HAVE YOU ever found yourself bored in class? Reading is always a great way to pass the time, though many students find reading uninteresting and boring. I used to hate reading myself, but after finding the right books, it felt like I was finding more and more excuses to whip out a book and get one more chapter down. How about you start the 2026-2027 year with some new books?
The first book I recommend is a personal favorite that I’ve read this year: “The Monkey Wrench Gang” by Edward Abbey. The book follows a group of four people who come together by chance, united by the belief that the ever-growing human machine of society is killing nature and must be stopped.
Together, they sabotage heavy machinery, blow up infrastructure, and run from the law in epic adventures in southern Utah and Arizona. Abbey’s writing is strong and full of thought. Overall, it’s a good read for those who want some great action, scenery, and humor all in one.
My next book won’t be for everyone. “Blood Meridian” by Cormac McCarthy is a dark and gruesome historical fiction western that follows a teenager only known as “the kid” as he joins a group hunting an Apache warband, scalping and being scalped by them.
The descriptive language is vivid and beautiful, and the characters are horrifying. You certainly won’t find this in any school library, but if you ever come across it, give it a chance!
“Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” by Philip K. Dick is a dystopian cyberpunk novel where most humans have fled Earth to escape the fallout of World War Terminus.
The book follows Rick Deckard, an android bounty hunter, who is assigned to “retire” a handful of the newest android models, Nexus-6, that recently escaped to Earth illegally. If that sounds familiar, it’s because this book is what inspired the “Blade Runner” and “Blade Runner 2049” movies.
The writing is great and thought-provoking. I recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the movies or enjoys the cyberpunk genre.
The library here at Granger also had a few recommendations of their own.
For romance lovers, the library recommends books by Maurene Goo, but specifically mentions “Somewhere Only We Know.” The book is about a huge K-pop star, Lucky, who meets an American, Jack, who has no idea who she is.
The next book is nonfiction, meaning everything in it really happened. “Death in the Jungle: Murder, Betrayal, and the Lost Dream of Jonestown” by Candace Fleming
A man named Jim Jones started a cult in Indiana and slowly indoctrinated everyone into moving to the jungle of Guyana, where he eventually tricked everyone into drinking poison in a mass suicide. If either of these sounds like your cup of tea, stop by the library and check them out!
If none of these sound interesting to you, don’t worry, there are plenty of books out there. No matter who you are, there’s a book for you.
The library attendants love it when a student asks for a recommendation, so don’t be afraid to ask them if you’re not sure what you want to read. Reading will help you get along wherever you are in life and is a vital skill in future education or careers. It’s important to do it as much as you can, especially in your high school years.
