Book Recommendations from the OHS Book Lovers Club

Ah, reading. It’s a wonderful pastime, but it’s often hard to find enough time to sit down and read a book. Sometimes, it’s even harder to find a good book to read! The OHS Book Lovers Club is here to help with at least one of those challenges. We created a list of our favorite books across four different genres! We hope that you’re able to check out any one of these titles to read! Please check out the age recommendation for these books before you pick them up.

Fantasy

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

How can you have a list of fantasy book recommendations without Harry Potter on it? It’s a childhood fantasy classic filled with magic, friendship, and an epic war, and we highly recommend returning to Hogwarts to de-stress after finals!

Monstress by Marjorie Luui and Sana Takeda

This comic book series tells the story of Maika Halfwolf, a teenage survivor of a cataclysmic war, set in a world of art deco beauty. As Neil Gaiman puts it: this is “a beautifully told story of magic and fear, inhumanity and exploitation, of what it means to be human and the monsters we all carry inside us.” 

The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss

The Name of the Wind is pure fantasy, “a masterpiece that will transport readers into the body and mind of a wizard.” This novel follows the story of Kvothe, a gifted orphan, at two different points in his life — as a young wizard and as an old innkeeper hardened by the world. It is exceptionally written, and we highly recommend it if you are looking for an adult fantasy novel!

The Earthsea Cycle by Ursula Le Guin

This series takes a slower approach to fantasy. Instead of focusing on fast paced action, it follows the main character, Ged, as he travels the world, learning about magic and trying to defeat the magical shadow he himself created. If you’re looking for a wonderful story of maturity, magic, and reflection, check out The Earthsea Cycle!

Science Fiction

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen

This young adult novel is set in the best location — space! Emmett Atwater agrees to leave Earth when he’s offered a fortune to travel to a new planet, but once on board the spaceship, he realizes the place is full of secrets, and he’s actually been entered into a ruthless competition for that fortune. Emmett must decide whether to win the competition at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t compromise what it means to be human. 

Neuromancer by William Gibson

Neuromancer is a cyberpunk, science fiction masterpiece, foretelling a shocking vision of technology and our digital future. It follows Henry Dorsett Case, a genius data thief, as he is recruited for one final run, targeting an unimaginably powerful AI orbiting Earth.

The Dispossessed by Ursula Le Guin

With its slower pace and difficult writing style, this novel may not be for everyone, but it’s certainly fascinating if you’re interested in evolving character arcs and complex societies. At its core, The Dispossessed is an analysis of different societal constructs through the eyes of a scientist returning to his home planet after being banished generations ago. It’s not an easy book to read, but gives some wonderful insights into capitalism, revolution, and gratitude. 

Nonfiction

Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson

Set during the Revolutionary War, Chains is an emotional and important story about the plight of young African American girls owned by a cruel couple in New York. It describes their personal struggle for freedom through the American struggle for freedom against the British. 

Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn

Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide takes readers through Africa, Asia, and the rest of the world, detailing the lives of extraordinary women who have undergone unimaginable horrors. It is inspirational, pragmatic, and incredibly important for everyone to read. (Disclaimer: This book is graphic and intense, so please keep that in mind before reading.)

Six Easy Pieces by Richard Feynman

Have you ever wanted to understand the essential pieces of physics, but can never find the time? Or are you researching an HSC presentation, and don’t know where to look? Check out Richard Feynman’s Six Easy Pieces, where Feynman simply and succinctly explains complex physics and math topics without boring his readers. 

The Code Book by Simon Singh

A wonderfully engaging nonfiction novel, The Code Book tells the history of our advances in code making and code breaking from the Caesar cipher to the RSA encryptions we use today! The book contains its own encrypted messages for you to try at the end, and is a fascinating narrative of the difficulties of code and problem-solving. 

Fiction

Divergent by Veronica Roth

In this classic young adult novel, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to a particular virtue: honesty, selflessness, courage, peace, and intelligence. It follows the story of Tris Prior as she struggles through her initiation and training in her chosen field, all while keeping a dangerous secret. 

Girl Mans Up by M.E. Girard

This book is a beautiful coming-of-age story about a girl who must navigate complex social situations while still trying to be true to herself. A mix of romance and contemporary fiction, we highly recommend this diverse and meaningful novel!

World War Z by Max Brooks

World War Z is a dystopian fiction novel that feels particularly fascinating during the coronavirus. It tells the fictional tale of a virus that has spread across the world due to the failure of global governance. The author predicts the outbreak of a devastating virus in this novel, leaving us to question the world’s current methods of responding to global threats and how we can learn from this novel!

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

This novel tells the relatively untold story of the French families forced to live in Nazi-occupied territory during World War II. It follows the story of Vianne, a young mother and teacher, as she must protect her family from the Nazis living in her home, and Isobel, her rebellious younger sister. Hannah’s book is intense, emotional, and an incredibly beautiful story of pain and sisterly love during war.