As you are most definitely aware, the summer reading assignment for this year has changed. After years of the entire building reading the same book, English teachers recommending that the assignment should be changed, and me writing multiple opinion articles on the Gull about the need for change (as an avid reader), our pleas were finally answered. This year it was announced that for the summer reading assignment, students would get a choice of a book and an assignment. Those who aren’t frequent readers may have difficulty choosing a book, so here are some suggestions based on what genres might appeal to you.
Fantasy 
One of my favorite fantasy books that isn’t well known is A Winter’s Promise by Christelle Dabos, which is part of the Mirror Visitor series. The books were first published in French, then later translated into English due to their popularity in France, leading to international recognition and the acquisition of several notable awards. This fantasy book blends elements of steampunk fantasy (as it blends Victorian-inspired society with retro-futuristic mechanical inventions), adventure, and an atmospheric, fairy-tale-reminiscent setting.
In A Winter’s Promise, the story is told from the main character Ophelia’s perspective. Years ago, a major event occurred—“The Rupture”—where the world was shattered into floating islands called Arks. These Arks developed distinct differences due to their separation. Ophelia lives on an Ark called Anima, where objects have souls and the tendency to move and react to humans. Ophelia has the ability to “read” objects and travel through mirrors. Her life is uprooted when she is forced to marry Thorn from the Ark of the Pole. Now, she must try to acclimate to her new home, but a deadly plot arises.
This book immediately grabbed my attention due to two factors. One was that I immensely enjoyed the writing style of the book, as it was very descriptive and lyrical, making me feel as though I was there myself. The other was the imaginative magic within the book. For example, the story first begins on Anima with the personification of objects, which hooked me immediately. So, if you want to be swept away to another world with unique magic and political systems, perhaps consider reading A Winter’s Promise this summer.
Historical Fiction
If you enjoy learning about history but don’t want to pick up a book that reads like a textbook, you should consider historical fiction. This genre creates a fictional story that takes place in the setting of a real past, so it isn’t as boring as solely reading about history.
Recently, I read a historical fiction book that was both incredible and devastating, and I believe everyone should read it at some point: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, which underscores the resilience of humans and the importance of love and empathy. This story takes place during World War II in Nazi Germany, and Death is omnipresent. The main character Liesel’s life changes when she steals her first book, and with the help of her foster father, she learns to read and falls in love with words. 
I won’t explain the summary too much because I think it is best to read this book with limited insight. Though I will tell you why I loved it so much. Perhaps it was the shared experience of seeing Liesel fall in love with reading, but there’s more to it than that. This story is unique in its format due to the fact that the narrator is Death, and it speaks to us while telling Liesel’s story. I found this aspect captivating, as Death’s description of the events occurring is so different from the majority of other books I’ve read.
Another distinct feature the author included was informing the reader early on about how the story ends. Yet I don’t think this took away from the ending, as it was still extremely devastating and saddening. If you want to read about Nazi Germany through Liesel and potentially have red, swollen eyes and a feeling of emptiness at the end, you should pick up The Book Thief.
Mystery/Thriller
Overall, the summer reading assignment that the majority of people didn’t completely detest was The Inheritance Games. Those who did enjoy this book might be interested in a book from the same author: The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes. This book features similar aspects to The Inheritance Games, including a fast-paced plot and suspenseful twists that keep one reading.
In The Naturals, the FBI has begun a program that uses teenagers with beneficial skill sets to crack cold cases. Cassie Hobbes, a seventeen-year-old, has the natural ability to read and profile people, leading to her being recruited by the FBI into this secret program. Cassie now has to live with other teens with natural abilities who are restricted to working only on cold cases. Yet when a serial killer arises, Cassie and her teammates become more involved than they’re supposed to in attempting to figure out who the killer is.
As previously stated, this book is very fast-paced and captivating. The mystery aspect is enjoyable, as you attempt to piece together the clues yourself while following along with the story. If you want a fast-paced read this summer with an engaging plot, I would recommend The Naturals. And perhaps, if you like the book enough, you can continue reading the rest of the series.
Horror/Science Fiction
Now, this combination of genres might seem odd, but this next book includes both genres rather than a single main one. The book I’m referring to is The Institute by Stephen King, which incorporates psychic powers and experimentation with institutionalized evil and torture and suffering (I would recommend this book for mature readers, and one should maybe look up trigger warnings before reading).
Luke Ellis is kidnapped in the middle of the night and wakes up in a room that is a replica of his bedroom in a place called The Institute. At this place, there are more children with special talents—psychic powers—who were also kidnapped. The adults working there are ruthless and dedicated to extracting the force of the children’s talents. Luke learns that there are two components of The Institute: Front Half (where all children begin) and Back Half (where children are eventually brought and never seen again).
King is a master at making readers feel fear and apprehension, but I felt more unease with this book than with some of his others. This is probably due to institutionalized evil, as the book is rooted in the terror of human cruelty rather than the supernatural. Hence, it can lead to more fear and unease because there is a greater chance of unethical experimentation hidden by the government than the supernatural.
The book was so horrific and cruel to the children that I had to continue reading to figure out how it would end. And the ending didn’t disappoint—there were such high stakes (that’s true for the entirety of the book, but especially toward the end) and tragedy. Though I may have just swayed some away from reading this, it is still a phenomenal book by King, as always. 
General Fiction
If none of the previous genres interest you, you may want a story with a broader appeal that focuses on relatable human experiences, deep character development, and realistic settings. A book that I would recommend for general fiction is The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. It is also shorter than all the other books I mentioned, if that appeals to you.
This coming-of-age story follows fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis in the 1960s. In the town of Tulsa, Oklahoma, there is an ongoing feud between the Greasers (working-class youth) and the Socs (those who are privileged). A sudden and traumatic event causes Ponyboy and his close friend Johnny to flee and go into hiding.
The Outsiders was a fast-paced, enjoyable read that emphasizes empathy and the idea that to struggle is to be human, regardless of one’s socioeconomic status. It really signifies the importance of judging people as individuals rather than by stereotypes or their social class—something I think numerous people need to learn, and they could do so by reading this book.
Hopefully, by changing this year’s summer assignment, students will actually read as they have more freedom in what they read. Perhaps reading one of the books I recommended will begin your love for reading. And if not, there are innumerable books out there that could potentially fuel your love for reading—you just need to find them. 
