Norsemen celebrate National Reading Month

Students and staff share their all-time favorite books

By Grace Rossman & Alyssa King MANAGING EDITOR & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

With a unique story line and a plethora of plot twists, “Layla” by Colleen Hoover will keep you on the edge of your seat. Freshman Amanda Wong is a dedicated Colleen Hoover fan, and out of all her novels, “Layla” is her favorite. “It is an interesting story, and it has a lot of good lessons in it,” Wong said. “I would recommend it to anyone who wants to start reading but hasn’t found a good book yet.”

“A Prayer for Owen Meany” by John Irving is a coming-of-age fiction story that takes place in the Vietnam War era. This novel was significant to science teacher Don Pata. “I joined the Peace Corps and I was put in a little village in the middle of West Africa,” Pata said. “There was a bookshelf left there by former Peace Corps volunteers, and the first book I read there was called ‘A Prayer for Owen Meany.’ It really moved me and it was the first time I really understood the power of reading.”

If you want an easy, binge worthy read, pick up “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer. Junior Niya Kendall watched the movie adaptation prior to reading the book, but the novel eventually became her all-time favorite, and it proved to be better than the movie. “I decided to read the book not knowing it would be even better,” Kendall said. “It is my go to comfort book that I have re-read over and over.”

If you are searching for a fantasy novel mixed with Greek Mythology and endless adventure, look no further. “Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief” by Rick Riordan is the book for you. Sophomore Matthew Hetzler says this novel is his favorite. “The book manages to have a great balance between action and emotion along with really well written characters,” Hetzler said.

“Crescent City: House of Earth and Blood” by Sarah J. Maas is a murder mystery, fantasy, romance, dystopian and action novel all in one. Senior Addison Erickson always has a book in her hand, yet she says that this novel outshines all others. “It has absolutely phenomenal writing, jawdropping plot twists, an incredibly intriguing mystery plot line and high stakes action that makes you never want to put the book down,” Erickson said. “I have re-read just the ending over six times because it gives me chills.”

“The Glass Castle,” a memoir by Jeannette Walls is a coming of age story filled with notes of childhood trauma and familial complexities. As an English teacher, Kristen Alles has read many books and typically prefers fiction novels, but “The Glass Castle” is an exception. “I think the devices used were more fictional devices, [as] there was a lot of imagery, a lot of figurative language and it felt really narrative,” Alles said. “The way it was written really captivated me as a typically more fiction-based reader.”