As spring brings warmer weather, it’s nice to grab a book and enjoy the sun. Here are some highly revered stories recommended by the community from our Franklin library and Powell’s Books. This list is intended to help readers get out of the funk that most feel during the cold, dark months of winter.
“Breathe and Count Back From Ten” by Natalia Sylvester
This is a contemporary romance with disability and Peruvian representation. In the summer before her senior year, Verónica, a teenager with hip dysplasia, auditions to play a mermaid at her hometown theme park and gets her first boyfriend, Alex. Her parents are strict, but especially because she’s a disabled, first-generation, American girl. Verónica dreams of breaking free and taking back control of her life, but everything starts to fall apart once she finds out what her parents are hiding…
I would highly recommend this book because it has accurate representation for first-generation American children and for kids with disabilities. It has a great story of empowerment for these communities.
“Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow” by Gabrielle Zevin
This is a contemporary realistic fiction story with a timeline spanning over 30 years, and settings ranging from Cambridge, MA, to Venice Beach, CA. Main characters Sadie Green and Sam Masur share adventures in this coming-of-age novel. The two friends navigate becoming famous after creating a video game before they even graduate from college.
Ms. Frazee, Franklin’s beloved librarian, recommends this book highly, and Ms. Gromko, an English teacher at Franklin, includes this book in her AP Literature curriculum.
“Fourth Wing” by Rebecca Yarros
A romantasy — or romance-fantasy — fiction series with dragons, war, and mythical politics, this is a favorite on “BookTok,” a side of TikTok dedicated entirely to books. Additionally, this author won “Best Romantasy” on Goodreads for the 2023 book year.
Main character Violet Sorrengail was born smaller than her peers and thus she was deemed “unfit” to be a dragon rider, though her tough-loving mother is doing everything she can to get Violet in the Scribe Quadrant. Violet’s classmates at Basgiath War College see her as a threat due to who her mother is, especially Xaden Riorson. Alongside all of this, the kingdom’s protections are growing weaker by the minute from the persistent war raging outside. Will Violet make it out alive?
“Betting on You” by Lynn Painter
A contemporary romance, with tropes of fake dating, enemies to lovers, and more fun, low stress, giddy feelings. Bailey, a teenage girl, applies for a job at a hotel waterpark. She later runs into an old friend, Charlie, who is now her new coworker. Bailey previously met, and was graced with, Charlie’s sarcastic personality on the flight to Omaha, while moving due to her parents’ divorce. Bailey and Charlie become a dynamic duo, always gossiping and sharing theories about the customers at the park, and even their fellow coworkers. After constant teasing from her mom, Bailey is forced to lie about her and Charlie being “just friends,” ultimately influencing the real deal in her head. Charlie and Bailey try to hide their feelings for each other to save the friendship dynamic, but Charlie has a secret he’s been keeping…
“How to Boil Water: Life Beyond Takeout” by Jennifer Darling
“The seniors need to study up on this one for when they move out, you know?” Frazee teases. This beginner’s guide to cooking places no judgment on the level of chef you are; it teaches you how to start with the most basic of basics: boiling water.
“The Warm Hands of Ghosts” by Katherine Arden
Recommended by Lesley at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, this historical fiction book is set during WWI, following the story of Laura Iven and her brother, Freddie Iven. Laura, serving as a field nurse, was honorably discharged due to an injury. Freddie, fighting on the battlefield, dies in war, or so they say. Laura returns to Belgium to figure out what happened to her brother, and she hears rumors of the haunted trenches and how dangerous they can be. This novel shows two perspectives during the past and present, uncovering an action-packed and emotionally-heavy mystery. “[This book] is my favorite book that I’ve read this year,” Lesley says.
“Sky’s End” by Marc J. Gregson
Recommended by Mecca at Powell’s Books on Hawthorne, this is a fantasy, science fiction, and dystopian adventure that shares the story of Conrad, a 16-year-old exiled to live life as a “Low.” Conrad sets out on the floating island of Holmstead to rescue his sister from his uncle’s possession. However, by doing so, he must enter the Selection of the Twelve Trades. While working in the Trades, Conrad gets word of a rebellion starting. Conrad had no knowledge of anything existing outside of the kingdom of the Skylands. What will he choose to do? What is right for his family? What is his heart telling him to chase?
“Heartless Hunter” by Kristen Ciccarelli
Also recommended by Mecca, this book has themes of enemies to lovers, witches, magic, and romantasy. A revolution changed the hierarchy forever. The witches are thrown to the slums and are hunted for their magic, even though they used to be worshiped. The main character, Rune, is in a vulnerable place due to her magic powers. Gideon, the enemy of Rune, loathes the excellence Rune embodies. He later finds out the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to work with the rebelling witches. Little does Gideon know, the Crimson Moth is Rune’s nighttime alias. This leads to Gideon trying to save Rune from herself…
“Dungeons and Drama” by Kristy Boyce
A final recommendation from Mecca at Powell’s, this book is very fun and lighthearted. This romcom, young adult, and contemporary fiction story follows the main character, Riley, and her love interest, Nathan. Riley daydreams of bringing back her high school’s spring musical, but being grounded and being forced to take a job at her dad’s game shop gets in the way. Riley convinces Nathan, a nerdy teen co-worker, to cover her shifts. Nathan has a price though: flirt with him to help make his gamer-girl crush jealous. What Nathan didn’t tell her was that she had to play Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) with his friend group. How long can Riley deny that playing D&D is fun and that flirting with Nathan isn’t as difficult as she thought?
“A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder” by Holly Jackson
Last, but not least, this book is highly recommended by myself and Ms. Frazee! This is the first book in a young adult fiction trilogy surrounding classic “whodunit” mysteries. This book follows a teenage girl living in a small town consumed by murder. Pippa Fitz-Amobi chooses an unsolved case from five years prior as the topic for her senior year project, uncovering secrets that someone in town doesn’t want to surface. How far will Pip go to solve the mystery, and how far will the killer go to keep their secrets close to them?
To wrap up this list, it’s important to read this spring to expand your perspective on the world and see how others experience it differently. It’s also crucial to simply take time for yourself and get lost in a fantasy world. Reading is not only for educational purposes, like learning how to cook, but can be entertaining and a form of escapism during difficult times.
