Books We Read For School, and Actually Enjoyed?

We've all been there. A teacher assigns a book for the entire class to read, and it ends up being the most boring thing ever. It's almost enough to make you swear off reading entirely. But, every now and then, a teacher makes you read a book that is compelling, well written, and, most importantly, interesting. Those are the books we want to celebrate today! And so, without further ado, here is a list of books we read for school and fell in love with!

Educated by Tara Westover (11th Grade)

"Educated is no doubt one of the best books I’ve read, ever. It’s a memoir and let’s just say Tara’s family is crazy. Her dad is an intense survivalist with and extreme mistrust of the government, consequently Tara never went to school. This story is about overcoming everything everyone expects you to be, and do. Tara ends up taking the ACT and going to college, and eventually going to Cambridge. But as she goes farther and farther from home, she wonders if she’ll ever be able to go back to her small town in Idaho. I highly recommend this book for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t know what they were going to do with their life. This book challenges all your expectations of a person and really blows you away. Tara’s unique writing style will also hook you! I give it 9/10 stars."

- Charlotte W

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah (11th Grade)

"Born a Crime is the story of Trevor Noah’s childhood in South Africa under apartheid. This book examines the fundamental flaws with the ideology of apartheid and brings to light the hardship those who lived under the system faced. Noah is a comedian and his book examines many deep issues while entertaining the reader at the same time. It’s very rare to read a book that discusses such thought provoking issues and sad stories and is still hilarious throughout. Noah’s mother is a forced to be reckoned with and is a wonderful role model for all. This book is a rare find and I’m so glad I was able to read it. It is still one of my favorite books today."

- Jessie

Cinder by Marrissa Meyer (8/9th Grade)

"This is the start to the lunar chronicles series that follows a set of storybook characters in a new setting; a sci-fi dystopian. Cinder, the main character, is a Cinderella mirror and best mechanic in the land who has a mysterious run in with the crown prince in a secret mission. She also has to avoid a mysterious plague that is scourging the land. Check out this high action, drama, and political mess of a world today!"

- Katherine

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (11th Grade)

"I'll be the first to admit that I am usually not a big fan of post apocalyptic dystopia, but that did not stop me from falling head-over-heels in love with this book! There are so many different story lines, all woven together into one cohesive narrative and it is excellent. Mandel is an amazing writer and I can't wait to read more of her books."

- Suzie

CRANK by Ellen Hopkins ( Grade)

"After spending the summer with her birth-father, Kristina falls into the world of drug addiction which drives her into dangerous situations. The author, Ellen Hopkins, conveys a story very familiar to her family’s over the course of 537 verse written pages. One of the greatest parts of this story is the way it is written in a “matter of fact” way. The story is by no means boring, and actually allows readers to develop their own opinions about the situation. Crank is a book very much of our time, and students need to read those books that will discuss sensitive topics."

- Charlotte VS

Unwind by Neal Shusterman (9th Grade)

"Unwind poses a lot of heavy questions in a book that can easily be passed off as just another YA dystopia drama. Exaggerating the pro-choice "agenda" by saying that abortion is the same as killing a teenager, Shusterman creates a world in which children between the ages of 13 and 18 can be retroactively "aborted", every part of their body going on to be used productively in society. For some, it's a honor, other's, it's a nightmare, and while I don't necessarily agree with Shusterman's views, he's an excellent writer and Unwind poses a lot of excellent questions about life and morality, as well as dealing with some heavier topics that I loved discussing in my English class (even if my group mates weren't as enthused to be discussing child murder)."

- Jennie

“How to Read Literature Like a Professor” by Thomas C. Foster (11th Grade)

"This is a book about the motifs and symbolisms authors use that can be found and interpreted at a deeper level than just reading a book for entertainment. While it might not sound interesting, it was a book that helped me as both a reader and writer. I found myself recognizing things in books, movies, and even songs that I had never thought of before, and it truly enriched my experience with those creative works. As a writer, I discovered that there is so much more that I could be adding to my stories to make them resonate with readers at more than just a surface level of enjoyment. Ultimately, there is so much more to the books we read than what meets the eye. Foster’s book opened my eyes to this truth in a lively and interesting way, and it’s not only helping me write papers for my english class, but also helping me gain a more enriching experience whenever I read."

-Eliza