Anyone who knows me also knows that my favorite thing in the entire world is books. When I came to Buffalo, the high point of my second semester was when I found out I could get a library card from the Buffalo Library, especially because I can't take all of my books across the country to school with me. So for anyone in need of a book recommendation, check out some of my all time favorites.
1. The "Harry Potter" series by JK Rowling
This is probably one of the most popular books of my generation, and it has something for everyone. Every character teaches you something different and this is one series you can read over and over again and still love!
2. Ellen Hopkin's Young Adult Novels
She writes in a different format that any author I have read before. All of her Young Adult Novels are written in poetic form. More than that, we learn the heartbreaking truth of topics rarely discussed publicly.
3. Ellen Hopkin's Adult Novels
This has to be a separate category because her adult novels are so different from her YA novels. Although they discuss similar issues to her YA novels, we get to see them from the perspective of a parent. Her latest novel, "Love Lies Beneath," marks the first novel she has written in prose. Although it's different and for me slightly strange to see her write in prose, I definitely recommend it!
4. "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson
Anderson writes about something else often kept quiet in society: sexual assault and how schools handle it (or don't). While we known that it takes a huge toll on the victim, we don't often see the road to recovery or how they cope if they must see their attacker at school. Anderson gives the power to the survivor and allows the character to tell of the struggles she faced following the assault and how it affected her everyday life; also how much it impacted her to keep it a secret for so long.
5. "Thirteen Reasons Why" by Jay Asher
This book deals with another heavy topic: suicide. But we rarely hear from the voice of the victim. This novel gives it to her literally. She prerecorded people who affected her and influenced her decision to commit suicide. Told in parallel with one of the people listening to the tapes, this story is one that resonates with you.
6. "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley
Dystopian novels are incredibly popular these days ("Divergent Series," "The Hunger Games," etc.). But before all of these was the novel "Brave New World." Huxley takes the ideas of industrialization and assembly line work and transforms them into how we even create people. In a seemingly perfect society, any sort of disruption will upset the balance of the world and send it into chaos. Plus, no book collection is complete without a few classics!
7. "We Were the Mulvaneys" by Joyce Carol Oates
I read this for my freshman English class in college and it was wonderful. It's a heart-breakingly honest story about how a family can fall apart because of tragedy, but can come back together when they truly need each other. Although they may not come back together the same, they are still family.
8. "The Program" series by Suzanne Young
What happens when certain memories are erased? What happens when you're reprogrammed to feel certain ways? This series explores that idea and what happens when mental illness is treated as an epidemic.
9. Something recommended to me by a friend
No book shelf is complete without something recommended to you by a friend! It's a unique way to get to know more about your friends and learn more about something they like.
10. A large pile of books yet to be read!
No bookshelf is complete without a huge pile of books you've found and have yet to read.
