There are millions of books in the world, and with more being published every day, it is hard to judge what to read. However, there are some books that are already acclaimed as classics in today’s literary scene, and some of these are well-worth reading before reaching college. According to a current senior in high school, here are five books of different genres I highly recommend reading before graduation.
- The Book Thief - Markus Zusak (14+)
This book was required reading on my freshman year English class curriculum, and for good reason. Using a unique yet simple writing style and told from the perspective of Death itself, the Book Thief weaves a heartbreaking tale of a young girl living in one of the most horrific, death infested periods of history: World War II. This book is a masterpiece from its writing, its story, and its message, and I highly recommend reading this if you are looking for historical fiction that will make you look at life- and death very differently.
- Meditations - Marcus Aurelius (all ages appropriate, but I’d say 15+)
I read this book during the spring of my junior year, a time where stress and emotions were high and determination and motivation was low. There is really no better time to read Meditations than a time like this, in my opinion. Although it was written many, many years ago, the advice Marcus Aurelius gives the readers is timeless. Easy to understand and applicable to all, this book is a short read that will change the way you live your life. To quote Aurelius, “Life is short. That’s all there is to say. Get what you can from the present- thoughtfully and justly.”
- If We Were Villains - M.L. Rio (16+)
If you are a fan of Shakespeare or emotional queer literature, If We Were Villains will delight, entertain and make you cry. Written in 5 acts and 6 scenes (a nod to the Shakespearean tragedies this book references), this book tells the story of 7 young actors in a rigorous and intense acting academy. As their good natured rivalry turns to ugly and poisonous, resulting in the murder of one actor, the seven thespians face an acting challenge even more intense than Julius Caesar: convincing the authorities they didn’t do it. It’s only 10 years later that the dark secrets will come to light…
- The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald (15+)
The high school designated classic, beloved and hated by juniors worldwide, the Great Gatsby at its core is not a love story. While it masquerades a tale of the tragic and unrequited love of millionaire Jay Gatsby for the beautiful and simple Daisy, this story is more of a love letter to America in the 1920s. It is a tragedy, exposing the dark side beneath the gilded parties and self-made wealth, the perfect family and the perfect parties. While it is required reading for most high-schoolers, I’d recommend reading this book anyways, as it really does deserve its name as The Great American Novel.
- The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid (17+)
I wanted to add a personal favorite to this list, and I had never fallen so hard for a “modern” book than when I read The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. This book tells the story of Evelyn Hugo, a secretive retired Hollywood star who is finally ready to tell her life’s story to the public through the words of newspaper reporter Monique Grant. Throughout the book, readers hear from Evelyn herself of her life, rife with struggles which she overcomes with ruthless ambition. Through her, we see the homophobia, racism, and sexism that she had to fight to make it in the film industry, and how she emerged triumphant over it. This book is in short, a masterpiece, captivating the readers from the very first page and bringing the glamor, glitz and corruption of old Hollywood to life.
