We\u2019ve all been assigned a book for school, and it\u2019s more of a drag than a celebration. I am no exception, having bemoaned many school reading assignments myself. Never fear, I\u2019m here to change your worldview. Here are some books, required or supplementary, that I was introduced to within the walls of a classroom that I enjoyed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Giver\u201d by Lois Lowry<\/p>\n
This is a classic \u201cbaby\u2019s first dystopian\u201d novel, geared toward a younger audience than \u201cThe Hunger Games\u201d and often an introduction into what the dystopian genre entails. The reader follows the story of Jonah, who, instead of getting a typical job placement, gets to be \u201cThe Receiver of Memory\u201d and finds out why his town functions the way it does. For those who haven\u2019t read it, I won\u2019t spoil the end, but there\u2019s a reason it\u2019s a classic.<\/p>\n
\u201cSkeleton Creek\u201d by Patrick Carmen<\/p>\n
This is not a book that you will find on any required school curriculum, but this was a novel we read in eighth grade English class because it was one of my teacher\u2019s favorites and included many references to classic horror poetry. The story follows Ryan McCray writing in his journal after an accident, with codes to a website where you can view videos supplemented by his friend, Sarah Fincher. The mixed-media aspect of \u201cSkeleton Creek\u201d only adds to the mystery and makes it a fascinating read.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Most Dangerous Game\u201d by Richard Connell<\/p>\n
Don\u2019t come at me, this isn\u2019t technically a book, but this short story was so gripping it had to make the list. \u201cThe Most Dangerous Game\u201d is featured in many textbooks and standardized tests, but was so exciting that I read it through every time. It takes place on a deserted island, but the main character finds out that it\u2019s actually owned by a man who hunts the \u201cmost exciting\u201d prey: humans.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAmong the Hidden\u201d by Margaret Peterson Haddix<\/p>\n
Maybe I just liked when my teachers taught thrillers. \u201cAmong the Hidden\u201d was a novel that was taught, but I went on to read most of Margaret Peterson\u2019s other books, as the writing was that good. Her books deal a lot with time travel and dystopian realities, but \u201cAmong the Hidden\u201d specifically takes place in a world where people are only allowed to have two children\u2013 every subsequent child is gotten rid of by the government. The main character, Luke, is a third child, living in his family’s attic, and follows his story of meeting other \u201cShadow Children\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAntigone Rising\u201d by Helen Morales<\/p>\n
The most recent of these books is a novel that I used as a source for a research paper in my freshman year at Valpo. It examines popular myths through a modern lens, but does a good job of building a symbiotic relationship, instead of saying that one time period is better than another. Morales speaks more to what myths can help us understand our modern world, and to the timeless power of these stories.<\/p>\n