Summer is the best time to relax, have fun, and spend time outdoors, but it is also a great time to sit down and escape with a new book. Compiled here is a list of EHS students’ recommendations for summer reading. Whether you are looking for a beach read or a riveting novel, there is something for everyone on this list.

 Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This book follows Anna, a teenager whose family makes her leave behind her life in Atlanta to complete a year of boarding school in Paris. There, she meets the amazing Étienne St. Clair, who is already in a relationship, making things complicated for her. This novel explores themes of love, friendship and the challenges of navigating a new culture while facing romantic interest. 

The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

This book follows Cassie, a teenager gifted at profiling people, who is recruited by the FBI into a program using exceptional teenagers to solve cold cases. Cassie and her new group grapple with a killer, danger, and the complexities of their unique abilities. They fight to solve a case that hits a little too close to home before they end up on the chopping block.

Ain’t Burned All The Bright By Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin

This book combines art and poetry into a graphic novel. It tells the powerful story of a family of color going through  the COVID-19 pandemic. It also explores topics of racism, illness, and protecting family. The illustrations utilize a variety of media, including collage, typed text, handwritten text, and spray paint. 

Artemis By Andy Weir

Jasmine Bashara lives in the first colony on the moon. Jasmine is a porter and smuggler who gets caught up in a conspiracy about control of the city.  She also finds an undercover crime organization and works to save their colony. Artemis is a sci-fi story full of action and adventure with a touch of mystery.

Finlay Donovan Is Killing It by Elle Cosimano

Finlay is a mother of two, getting a divorce, and a writer. When she gets overheard in public, she gets hired as a contract killer. How could it get worse? Two men have flirted with her, but one is a cop! Between fake identities, trying to stay under the radar, and dealing with kids having their hair duct-taped together, her life gets a little hectic. Overall, this book is light-hearted, funny, and has many plot twists you won’t see coming.

LeBron by Jeff Benedict

Jeff Benedict, a beloved sports biographer, paints a picture of Lebron’s early years and origin story. LeBron tells the full story of how a child off course found the will to become a legend. Benedict conducted hundreds of interviews with people involved in his life at different times to capture LeBron’s extraordinary life. He also collected  pages upon pages of primary source documents and went through hundreds of hours of video footage. LeBron is an intriguing, inspiring, and unique account of one of the world’s most inspiring basketball players.

Darkly by Marisha Pessl

Darkly is a breath-holding and suspenseful story about Dia Gannon, a fan of the late Louisiana Veda. Dia is chosen for a special internship at Darkly, a game-making empire of Veda’s. She and six other interns uncover hidden clues and secrets in Veda’s terrifying but intricate games. When they dive deeper, they realize this internship is more than a job, and they are starting to find themselves in danger.

Picking Daisies On Sundays by Liana Cincotti

This book is perfect for lovers of Jenny Han or Lynn Painter’s work. Daniella, a fashion student, rekindles her connection to her childhood best friend, who might also have been her first love. Fast forward 4 years after a painful rejection, and she sees Levi again. She agrees to be his fake girlfriend for his sister’s  upcoming wedding. This causes many emotions and a second chance at their improbable romance.

Teacher Recommendation 

Nettles & Petals by Jamie Walton 

“For anyone itching to get their hands in the dirt, Nettles & Petals by Jamie Walton is a guide to fostering biodiversity in any home garden, or even in a window box. Walton explains how these age-old practices answer common gardening woes like preventing soil depletion through crop rotation and companion planting, and avoiding pesticides by encouraging beneficial insects,” EHS English teacher Martha Chudy said. 

“Unlike most gardening guides, he recommends listening to the weeds that pop up because they indicate a mineral need in that patch of soil. It’s wild how many problems can be solved by doing less and relying on the natural world to do what it does best!”