Editorial Intern, Arianne Noorestani, provides her summer reading picks from across the web.
A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
Regarded as an “explosive and powerful” novel, A Long Walk to Water is about the incredible story of two eleven-year-olds living in South Sudan during a civil war. The novel details the life stories of Salva, a young boy whose village is attacked a destroyed during the war, and Nya, a girl who makes a dangerous trek to fetch water for her family everyday. Despite only being a child, Nya is truly an inspiration. Her daily struggles to provide for her family demonstrates the importance of not giving up and the idea that with hardship comes reward! So join Salva and Nya on this incredible journey of survival.
The Frog Princess by Ed Baker
Looking for an untraditional fairytale to read this fall? If so, then this novel is definitely the book for you! As the first book in this nine-part series, The Frog Princess introduces the story of Princess Emeralda. Emeralda is anything, but a princess. She’s clumsy, sassy, and incredibly stubborn. One day, Emeralda meets a charismatic frog who, despite her stubbornness, convinces her to kiss him so that he can return to being a prince. Unfortunately, the spell is reversed and the young princess is turned into a frog. Can Emeralda return back to her graceless, willful self again? Or, will she be stuck as a slimy green amphibian for the rest of her life? Read to find find out!
The Green Bicycle by Haifaa al Mansour
Wadjda strongly believes that some rules are meant to be broken– and as a young girl living in Saudi Arabia, there are a lot of rules. The Green Bicycle is about a young girl named Wadjda who is determined to buy her own bike and race against her friend Abdullah. Unfortunately, cultural restrictions prevent girls from owning/riding bikes in Saudi Arabia. As a result, Wadjda struggles to remain independent and find her place in society. Nonetheless, she continues to quest to own a bike and will stop at absolutely nothing to get what she wants. Pick up this book before the summer ends to see if Wadjda is successful!
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
When it comes to iconic fictional characters, Scout Finch is at the top of the list. To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic American novel that is told from the point of view of a curious six-year-old named Scout from Maycomb, Alabama. Scout is the complete opposite of the small, quiet town that she is from; she’s bold and full of energy. And so, when dilemma that threatens to destroy the unity of her town arises, Scout begins to questions ethics of the people she grew up with. Join Scout in her journey of self-discovery.
Divergent by Veronica Roth
Dystopian worlds are always full of adventure, and Divergent is no exception! The novel details the story of Beatrice Prior, a sixteen-year-old girl whose society is divided into five factions– Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). Compliance and loyalty is key in her society. However, despite her unthreatening demeanor and appearance, Beatrice possesses a powerful secret– a secret that makes her different in a society that strives for conformity.
