In need of a book? Try these three

Madison Parola, Co-Editor-in-chief

Finding a good book can be a challenge. In a library filled with hundreds of books, it can be hard to dwindle the selection down to a few that might interest you. After all, every book is filled with thousands of different words leading down different paths, and getting lost in a book that loses your interest is a sad way for a story to end. Therefore, try one of these three unique stories– one is a dystopian, another is a romantic and the last is a mystery.

Uglies” by Scott Westerfeld: “Uglies” exists in a dystopia where image is everything. The world around the main character, Tally Youngblood, values outer beauty. To achieve the standard of beauty, Youngblood longs for the day when she will go through her extreme cosmetic surgery just like others her age.

When that day comes, she will be able to live in the better community. The community seems like a utopia to those living with uglies all around them. Being a pretty is respected because they have had the cosmetic surgery on their sixteenth birthday that allows them to live in the more divine community.

Youngblood is put in hard situation, though, when her friends rebel against the society. She is given a choice– find her friend or remain an ugly forever.
As the plot continues, Youngblood finds out what really happens during the surgeries and how they involve more than just remaking a person’s face.
This story is a captivating read and a trilogy, which is great if you’re looking for a long tale. Putting down the book can be really hard when trying to read this dystopian. Author Scott Westerfeld keeps his audience hooked with suspenseful scenes and intriguing characters.
It is interesting to read about a world where beauty is equivalent to self-worth since we live in a world where beauty is a goal for many but not necessary to thrive in a community. In the world that Westerfeld created, if a citizen never goes through the surgery, then that person is deemed no longer valuable.
Reading this book will show you the ways that a community can change for the worst as you follow the life of a girl longing to be beautiful. She eventually discovers the truth and no longer wants any part of the once ideal procedure.

Eleanor and Park” by Rainbow Rowell: Set in the world of high school, Eleanor and Park” shows the story of a boy named Park and a girl named Eleanor. Seen as strange among the other kids, Eleanor is the red-haired girl who is bullied on the first day for being different with her clothing combinations. She lives in a tiny two bedroom home with a large family: an abusive stepfather, her mother and her siblings.

Park lives in a loving home and is popular among the other students. At home, Park’s family wants him to be excited about Taekwondo, which his father values, but Park doesn’t have the same passion. He feels like a disappointment to his family and is insecure about his Asian heritage and size.
The paths of these two characters cross on the school bus that they ride together.
From strangers to friends to lovers, this story takes the reader on an emotional journey of two sixteen-year-olds experiencing first love. Domestic abuse, bullying, friendships and individual values are thematic elements addressed throughout the story, as the two characters go through their teen life while dealing with these heart-wrenching issues.
Romance isn’t always everyone’s favorite genre to read, but this book can be a good way to try out a book in that genre that won’t be too lovey dovey from the start. Just note that the book contains foul language and difficult topics.
When the book first hit the high school library, it was quite popular as friends recommended it to each other.  It continues to be one still worth checking out.

 

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” by Mark Haddon: Following the story of a curious boy, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time” is a book that a reader will always remember. The main character, Christopher Boone, sees fear in everything and would rather stay in his comfort zone.

Throughout the story, it becomes clear that he doesn’t understand much of human emotion. He lives in a world of facts, logic, order and precision; his way of thinking is truly brilliant.
Right from the beginning of the book, he says, “I know all of the countries in the world and their capital cities, and every prime number up to 7,057.”
His high IQ is shown throughout the book, and it is eye-opening to see into the brilliance of a young boy’s mind.
When a neighbor’s dog, Wellington, is killed, Christopher embarks on a journey, similar to those of his favorite investigator Sherlock Holmes. He plans to find out what has happened. He goes to London, a harrowing adventure in the boy’s eyes.
Author Mark Haddon writes a captivating story, showing the flaws of mankind through a boy’s eyes who sees the world through a non-judgmental perspective.
This book is worth the read and is worth the time to reread. If you can’t find a book to read and haven’t read one for a while, this is definitely one that will make you excited about literature.