Summer is here! Everyone has their own plans and activities they will partake in this summer, hoping to create memories that string together like a story. A common activity many of us share is getting lost in a good book: whether it’s something that makes you spiral, cry, rethink your entire existence, or just quietly sitting there, staring at the wall, when you finish the last word of the book. Below is a list of a map of what our beloved teachers at MLHS (and us!!) think summer should feel like or what they recommend students read in their free time!
Mrs. Urriola
- Educated by Tara Westover
Written by historian Tara Westover in 2018, Educated is a powerful memoir that recounts the author’s experience growing up in a Mormon survivalist family. Westover’s father, in particular, was extremely paranoid about the government, hospitals, public education, etc., and these beliefs led Westover and her six siblings to be homeschooled. Westover also writes about her struggles with religion, sexuality, alienation, and abuse. Despite these obstacles, the memoir follows Westover’s journey from the mountains of Idaho to Cambridge University, where she ultimately earned her Ph.D. In the process, it raises important questions about the value of education, the complex relationship one has with their family, and the dangers of religious fundamentalism. Westover is an incredibly engaging writer, and her lived experience—according to Mrs. U—serves as a reminder that education is a privilege that we too often take for granted.
- The Midnight Library by Matt Haig
The Midnight Library is a novel whose protagonist, Nora Seed, is a woman full of sadness and regret. Nora is at a difficult point of her life in which she feels alienated from those around her, but when she contemplates taking her life, she finds herself transported to the mysterious Midnight Library, where she sees all the alternate routes that her life could have taken. A cozy, hopeful read, The Midnight Library explores what truly makes life worth living.
- Carry On and Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Both Carry On and Eleanor & Park are young adult romance novels by Rainbow Rowell. Eleanor & Park was published first in 2012, and centers on the developing relationship between Eleanor Douglas and Park Sheridan, two sixteen-year-old misfits in 1986 Omaha, Nebraska. Park is biracial, and struggles with his mixed Asian identity and parents’ expectations, while Eleanor is frequently bullied at school and suffers from abuse at the hands of her stepfather. Carry On is also a romance, but takes place in the Harry Potter, Hogwarts-inspired Watford School of Magicks. The protagonist Simon Snow, like Harry, is the “Chosen One” destined to defeat an evil force, but along the way he also begins a romance between him and his vampire roommate/enemy Baz. While similar to Harry Potter in that Carry On explores a magical fantasy world and social stratification based on family lineage, Carry On also openly portrays LGBTQ+ relationships and queerness. Both novels are told through different narrators, with Eleanor & Park alternating between the titular couple and Carry On narrated by Simon, Baz, Simon’s best friend Penelope, and his ex-girlfriend Agatha.
Mr. Wallace
- Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
One of the most influential fantasy books ever written, Lord of the Rings—which Tolkien intended to be a single volume but first published in three: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King—is set in the fictional world of Middle-earth, where humans live alongside elves, dwarves, hobbits, wizards, and other fantastical creatures. The novel follows the main character Frodo Baggins, a hobbit who embarks on a quest to destroy the One Ring, and in doing so free Middle-earth from the rule of the antagonist, the Dark Lord Sauron. Even if you aren’t familiar with the details of Lord of the Rings, you will likely recognize many of its iconic characters, like the wizard Gandalf (“You shall not pass!”).
- The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean
If the story of Lord of the Rings seems a little too much for you this summer, consider The Disappearing Spoon by Sam Kean. The Disappearing Spoon is a science book that tells the history of the periodic table in a unique, engaging way. From Marie Curie’s discovery of radium to the use of the elements in the Trojan War, World War I, and World War II, Kean blends chemistry with the interesting lives of scientists all throughout human history.
- Uncle Tungsten by Oliver Sacks
Written by British neurologist and historian Oliver Sacks, Uncle Tungsten is a memoir in which Sacks reflects on his school experiences, childhood, and growing passion for the history and science of chemistry. Sacks has been hailed as “one of the great clinical writers of the 20th century,” and the memoir’s title Uncle Tungsten is a homage to Sacks’ uncle Dave, whom Sacks nicknamed Uncle Tungsten due to his fascination with the element tungsten and his work at a lightbulb company.
Dr. Politano
- The End of Everything by M. John Harrison
A fragmented, surreal novel that blends speculative fiction with philosophical thought. This book feels less like “plot”, and more like being inside a collapsing dream where meaning is constantly being challenged and thought about.
- Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child
This book by Julia Child is a foundational cookbook that approaches cooking less like “1 teaspoon of this… two cups of that…” and more like a craft. By presenting French cuisine into clear, structured steps that make it feel much more approachable and attainable without losing the elegance of French cuisine.
Mrs. Venanzi
- Born a Crime by Trevor Noah
A memoir about growing up in apartheid and post-apartheid South Africa as a child of a black mother and white father—an existence that was literally illegal at the time in history. Trevor Noah combines his humor with painful yet crucial history, turning moments like these that are full of chaos and uncertainty into moments of reflection and storytelling about identity, survival, and language.
- How the Word Is Passed by Clint Smith
This book is a nonfiction exploration of how slavery is remembered across the United States today. Clint Smith visits plantations, prisons, cemeteries, and historical sites, showing and revealing how history is preserved, distorted, or even entirely avoided. Its nature is investigative, confrontational in terms of facing history at its realest, and personal; it allows the reader to truly rethink and look again at familiar places.
Coach Suarez
- The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
This book is a self-help book that contains a framework that focuses on how we all can learn to release control over other people’s effect that they have on ourselves. Moreover, this book talks about how to focus on our own responses to others, rather than trying to change others. It’s about emotional detachment from the uncertainty and the chaos from external factors and more toward the stability that is internal in our own bodies. Mel Robbins is a motivational speaker and author who is known for talking and discussing big and emotionally messy ideas and turning them into simple, repeatable thinking strategies for people to use in life.
- Atomic Habits by James Clear
James Clear is a writer who focuses on habits, decision-making, and long-term behavioral change, and he built Atomic Habits around one central idea: you change your life by getting 1% better repeatedly until it compounds into something unrecognizable. This book by James Clear is a guide that is meant to help people build habits through small, consistent changes in their daily lives. It talks about how to make good habits easier, bad habits harder, and how to design your life in general so you stay more disciplined.
- Good Energy by Casey and Calley Means
Casey Means is a physician and Calley Means is a health policy advocate, and together they approach wellness from a systems-and-science perspective rather than a trend-based “wellness aesthetic” angle. Good Energy argues that a lot of modern health issues like fatigue, anxiety, metabolic disorders are deeply connected to how our bodies process energy at a biological level. The book leans heavily into metabolism as the foundation of health, connecting nutrition, sleep, stress, and environment into one bigger picture. It challenges a lot of modern habits that feel normal and are normalized (constant snacking, poor sleep cycles, ultra-processed food culture) and reframes them as energy problems rather than just lifestyle quirks.
- Untamed by Glennon Doyle
Glennon Doyle is a writer and activist who became widely known for her memoir-style storytelling about addiction, recovery, faith, sexuality, and identity. Untamed is less a traditional narrative and more a collection of reflections that trace her process of unlearning who she was told to be. At its core, the book is about intuition versus expectation. Doyle talks about how often women especially are conditioned to perform versions of themselves that are acceptable to others and how breaking out of that conditioning feels both terrifying and clarifying at the same time.
- Love Your Life by Sophie Kinsella
Sophie Kinsella is best known for romantic comedy fiction, especially stories that balance humor with emotional growth and chaotic life decisions. Love Your Life follows that same tradition, focusing on relationships, identity, and the messy reality of trying to build a life that actually feels like your own. This book centers on a protagonist navigating love, work, and self-image while slowly realizing that the version of life she thought she wanted might not match what actually makes her happy. Kinsella’s writing is light, fast-paced, and very character-driven, but underneath the humor there’s usually a deeper thread about self-acceptance and learning to stop performing for approval.
- Legacy by James Kerr
The book breaks down the cultural principles behind their success: accountability, humility, discipline, and collective responsibility. Instead of focusing on talent alone, Kerr emphasizes mindset and environment and how great teams build standards that outlast individual players.
Mr. Hoffman
- Cat’s Cradle and Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
For both its satirical humor and heavy subject matter, Cat’s Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut is a staple of this author’s work. The novel dabbles in science fiction, following a freelance writer who is examining the legacy of Dr. Felix Hoenikker, one of the creators of the atomic bomb. In doing so, he comes across Hoenikker’s children—who, as our protagonist comes to realize, have a weapon just as deadly as their father’s. Grappling with the intersection of science, religion, and existentialism, this is a great read for fans of more absurdist pieces of work.
Slaughterhouse Five is the most recognizable of Vonnegut’s works, earning a place in history as one of the most widely renowned anti-war novels of all time. He combines his own experience as a prisoner of war with scientific aspects once again to create this edgy classic focused on Billy Pilgrim, a former soldier who travels back and forth through time. Profound and poignant, the book was banned for its violent and political themes, making it an all the more compelling addition to your TBR—it is perhaps the best example of Vonnegut’s rebellious subject matter. Not only this, but the text is especially interesting in its non-linear style; if you’re also looking for a unique twist on what you usually read, this book is the right fit!
Mr. Terzis
- The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Published in the above order, The Martian, Artemis, and Project Hail Mary are science fiction novels by Andy Weir. Chances are, you’ve likely watched or heard of the movie adaptations for The Martian and Project Hail Mary—why not give the books they were based on a try? All three take place in the future and outside of Earth. The Martian’s protagonist is astronaut, botanist, and engineer Mark Watney, who is stranded on Mars after his crew presumed him dead. The story follows his efforts to survive and make it back home. Artemis takes place in a city on the moon and follows Jazz Bashara, a young woman who works as a porter and smuggler to earn a living, who is caught up in a conspiracy to take over the city. The most recent of Weir’s novels, Project Hail Mary, is about former middle school teacher and biologist Ryland Grace, who wakes up in a spacecraft to two dead crewmates and no memories of how he got there. As his memories return, Grace discovers that he is on a mission to save Earth from an impending disaster. One of Weir’s most popular works, Project Hail Mary combines scientific theories with humor and unexpected friendships—a great read for the summer, especially with the new movie out.
- ‘Salem’s Lot and The Shining by Stephen King
Stephen King, the “King of Horror,” is perhaps one of the most well-known writers of today, and his horror novels ‘Salem’s Lot and The Shining have both enjoyed much popularity. ‘Salem’s Lot is King’s personal favorite work, and it follows Ben Mears, a writer who has returned to his childhood home of Jerusalem’s Lot, Maine—which is nicknamed ‘Salem’s Lot, hence the title—only to find that its residents are becoming vampires. Inspired by Dracula and by the government corruption King observed at the time (Watergate, Daniel Ellsburg, etc.), ‘Salem’s Lot reflects the fear that “the Government has invaded everybody” and combines the classic horror icon of vampires with small-town America. Perhaps more famous than ‘Salem’s Lot is The Shining, which follows the Torrance family—recovering alcoholic and writer Jack, his wife Wendy, and their psychic son Danny—as they settle in the Overlook Hotel, an isolated resort in the Colorado Rockies, for Jack’s new job as its caretaker. However, as the family is trapped in the hotel by a snowstorm and are tormented by the hotel itself, Jack descends into madness and endangers his wife and son.
- Polybius by Collin Armstrong
Polybius is a horror novel inspired by an urban legend about a video game engineered by the U.S. government that would induce extreme psychological effects in its players. Taking place in the town of Tasker Bay in 1982, Polybius follows its protagonist Andi, a high school girl who takes up a job at the local arcade to earn some money. One night, a new game appears in the arcade, and the town is quickly overwhelmed by a virus-like epidemic, where intense rage, paranoia, hallucinations, and the like spread among the residents. As chaos grows in town, and Tasker Bay is isolated from the outside world by a storm, Andi and the sheriff’s son, Ro, must discover the truth behind the game before it is too late.
- Julia by Sandra Newman
You’ve likely read, or at least heard of, George Orwell’s 1984—one of the most well-known novels of today that explores the dangers of authoritarianism. Julia by Sandra Newman is a retelling of 1984 through the perspective of Julia, who is 1984 protagonist Winston Smith’s lover. Julia works within the world that Orwell creates in the original 1984, but it gives its titular character much more agency. Julia is a cynical, intelligent character with an interesting backstory who has figured out how to survive in the oppressive society of Oceania, and although Newman follows the general plot of 1984, the novel more deeply explores how Julia expresses herself through sexuality, as well as how totalitarian governments uniquely exert control over women.
Mr. Merritt
- The Stand by Stephen King
The Stand is widely considered as one of Stephen King’s best novels, and for good reason. After a deadly influenza pandemic is accidentally released, killing over 99% of the world population, The Stand follows the few humans left alive, and their struggle between good and evil. The survivors eventually form two main factions, one led by Mother Abagail, an 108-year-old woman who embodies good, and the other led by Randall Flagg, who is charismatic, possesses supernatural abilities, and is the embodiment of evil. As the two factions butt heads, everything builds up to the final confrontation. Aside from the central conflict, The Stand also has a diverse cast of characters that each have their own unique and compelling personalities, motivations, and backstory—a super interesting read for the summer!
- The Stormlight Archive by Brandon Sanderson
If horror or post-apocalyptic fiction is not for you, consider starting The Stormlight Archive series this summer. An ongoing high fantasy series by Brandon Sanderson, there are five novels so far (The Way of Kings, Words of Radiance, Oathbringer, Rhythm of War, and Wind and Truth, in that order) and Sanderson plans to write five more to finish the series. The story of The Stormlight Archive takes place on the fictional planet Roshar, which frequently experiences powerful, magical hurricanes. Humans live alongside various spirits such as the Singers and the spren, that can bond with humans to make them magical warriors. The Stormlight Archive follows three main characters: Kaladin, a soldier who was betrayed and enslaved; Dalinar, a warlord trying to navigate the politics of Roshar during war; and Shallan, a young noblewoman who attempts to save her family from ruin.
Mrs. Busch
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
In Victorian era London, there exists a magical, wandering circus called Le Cirque des Rêves (The Circus of Dreams). The circus only appears at night and features performers with the world’s most powerful magical talent. This is the backdrop of The Night Circus, which follows two young magicians Celia and Marco, whose respective instructors have trained them to compete against each other. Despite their rivalry, Celia and Marco fall in love—but only one person can be left standing for the duel to end. With magic, romance, and intrigue, The Night Circus is a bewitching summer read!
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
The Name of the Wind is a fantasy novel and is the first installment of Patrick Rothfuss’ The Kingkiller Chronicle trilogy. The series takes place in the fictional continent of Temerant, where humans are divided into distinct nations and some can wield magic. There is also a parallel universe inhabited by supernatural creatures. The Name of the Wind is the story of Kvothe, a young man with a gift for magic that becomes a famous hero and wizard. But unlike what you may think, the novel takes place long after these events transpire—Kvothe has gone into hiding, and we learn about his past by way of Chronicler, a traveling scribe who seeks Kvothe out and asks that Kvothe tell his story. As Kvothe recounts his childhood, time in the school of magic, and murder of the king, Rothfuss explores sorrow, regret, and one’s search for meaning.
- The Wee Free Men by Sir Terry Pratchett
- Mistborn, The Stormlight Archive, Yumi and the Nightmare Painter, and Tress of the Emerald Sea by Brandon Sanderson
- He Who Fights with Monsters by Shirtaloon (Travis Deverell)
If you’ve ever heard of the LitRPG genre, you should consider He Who Fights with Monsters. LitRPG combines the iconic features of computer RPGs (role-playing games) with science fiction or fantasy novels, and in true LitRPG fashion, He Who Fights with Monsters is about an Australian man named Jason Asano who is suddenly transported from his boring job as an office supplies store manager to a magical world. Jason is now an adventurer who must make his way through the world’s progression system, gaining magical powers to defeat the various wizards and monsters in his way. But although Jason is our protagonist and “hero,” the magical powers he gains are strangely all evil. A fun and engaging read, He Who Fights with Monsters offers humor, political intrigue, and lots of adventure.
- Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
Also in the LitRPG genre is Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl. In this world, an alien corporation has taken over Earth, mining all of Earth’s resources and trying to eliminate the human species. Humans that want to survive must enter the World Dungeon, a real-life dungeon crawl that is also being live-streamed as a game show to the rest of the universe. Dungeon Crawler Carl follows its titular character Carl, who is a U.S. Coast Guard veteran, and his ex-girlfriend’s cat Princess Donut (who later gets the ability to speak!). The two have survived the initial mining and have made their way to the World Dungeon, in which they must fight various mobs and bosses to reach the deeper levels of the dungeon. On the way, they meet various other competitors, NPCs, and aliens.
Mrs. Cesaro
- Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Set in the 1980s, Atmosphere follows one of the first women to train as an astronaut for NASA, Joan Goodwin. As she faces the challenges of being the first in her field, she meets a variety of different people, forming unlikely friendships and finding romance along the way. This book focuses upon Joan’s balance between her personal life and her vigor for the mission, highlighting her perseverance throughout. A widely renowned recent release, this book is definitely a fun read for this summer.
- All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
All the Light We Cannot See features the plotlines of two very different characters—a blind French girl and a young German boy who is an expert with technology. Eventually, they find their stories converging during WWII, both trying to survive the destruction of the war in their own way. This historical fiction is beautifully hopeful, inciting a lesson of light even in darkness, a belief that people can be good to each other despite treacherous circumstances. Although a bit of a heftier read, this book is absolutely worth your time and thought.
Mrs. Seibert
- The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
Against the backdrop of WWII, two estranged sisters—Vianne and Isabelle Mauriac—each struggle to survive in occupied France. While Vianne attempts to protect her family amidst the Nazi invasion, Isabelle’s youthful passion has her falling in and out of love and, eventually, joining the Resistance. This compelling novel is currently in the production for a movie to be released in 2027, so it is a relevant read for this summer! If you enjoy reading about resilient female characters and the intimate complexity of human relationships, this historical fiction is for you.
- The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
Through the point of view of Leni, a thirteen year old girl, The Great Alone follows a family that has moved to rural Alaska following their father’s impulsive decision. While she hopes this move will represent a new beginning, she finds herself more alone than ever, with the tumultuous mental state of her father leaving only Leni’s mother to rely on. Hannah crafts a beautiful story of resilience and primal human nature within this book’s 448 pages, well-aligned with her other works that place female characters at the forefront of the story.
- The Women by Kristin Hannah
Within the Vietnam war, Kristin Hannah paints the nurses as the unsung heroes of it all. Our protagonist, Frances McGrath, follows her brother into war by joining the Army Nurse Corps and grapples with the day-by-day struggle to survive. The focus of the novel, however, is placed upon McGrath coming home to political division and dwelling anger among the American public regarding the war. Not unlike Hannah’s other works, this book is another page-turner that is worth diving into this summer.
Us!
- Grace – East of Eden by John Steinbeck, A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo
East of Eden is the book that I most recently finished, and it was definitely one of the best I’ve ever read. John Steinbeck writes about where he grew up, the Salinas Valley, and narrates the events of the novel, but it is not about him. East of Eden is about the Trask and Hamilton families, and mirrors the biblical story of Adam and Eve, as well as their children Cain and Abel. Steinbeck creates a large cast of characters, and each is unique and deeply human. He also paints a vivid picture of the Salinas Valley, and you can see how the characters’ surroundings reflect and influence their actions. If you have time to spare this summer, I can’t recommend this book enough. It’s not only beautifully written, but it also explores—generation after generation in the Trask family—free will, human nature, religion and the ever-complicated relationships between family. In a similar vein, I would recommend A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, which follows the lives of two women in Kabul, Afghanistan. Mariam and Laila are a generation apart, but are brought together by chance due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Their developing relationship and deep resilience is the main focus of the novel, but it also sheds light on the oppression of women, family, young love, and social expectations. You’ve likely read The Kite Runner, which is also by Hosseini, but I truly think that A Thousand Splendid Suns is so much better. It’s genuine, heartfelt, and speaks so beautifully to the shared experiences of women. My last recommendation is a little bit different. The Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom duology takes place in a fantasy world where some called Grisha are born with special powers. Six of Crows follows a group of teenagers in the city of Ketterdam who attempt a near-impossible heist: Kaz, a criminal prodigy; Inej, a spy and former acrobat; Jesper, a sharpshooter with a gambling addiction; Nina, a Grisha who is far from home; Matthias, an imprisoned former Grisha-hunter; and Wylan, a young boy who has run away from home. All six are outcasts who have turned to crime, and all six have their own secrets. Leigh Bardugo is amazing at worldbuilding, and each state in this fantasy world has its own complicated internal politics and foreign relations, oftentimes informed by their attitude towards the Grisha. The magic system is also plausible and very interesting. Technically, the events of Six of Crows take place after Bardugo’s first trilogy Shadow and Bone, which also introduces the fantasy world as well as the Grisha more thoroughly, but I was personally not a fan of Shadow and Bone and you can definitely read Six of Crows without it. Six of Crows is incredibly engaging, with compelling characters and a very interesting storyline. It’s a great summer read if you haven’t already.
- Helen – The Secret History by Donna Tartt, Four Seasons of the Sky by Jenny Han
If you’re into a book that truly brings you into a mental spiral for you to think about all summer, The Secret History by Donna Tartt is a great choice. Donna Tartt is known for writing slow-burn, atmospheric novels that feel almost hypnotic in their detail, and The Secret History is the one that made her reputation. The story follows a group of elite college students studying classical literature who become increasingly entangled in secrecy, obsession, and moral collapse after crossing a line they can’t really come back from. What makes this specific book stand out is that it is less mystery and more about the psychology of it, how understanding the character’s logic can be so terrifying and confusing. Four Seasons of the Sky fits into that same emotional space, centering on change and the way time reshapes relationships even when people try to hold onto them. The book has a softer, more reflective tone compared to Tartt’s work. Instead of tension or psychological intensity, it leans into emotional realism: the quiet shifts in friendships, identity, and the way growing up often feels like losing and finding yourself at the same time. Han’s writing is simple on the surface but very intentional in how it captures feeling without overexplaining it, which makes the emotional impact feel very natural rather than forced. Now, if you are more interested in a historically significant coming-of-age story that focuses on memory, first loves, and so much transition (both physical and psychological),
- Laura – A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar and Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
If you’re just recently getting back into reading, Clap When you Land is my best recommendation for those who are looking for something digestible while still captivating. The story follows two sisters living entirely different lives, one living in New York—Yahaira Rios—and one living in the Dominican Republic—Camino Rios. Unaware they’re related to each other, their stories slowly begin to intersect following their father’s death as they come to terms with his secrets, legacy, and, more importantly, their sudden connection with each other. Despite being a little over 400 pages, this read feels like a breeze not only due to its enthralling subject matter, but also to its style in verse. Each description and piece of dialogue is brief yet significant, making this book so easy to pick up and so hard to put down. This can definitely be a one-day read if you have plenty of free time. If you want a darker take on human relationships, however, A Guardian and a Thief is worth a read. Around half as long as my previous recommendation, this book is much more complex and heavy in its themes. As soon as I read the description on the back, I was intrigued — set in India during a famine, our two main narrators this time are a family preparing to leave to the U.S., and a desperate thief who inadvertently steals their passports. Majumdar expertly constructs a tension-filled narrative that shows sympathy to both of these perspectives, delivering a story that builds and builds until its swift, turbulent end. I would characterize this novel through its descriptive imagery and continuous twists throughout, as well as its uncomfortable confrontations with motives so vital to human nature. What would you do in the name of family, it asks, and what more can hunger drive people to do? Even though I definitely did not finish this novel feeling hopeful by any means, the prose and thematic elements throughout were enrapturing enough to put it in my recommendations.
0
0
