Teens today that read have become a minority, with only 19% of seventeen year olds reading for fun every day, according to Time. Maybe teens don’t know what to read, so here’s my list of top five young adult books to read.

  “The Selection” by Kiera Cass

  Summary: “The Selection” is like “The Bachelor.” Thirty five girls are selected from all around Illéa to compete for Prince Maxon Schreave’s heart, to become not only his wife, but the new princess.

  The country of Illéa, is divided into castes. The highest being royalty (ones) and the lowest being the homeless (eights). America Singer, named after the old country, is in the middle as a five. America didn’t want to enter the selection as she wants to marry Aspen Leger.

  Aspen’s a six, and typically women want to marry up in the caste system. But America, she truly loves Aspen and love’s a powerful emotion.

  Aspen breaks up with her and convinces her to enter the selection…America gets selected! Will America fall for Maxon, or will she be sent home?

  Review:  I’ve reread this book over and over because the characters are super funny. This is my favorite book out of all five.

  “Harry Potter” by J.K. Rowling

  Summary: Harry Potter lost his parents to an evil wizard Voldemort, and for eleven years, he put up with abuse from his aunt and uncle. On his 11th birthday, he receives his acceptance letter to Hogwarts, school of witchcraft and wizardry.

  Harry’s seven years at Hogwarts isn’t all fun and games though. Read all about his first year at Hogwarts in “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.”

  Review: If you’re that straggler who hasn’t even seen the movies, I think it’s time you at least read the books. J.K. Rowling, the author said, “I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a good book.”

  “Divergent” by Veronica Roth

  Summary: Beatrice Prior is Abnegation, the selfless faction, but she struggles to be selfless. On the day where all 16 year olds will take the aptitude test to determine what faction they should pick to spend the rest of their lives in, Beatrice takes the test but is left with results that show she is Divergent, meaning she can be part of multiple factions.  

  Review: Curious to see which faction Beatrice picks? Yes, no, maybe-so? I did just leave you hanging with a cliffhanger, so read “Divergent” if you’re into a more dystopian kind of book.

  “The Fault in our Stars” by John Green

 Summary: This is a book that will have you laughing at the beginning and crying at the end. Hazel Lancaster, cancer patient, spends most of her time knowing that at some point soon she’s going to die.

 She meets Augustus Waters, the boy who lost his leg to cancer, who fears oblivion and places unlit cigarettes between his teeth as a metaphor. They met at Cancer Kid Support Group and Augustus becomes Hazel’s world; he inspires her to live and carry on throughout life.

  Review:The way it’s written has you glued to your seat, flipping page after page until you’ve reached the end.

  “Boys of Summer” by Jessica Brody

  Summary: “Boys of Summer” is about three boys who are going through different problems. They usually spend every summer together, but this summer is different; the struggles each boy has been going through have shaped them into different people than they were last summer.

  I really liked the meaning: it showed that you should let people in who are trying to help you and look out for you. Don’t try to deal with things alone, and, most importantly, forgive. Everyone makes mistakes.

  If you read this book, think about this meaning. Do you agree with this moral?

  Review: I chose to recommend this book because recently, Jessica Brody came to talk at HR. She’s a very good author, and I’ve read two of her books since.

  Even if you don’t read all these books, as not all of them may be something you’re interested in, I hope at least one interested you because reading is something everyone should do often.

Sara Kinnersley, Staff Reporter