Love books? Curious about what your classmates and teachers are reading? Check out the following recommendations from your fellow Raiders.
The Midnight Library by Matt Haig – Ms. Davino, English Teacher
A book I would recommend is The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. The book is about a space that exists between life and death. It is a library, and all of the books in the library are possibilities that one’s life may have taken. The main character has the opportunity to change her regrets in life by choosing a new book with a new story. The book itself was interesting, but, more than that, it made me really think about my own life. Sometimes, I revisit major crossroads from my life and wonder what might have been if I had chosen different paths for myself along the way. Overall, even though the content was sometimes heavy, it left me feeling uplifted and engaged.
⭐Goodreads Rating = 3.99/5.00
Beartown by Fredrik Backman – Mr. Benedict, English Teacher
This is such a great story; it centers around a declining youth hockey team in a small town. As the players try to
improve their team and gain support from the town, they run into many challenges that prevent this from happening. This is a very fast-paced and plot-driven story. Overall, it’s just a good story that is worth your time and you will enjoy.” New York Times Book Review Scott Burnside agrees, saying “By the end of “Beartown,” I couldn’t wait to tell not just my friends in hockey about the book but also complete strangers because it was, well, true and right and pretty much perfect.
⭐Goodreads Rating = 4.29/5.00
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson – Madison Gonzalez, Junior
This book has it all: it’s based in Connecticut and it’s a teen mystery, which is one of the reasons why I liked it so much! The story follows an investigation carried out by seventeen-year-old true-crime enthusiast Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi. She investigates the murder of popular student Andie and the suicide of her supposed killer Salil… all under the guise of a school project. The characters are very relatable, and there’s a lot of foreshadowing that keeps the reader interested.
⭐Goodreads Rating = 3.99/5.00
If He Had Been with Me by Laura Nowlin – Adrianna Bernardi, Junior
The story follows the life of Autumn and Phineas “Finny,” childhood best friends who used to be inseparable but who grew apart as they grew up for misunderstood reasons… This is a romance/ YA (young adult) story. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for a good heartbreak because this story is so gut-wrenching and makes you feel all sorts of emotions while reading. I truly couldn’t put the book down once I got it; by the first chapter, you are automatically hooked and need to read more!
⭐Goodreads Rating = 3.79/5.00
