum Ride by James Patterson
Maximum Ride by James Patterson is a thrilling novel about a group of teenagers who were grafted with bird DNA at a young age. They escape from the lab they were created in, and now live in a house in Colorado until their youngest member, Angel, gets captured. It is a great summer read because it isn’t a book that takes you a while or is difficult, but has a great plot and awesome characters that can make your summer more interesting. – Kristina Jingling

Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton
Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel by Virginia Lee Burton is a timeless classic about a man, and well, his steam shovel named Mary Anne. Together they challenge the norm of stronger diesel-powered shovels and overcome seemingly impossible odds. This short novella, possibly one of the best of its time, caused several of the newspaper staff to interrupt the proofread for this article and mention its sentimental value from their childhood. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to experience sweet, sweet reminiscence. – Joe Amell

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne
Jules Verne’s classic novel is hailed by many as the first great science fiction novel ever written. It is a timeless piece in which the adventure never stops and the story never fails to hold your attention. This is a book not usually assigned reading in high school or in college, but is nevertheless one that is not worth missing. –Zack Short

The Gunslinger by Stephen King
“The man in black fled across the desert, and the gunslinger followed.” The first words of the book raise a lot of questions, and this isn’t the only time. The story was based off of the Robert Browning poem Childe Roland to the Dark Tower Came. The Gunslinger is a kind of fantasy western that you won’t soon forget, written by the king of horror, Stephen King, full of action and emotional events. I can almost guarantee any fantasy fan will enjoy this. –James Amell

The Graceling trilogy by Kristin Cashore
The Graceling trilogy by Kristin Cashore is the epitome of a page turner and takes you to a world that isn’t your own. When you need to relax over summer what could be better than an escape to another world? The trilogy tells the stories of three young women who fight their way to equality and a life of true happiness for themselves despite the expectations of others. I love this book because it reminds you of the true strength we all have within ourselves. –Rachel Sloan

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
The circus, romance, painstaking intensity; Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen has everything that a summer read needs. The book follows Jacob Jankowski’s memories of being a young man who spontaneously jumps on a train and joins Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth, when he learns that his parents were killed. This book is perfect to read out in the summer sun and in the breeze, you can basically smell the circus surrounding you. –Stephanie Hofmann

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod by Heather Brewer
The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod tells the daily life of the calm, yet silent main character Vladimir Tod, along with his best friend Henry. I honestly love this book because of how detailed the author described the characters, their mental feelings, and how it reveals hidden facts of his unspoken past, including the death of his parents, his aunt, and the history of humans vs. vampires. Not only that, but there’s ton of guys, guts and glory. It is a lovely story indeed. –Jariah Johnson

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
In the C.S. Lewis book, The Screwtape Letters, an older demon, Screwtape, writes letters to his nephew about the human world and converting Christians to Atheism. The book isn’t a story, but a compilation of the letters to the nephew. Each letter has Screwtape’s past or gives advice for how to convert the victim to Atheism so Satan can claim him. The Screwtape Letters take a new perspective by writing from the demon’s point of view over the regular angel. –Kristin Nicol