By Ann Young, Summer Times Staff Writer
During their free time this summer, many students like to take advantage of a chance to catch up on their reading. Walking into the library or bookstore to find a new book to read can be a daunting task if you’re not sure what you’re looking for. Luckily, some Exeter Summer students were able to recommend books they have been enjoying. Recommendations for middle and high schoolers were also offered by an employee at Water Street Bookstore.
“The Hate U Give” has been really popular,” said Julie, an employee at Water Street Bookstore. “Anything by John Green always sells super fast. “Five Feet Apart” and “The Book Thief” have also been really popular. “The Grief Keeper” is a really interesting book that’s been selling well too. It’s about a refugee girl who is hired to take on the grief of another girl. She lives in a time where technology can be used to transfer emotions to other people, so she takes on this girl’s grief without the girl knowing what’s happening.” She also recommended “Children of Blood and Bone” and “The Water Girls.”
Jasmine Li of Bancroft Hall said that while she hasn’t been reading anything while at Exeter, she recently read “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The novel was written in 1960 by Harper Lee, and follows Scout Finch through her childhood years. Over the course of the novel, Scout and her brother Jem are taught by their father, Atticus Finch, the importance of empathy and justice. Atticus is known to embody the values he teaches, and demonstrates this when he defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of sexually assaulting a white woman, at his trial. Jasmine said that if she had to rate the book, she would give it a 4.5 out of five.
Catherine Merrill, an Access Exeter student from Langdell, recommends “In Cold Blood” by Truman Capote. “’In Cold Blood’ is a book that’s based off of a true story,” she said. “It’s very old- from the 1900’s. It’s about a true murder but it’s written as if it was fiction and it inspired an entire sub-genre.” “In Cold Blood” was published in 1965. It discusses the murders of four members of the Clutter family. The family was murdered at their farmhouse in Holcomb, KS, in 1959, by two ex- convicts. Catherine said she has been reading the book for fun, and that she would rate it a 5 out of 5.
Anthony Woo of Abbott Hall recommends “Grant” by Ron Chernow. “I’m just reading it for fun,” he said, pulling the book from his bag. “I like reading about history and I think this book is quite nice. I would recommend it if you like history and want to spend a summer reading. I think this book could last you maybe two months, so it’s a good summer book. I think it’s also good to learn about politics and military history.” Anthony said that he would rate the book a four out of five. Peter Hu of Webster Hall recommended “The Da Vinci Code.” The 2003 fiction novel by Dan Brown is about the murder of a museum curator at the Louvre. The curator, Jacques Saunière, has a secret that he must pass on: the location of the Holy Grail. He does so by leaving hints and clues in his own blood in the moments before his death. Robert Langdon, a professor of symbology and the protagonist of the novel, is called to interpret the gory scene, unaware that he himself is suspected of the murder. Peter said he is reading the book for fun, and that he would rate the book a 4.5 out of five.