6 Great Summer Reads for Teens and Young Adults

Photo by Bethany Laird on Unsplash

As the exam season draws to a close, it's an important time to start thinking about how you're going to spend the summer months ahead. Maybe you have been fuelled through exams with plans of going away or a little sunshine, but an easy break from everything is a brilliant book. And we've compiled a handy list of some of the most popular young-adult reads:

1. The HarryPotter Series by JK Rowling

These series ranked as the most favorite among teens. The series chronicles the amazing adventures of Harry Potter and his friends who are well schooled in the art of magic and wizardry. The plot is invariably centered on the Hogwarts School of Magic. It is here that Harry and his bosom friends Hermione and Ron have to master the art of magic. Their goal is to ensure that they defeat the evil being perpetrated by Voldemort and his evil batch of Death Eaters.

The writer masterfully weaves the story in a very interesting manner. Any school going teen will find them enjoyable after the grueling A Level and GCSE exams.

2. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Hazel is on the verge of death because of cancer.
Fortunately, a medical miracle happens. Her tumor is held in check, and she is thus guaranteed a longer lease in life. However, the quality of her life hardly improves and she knows that show is on the final leg of her life. A twist of fate brings Augustus Waters in Hazel’s life. With his appearance at the Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story completely changes.

Teens will find this story quite riveting. They will be able to identify very well with the characters and themes used in the book.

3. The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins

The setting of the story is in future North America, which is in ruins and derelict. The main character is a teenage girl called Katniss Everdeen. She decides to travel to the corrupt capital to participate in the unforgiving Hunger Games. Here she is expected to fight to the death, in a battle in which the future of humanity is at stake.

The creativity that the writer has invested in creating the events is simply fantastic. The series has employed a high degree of suspense. The teen will remain glued to the books as the events move to a cataclysmic finish.

4. The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

The story revolves around Bilbo Baggins. He is a peaceful hobbit who lives with some level of comfort in his hobbit dwellings. Nothing much happens in his life. That is until Gandalf, a wandering wizard, appears and assigns him a task that changes his life forever. He has to travel on a roller-coaster adventure that is marked by peril.

Tolkien is a master storyteller, and the pupils will find his style very appealing.

5. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

This summer read tells the story of a dictatorial regime
that is set in the future. The government has outlawed books, and firefighters are ordered to hunt and burn any written material. Seeing the value in books, one firefighter decides to go against the dictators. This sets him on a collision course with the government, in which there can only be one outcome.

The choice of characters makes the book a great summer read for teens.

6. The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The story is set in Germany during the Second World War. Hitler’s 'Final Solution' against the Jews is at its height. In the midst of these horrors Liesel, a teenage German girl, turns to book stealing and storytelling to provide for her family and her neighbors. The suspense in the story is based on the fact that Liesel’s family is hiding a Jewish man. The dreaded Gestapo is moving from house to house looking for hidden Jews...

The story is so well crafted that your pupils will be glued on it to the very last page.

Like youth, summer is not permanent. However, the choice of
what we read over the summer holiday can have a lasting impact in our lives. When the school bell rings to mark the start of the holiday, be sure to read one of the above six great summer read.

Want to sharpen your creative writing skills to become the next JK Rowling? You might benefit from hiring a tutor. Follow the link below to find out more: