By Cate Meister
As social distancing persists, so does boredom. Hybrid learning creates a shorter school day with limited social interactions, and many students find themselves with an abundance of free time. Whether you need a story to get your mind off of the ongoing pandemic or a story that you can relate to, there’s a little something for everybody with these 10 books to keep you busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
1. “Dry” by Jarrod Schusterman and Neal Schusterman
Set in Southern California, “Dry” follows the story of sixteen-year-old Alyssa as she navigates a collapsing society that once resembled the one we live in now but lacks one key thing: water. With empty streets and store shelves, Alyssa will have to rely on friends, enemies, and complete strangers to survive. Told from multiple perspectives, this modern day sci-fi novel incorporates local landmarks into an action-packed story you won’t want to put down.
2. “When the Moon Was Ours” by Anna-Marie McLemore
In a small town reminiscent of something out of a folk-tale, best friends Miel and Sam are well known for their eccentricities. Sam paints moons and hangs them everywhere, while roses have been sprouting out of Miel’s wrists ever since she can remember. When the impossibly beautiful and equally mysterious Bonner sisters take an interest in Miel’s roses, believing that they can make anyone fall in love, Miel and Sam must protect their own secrets as they become more involved with the strange and possibly dangerous Bonner sisters. McLemore creates this modern-day fairytale with skillful writing and beautiful imagery that will leave readers wanting more.
3. “We Were Liars” by E. Lockhart
Hauntingly melancholy and mysterious, E. Lockhart’s intricately woven story follows Cadence Sinclair, a privileged teen and member of the prominent Sinclair family. Each summer, Cadence spends her time on a private island of the coast of Martha’s Vineyard with her family and the three people she loves most: the Liars, Johnny, Mirren, and Gat. But after a traumatic event Cadence cannot remember leaves the family cracked, Cadence, along with the Liars, will have to work to piece together her past. Avid and hesitant mystery readers alike will love “We Were Liars.”
4. “Little and Lion” by Brandy Colbert
Family, friends and romance form an intricate web for Los Angeles native Suzette. Her brother Lionel was recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Things are awkward with her friend (and crush) Emil after having been on the East Coast for school. To make matters more complicated, Suzette realizes she has feelings for her brother’s girlfriend, Rafaela. Colbert manages to transform what might initially seem like a typical teenage romance into a meaningful conversation about mental health, sexuality, race and growing up.
5. “The Book Thief“by Markus Zusak
In 1939 Nazi Germany, Liesel Meminger is given up by her mother. When an older couple takes her in, Liesel learns to read with her foster father’s help and begins stealing books, reclaiming words in a time where knowledge was burned. Zusak artfully creates Liesel’s story in what seems to be a stroke of genius. The narration is original and insightful, and since the book is a lengthier read, it’s perfect for quarantine.
6. “The Truth Commission” by Susan Juby
In a small Canadian city centered around an art school, truths are often left unspoken. Junior Normandy Pale, accompanied by her friends Neil and Dusk, sets out to find the truth, wherever it may lie. Surrounded by a cast of zany art students, the Truth Commission stumbles into a variety of truth related dilemmas, including the sudden return of Normandy’s older sister, a renowned graphic novelist. Juby’s wit and humor make this illustrated, footnoted novel a delight to read and a perfect break from the hecticness of 2021.
7. “Lucy and Linh” by Alice Pung
For Lucy Lam, the most esteemed private school in suburban Australia, Laurinda, is a life-changing opportunity. After she is admitted through a scholarship program, Lucy begins to adjust to the extravagantly rich, exceedingly talented environment that Laurinda harbors, ruled by a trio of girls known as the Cabinet. Torn between her home life, past and life at Laurinda, Lucy must learn to navigate her high school years as an outsider. In what many have likened to a more serious, thoughtful version of a “Mean Girls”-esc story, Pung captures the turmoil of teenage years.
8. “Extraordinary Means“ by Robyn Schneider
When Lane is sent to a boarding school for teens with an incurable and often fatal strain of tuberculosis, he doesn’t expect to meet Sadie and her group of troublemaking friends. What begins as survival for Lane turns into something much more, in spite of his (and everyone’s) ever-progressing illness. With comedy and sincerity, Schneider creates an easy-to-follow story of triumph and tragedy that fans of John Green will be sure to enjoy.
9. “Giant Days” by John Allison
Roommates Daisy Wooton, Susan Ptolemy, and Esther de Groot, could not be more different. But what seems like an unlikely trio proves to be a lasting friendship as the three young women navigate their first year of college. Set in Britain, comic series “Giant Days” follows the adventures—and misadventures—of Daisy, Susan, and Esther with inventive and hilarious plot lines, larger-than-life characters, and vibrant illustrations. Up-beat and fast paced, Giant Days will be sure to grab your attention and keep you reading.
10. “Clap When You Land” by Elizabeth Acevedo
In her fourth novel, Elizabeth Acevedo poetically captures the lives of two girls, Yahaira and Camino, as they cope with the death of their father, the only link between them. As Yahaira learns to live without her greatest role model in New York City, Camino deals with the loss of her father from her home in the Dominican Republic. Acevedo’s story of love, loss, and newfound sisterhood will resonate with young adult readers thanks to her passionate and perceptive verse.
You can find these books at the Huntington Beach Public Library, an Orange County Public Libraries branch or through online book services like Hoopla and Libby.
