We’ve all been assigned a book for school, and it’s more of a drag than a celebration. I am no exception, having bemoaned many school reading assignments myself. Never fear, I’m 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.
“The Giver” by Lois Lowry
This is a classic “baby’s first dystopian” novel, geared toward a younger audience than “The Hunger Games” 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 “The Receiver of Memory” and finds out why his town functions the way it does. For those who haven’t read it, I won’t spoil the end, but there’s a reason it’s a classic.
“Skeleton Creek” by Patrick Carmen
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’s 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 “Skeleton Creek” only adds to the mystery and makes it a fascinating read.
“The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
Don’t come at me, this isn’t technically a book, but this short story was so gripping it had to make the list. “The Most Dangerous Game” 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’s actually owned by a man who hunts the “most exciting” prey: humans.
“Among the Hidden” by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Maybe I just liked when my teachers taught thrillers. “Among the Hidden” was a novel that was taught, but I went on to read most of Margaret Peterson’s other books, as the writing was that good. Her books deal a lot with time travel and dystopian realities, but “Among the Hidden” specifically takes place in a world where people are only allowed to have two children– 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 “Shadow Children”.
“Antigone Rising” by Helen Morales
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.
What was your favorite book that you read for school? Send your suggestions to abby.gray@valpo.edu.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of The Torch.