As we were holed up in our houses for months during the pandemic, many of us found safety in an escape to a foreign world through reading.

There are many benefits to taking a few moments out of your day to read. We are often able to enhance our lives by learning from the choices characters make and the situations in which they find themselves. Reading is also important in forming a strong vocabulary and being able to carry on conversations with people from all backgrounds. Additionally, it is inexpensive and accessible entertainment. 

Blanchet Junior Graceanne Gray said, “I was the kind of girl who had my dad read to me at night.” For her, this led to her love for reading as she got older and it is something she enjoys to this day. 

October is national book month, which is a great time to reconnect to reading. With the onset of gloomy days, now is the perfect time of year to curl up with a good book. 

Ms. Henling, a freshman English teacher, explained that she was the oldest of six children and, while she had a happy childhood, in moments of sibling chaos, she always could rely on books. “I would read all the time and I would read just to shut down from everything that was happening around me.” 

Escaping into other worlds is a common theme for those who love to read and it is one of the reasons I enjoy books. The most helpful thing I found with getting back into the habit of reading was setting a goal. Starting on January 1st, I set out to read a book a week for the year. So far I have read almost fifty books. Some have been fantastic and others were a struggle to finish. By pushing myself to read more, I spend less time on my phone and it often helps me clear my head after a long day of school. 

If you are looking to get into reading or searching for your next great read, below are some recommendations of books which I have enjoyed over the years.

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 

If you have never read the amazing young adults book Wonder, now is the time. This story follows a young boy, August Pullman, born with a facial anomaly as he enters middle school. He is an ordinary kid who is tasked with extraordinary things such as defending himself against disrespectful kids and pushing through loneliness to find friends who care about him. Following the success of Wonder, Palacio published Auggie & Me adding three additional chapters and perspectives to the story of August. 

A Little History of Economics by Niall Kishtainy

If you are looking to better understand economic theories from all backgrounds, A Little History of Economics is a great place to start. With short chapters and interesting stories, it should be a quick but very compelling read. Kishtainy discusses the history of many different economic issues and explains what economists proposed to fix the problems. 

The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton, Lara Love Hardin, Foreword by Bryan Stevenson

This fantastic memoir was written by a man wrongfully convicted of murder who spent nearly three decades on death row. Anthony Ray Hinton shares his poignant journey from accused murderer to eventual release. Hinton and his determination will inspire readers to keep pushing on no matter the difficulty at hand.

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

When Mia wakes up from a tragic car accident on a snowy day she is left with little memory of what happened leading up to the crash. Immediately after the accident, Mia starts to have out of body experiences. If I Stay features flashbacks of Mia’s previous life along with her looking down on her struggling body as she decides whether to keep fighting to stay alive or give up. If you enjoy If I Stay, there is an additional book called Where She Went which is also worth a read. 

Hopefully, these recommendations help begin or continue your reading journey. Reading will transform your life and all it takes is a couple of minutes out of your day.