Bookshelf | Graphic by Grace Merkle | The Wright State Guardian
Winter break is a great time to relax with a good book but sometimes reading a big novel after finals can feel daunting and exhausting. Below is a list of four small books that are perfect for a quick read over winter break.
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky
Many are familiar with the movie adaptation of this coming-of-age story, but the book offers more insight into Charlie’s thoughts as he explores life during his first year of high school in the early 1990s.
Told through journal entries, this book is a quick read that will evoke a range of emotions out of those who read it. It should be known, however, that this novel deals with topics that might be triggering to some.
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Technically a short story, “The Yellow Wallpaper” is about the deteriorating mental health of a woman and what she sees in the yellow wallpaper of her bedroom.
This short story is a great look at mental health and also gives suspense as readers wonder what will happen next with the woman and the wallpaper. Because it is a short story, this can be read in one evening and bring students out of a reading slump.
“Orbiting Jupiter” by Gary D. Schmidt
“Orbiting Jupiter” is a young adult novel about teenager Joseph and his foster family. Joseph’s foster family learns that Joseph has a daughter, Jupiter, that he has never met.
The novel revolves around Joseph’s search for his daughter and the brotherly relationship that forms between Joseph and his foster brother, Jack. This novel is only 160 pages, making it a perfect short and fast read for winter break.
“The Castle of Otranto” by Horace Walpole
“The Castle of Otranto” has it all: ghosts, a castle, a corrupt king and mystery around every corner. Regarded as the first Gothic novel, “The Castle of Otranto” continues to inspire an entire genre of fiction.
With only five chapters, this is a great book to read over winter break, especially for those who want to read something with mystery and intrigue.
