Book Recommendations for the Holidays

Ms Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

Mrs Dalloway details a day in the life of Clarissa Dalloway, a fictional high-society woman in post–First World War England. The novel addresses Clarissa's preparations for a party she will host that evening. With an interior perspective, the story travels back and forth in time and in and out of the characters' minds to construct an image of Clarissa's life and of the inter-war social structure.

(13+)

The Hate You Give by Angie Thomas

This book follows sixteen-year-old Starr Carter as she moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer.

Reserved for mature audiences (15+)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Deep End by Jeff Kinney

When Greg Heffley and his family hit the road for a cross-country camping trip, they're ready for the adventure of a lifetime. But their plans hit a major snag, when they find themselves stranded at a campsite that's not exactly a summertime paradise.

(8+)

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

A first-person narrative novel by Sherman Alexie, from the perspective of a Native American teenager, Arnold Spirit Jr., also known as "Junior", a 14-year-old promising cartoonist. The book is about Junior's life on the Spokane Indian Reservation and his decision to go to an all-white public high school off of the reservation.

Reserved for mature audiences (16+)

Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli

A celebration of nonconformity; a tense, emotional tale about the fleeting, cruel nature of popularity--and the thrill and inspiration of first love. Leo’s a normal kid in a normal town. When Stargirl shows up with her rat, her ukelele, and her crazy ideas, nobody knows quite what to make of her. (12+)