When was the last time you read a book that was nearly impossible to put down? Experiencing a moment when you find yourself glued to the page, pausing to admire how exceptionally the author has conveyed an idea, is increasingly rare these days. Since the average book is between 300 and 400 pages long and can take 8 to 12 hours uninterrupted to complete, picking up a book can feel like a sunny walk in the park or watching paint dry. It depends entirely on the one you choose. Reading should not feel like a chore, yet students often open their syllabi to find titles they have never heard of and immediately have a vengeance for the books. In light of this, what books would students choose if they were given the freedom to choose for themselves?
In the case of junior Cameron Wilson, he believes that Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo would be a perfect selection for his literature class. This 2015 fantasy novel series is set in a dangerous city called Ketterdam and follows the actions of leader Kaz Brekker and his crew of five outcasts and criminals as they are presented with a risky heist that could make them extremely wealthy. He particularly finds the intensity and suspense included in the novel to make reading it worth the heavy time investment. “Being able to visualize a story while I’m reading it is a must,” Brekker said.
As someone who often spends a lot of her free time reading, junior Una Jeremic feels that her class should include more young adult and coming-of-age books to make the content more relatable and easier to engage with. She thinks The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky stands out as a prime example. This 1999 novel revolves around the experiences of an introverted freshman named Charlie, who struggles with the trauma caused by deaths of his best friend and his Aunt Helen as well as with making new friends. The story is told through a series of letters that Charlie writes to an anonymous friend, which offers readers an intimate look into his thoughts. “It’s fascinating to read the evolution of his emotions in the novel,” Jeremic said.
For senior Stephen Lambert, The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien is the kind of book he wishes all the literature he reads would be more like. As someone who greatly enjoys fantasy, he appreciates how the 1937 novel uses vivid imagery to tell the story of Bilbo Baggins’s unexpected journey through mountains, caves, and forests. This began when the wizard Gandalf and a company of thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield ask for his help in reclaiming their home and treasure from the dragon Smaug. Although it is initially a simple adventure, it is quickly turned into a life-changing quest filled with danger and self-discovery throughout it. “The best stories are the ones that leave you constantly anticipating what will happen next,” Lambert said.
So whether it is reading about ordinary people discovering their courage or teenagers trying to understand who they are, books carry pieces of our own lives within their pages. When students are allowed to choose stories that resonate with them, reading becomes something they genuinely look forward to rather than another assignment to complete. Although it’s unrealistic to allow students to choose books for themselves, the concept supports the idea that freedom in education is extremely valuable.
