OHSers’ Favorite Novels and Current Reads

Taking a look into the busy lives of OHSers, Pixel Journal has some amazing recommendations to share with you if you’re looking for your new favorite book! Several members of our editorial staff—Paige Yeung, Rachel Hu, Maddy Manning-Bi, and Sophia Risin—share their top picks.

Citizen Scientist: Searching for Heroes and Hope in an Age of Extinction by Mary Ellen Hannibal is one of editor-in-chief Paige Yeung’s favorite books. Paige explains how Hannibal’s work “talks about science but in a very narrative way, and I really liked the way the author presented the concept of ‘co-creation,’ which is a process where citizens and professional researchers collaborate to shape scientific research.” Sadly, Paige admits that she has been focused on research papers and shorter articles for school as of now and has not had time for pleasure reading. Nonetheless, her intriguing pick provides an interesting way to read up on an academic topic!

Rachel Hu tells us that the Michael Vey novels by Richard Paul Evans are her favorite book series. Rachel jokes, “I have really not grown out of that young adult sci-fi genre phase that I was so invested in during 5th grade. The series is very, very good (except for the last book) and it brings me warm memories when I read it.” As for what she’s currently reading, Rachel follows with another novel in the sci-fi genre: The Fever Code from The Maze Runner series by James Dashner.

Personally, one of my favorite books of all time is To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. I had to read it as required reading in 7th grade and was really dreading it, but I completely fell in love with Lee’s writing style. I ended up reading the book so many times and highlighting over lines that I had to get a new copy! The novel was special in that it was the only one ever meant to be published by Lee, and her beautiful prose made it that much more intriguing. Currently, I’m reading The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt, and I absolutely love it. It’s a beautiful story about a young boy coping with the loss of his mother and how his life intertwines with so many people and moments, which are all interconnected among one defining moment in his life and around the titular painting. The novel takes you through over a decade of his life, detail by detail, and the book is so rich with imagery you can practically feel the New York rain and your fingers running across the rough canvas of a painting.

Our community engagement editor, Sophia Risin, reveals that her favorite book as of now is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Sophia explains that “it is one of the most chilling and compelling murder mystery stories which I still haven’t been able to solve on my own despite my multiple readings of it.” If you’re a fan of compelling mystery stories, look no further than really any Agatha Christie novel! Besides this, Sophia says she is currently reading the epic fantasy novel series, Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson, which is a recommendation from the one and only Dr. Tillman!

If you’re looking for a non-fiction work, OHS junior Connor Espenshade has a lovely recommendation: When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi. According to Connor, the autobiographical book “discusses the journey of becoming a surgeon” as well as the “medical process [of] living as a surgeon, and philosophy approaching death. That book truly changed my outlook on the world and medical profession.” Additionally, he says that besides school readings, he is currently reading Letters from an Astrophysicist by Neil deGrasse Tyson “because it deals with the questions of a philosophical approach and explanation for the universe not too long ago though, and I have enjoyed it thus far.” The book, which is structured as responses to fan letters, is known for being an easy start into the depth of our universe if you’re interested in learning about astrophysics!

Another non-fiction work that was submitted by an anonymous student as their favorite novel is Night, a memoir by Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. The student admits, “I have no idea why I liked it so much considering all the brutal details of life in concentration camp (I usually don't like books with the gruesome details). I think I may like it because it made me really appreciate life, and it taught me some valuable lessons on grit.” The book, which I have personally read, is a stunning work on human experience and suffering, and the will to live despite the darkness in the world. As for books this student is currently reading, “a book is arriving in two days, but I don’t think that counts…”

Eesha Bhanot, an 11th grade student, discloses that her personal favorite novel is The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. She explains that the historical novel is her top pick “because I think the choice to have Death narrate the book was really unique and it helps readers develop a stronger connection to the characters in the book. It also looks at personal struggles faced by families in Nazi Germany, which is on a smaller scale but more emotionally driven than the well-known violence of WWII.” The book also has a stunning movie of the same name, but Zusak’s writing is incredibly detailed and guaranteed to make you feel present in every page. As for current books, Eesha is not reading anything besides class materials, but she would love to read George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 next!

If you’re looking for both a romantic novel and a beautiful classic, look no further than OHS freshman April Wen’s favorite, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. April explains that the novel “depicts what a woman was expected to do and how it would affect their lives. It also teaches one that you need to overcome your biases and look at everything in a fair and just way in order to accept the goodness of something or someone.” This beautiful description of Austen’s work is certainly a convincing argument in favor of it! That, and if you’re searching for a love story as thrilling as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy’s…. Furthermore, April is currently reading the famous play, The Crucible by Arthur Miller, “which narrates the Salem Witch Trials in 1692. It focuses on Elizabeth Proctor, who has to proclaim her innocence to her husband John after Reverend Parris saw her dancing in the forest and believed that they were bewitched. So far, I love this book, and just like Pride and Prejudice, it shows that one should not make accusations without proper evidence. So, one needs to remain calm during important and scary situations and not jump to the worst conclusions.”

Next, 9th grade student Kabir Gupta reveals that while he’s not sure if he has a favorite novel, he is reading a nonfiction work that is perfect for anyone looking for a current event read. Kabir writes, “I’ve been reading… Joe Biden’s autobiography (Promises to Keep); it is really interesting so far. It is basically the story of his life (written in 2007, so before he became vice president and all). It…provides a very interesting insight into the life and personality of the man who could become our next president.” The autobiography is sure to provide a more private look into the life of the 2020 Democratic candidate!

Lastly, OHS senior Sarah Jenner leaves us with one of her favorite books, Sharon Draper’s Out of My Mind. Sarah describes the novel as being about “a young girl named Melody who has cerebral palsy. Due to her disability, she can't talk, but that definitely doesn't mean she can't think. The book is narrated from her perspective as she goes through life. She is extremely bright and excels in school and in her school's quiz team, but everyone underestimates her and thinks that she is stupid because she can't talk or that she cheats through her communication device. The storytelling is amazing and the whole time you feel like you're right alongside her feeling the frustration but also the joy as she grows into the person she knows she can be. The ending is unexpected but great and it ties everything up nicely. It's a really easy and pretty quick read but one I've come back to a few different times because I love it so much.” I have personally read this book a number of times, and it’s such a joy to read! I would definitely recommend it to anyone, whether or not you love fiction. As for what she’s reading now, Sarah lists a book from her Study of the Mind class and that she’s “currently loving…Unthinkable: An Extraordinary Journey Through the World’s Strangest Brain by Helen Thomson. She writes about people with extraordinary brains or rare conditions such as people who remember every second of their life or people who see auras. She writes some about the neuroscience, which is fascinating, but you definitely don't need to be a science lover to read it, and one of the most interesting parts is the humanity side as you see how different people live day to day with these strange conditions and you feel like you really get to know them and their struggles.”

I want to give a major thanks to everyone who responded to the questions for this article! Be sure to check out some of these incredible suggestions and let us know what your favorite book is!