Dunbar Students’ Share Their Must-Read Lists

For many, cozying up with a good book can be a relaxing experience–especially in cold weather. Here are some of Dunbar’s recommendations for your next read.

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  • Embassy Row Novel trilogy by Ally Carter. The first novel in the series is All Fall Down, the second is See How They Run, and the third is Take the Key and Lock Her Up. This is a thrilling trilogy about a strong teen girl with a lot of trauma, trying to figure out whether her mother was killed and, if so, who killed her, all while living in the US embassy. I love this series and would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery and plot twists with a hint of romance.

  • The Time-Traveling Fashionista trilogy by Bianca Turetsky. The trilogy includes On Board the Titanic, At the Palace of Marie Antoinette, and Cleopatra Queen of the Nile. This series is a fashion-filled time machine with a bit of mystery and thrill. I’d recommend this to anyone who enjoys history or fashion.

  • The Naturals Novel series by Jennifer Lynn Barnes; there are four books in this series, first The Naturals, second Killer Instinct, third All In, and fourth Bad Blood. The Naturals Novels are about gifted kids that the FBI has recruited to help solve previously unsolvable crimes. This series is a dark, twisted, and thrilling mystery as you go along with these teens trying to catch serial killers. I loved these novels and never wanted to put them down.

  • Call Me by Your Name by Andre Aciman is a passion-filled romance novel. “Call Me by Your Name is one of my favorite books. It is a beautiful story about love, and I enjoy how it was written and the originality of the plot. It’s one of those books you can’t put down,” senior Elizabeth Fitzpatrick said.

  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky is a sad and heartfelt novel following the life of a quiet teen boy. “Perks of Being a Wallflower is truly a masterpiece; it’s such a beautiful story and made me bawl my eyes out. If you’ve seen the movie, it’s pretty accurate to the book as well,” senior Elizabeth Fitzpatrick said.

  • Dear Evan Hansen by Val Emmich is the emotional journey of a young teen boy. It is recommended for all teens, but beware, trigger warning for having some heavy topics.

  • The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. “This book is really great for people who want to read more non-fiction but normally have a hard time getting into it. It’s a memoir, which is perfect for that! It’s about the author’s real life but feels like a story,” junior Aria Daffron said.

  • Simon vs. The Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli is about a young teen boy who is “in the closet” but is at risk of being exposed after an email falls into the wrong hands. This is a drama-filled heartwarming story that many people love.

  • Alex Rider Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz. “I liked it because it was super easy to read, but still reached a level of complexity that allowed it to have its characters and plot pretty fleshed out, and it’s just a fun spy novel that doesn’t shy away from all the weird nonsensical spy stuff, like an insane villain or literally impossible gadgets,” senior Griffin Roach said.

  • The Rule of Three by Eric Walters. “It’s a bit of a lighter read, but it’s a very fun book. It gives a unique perspective into human temperament. It’s a compelling story that shows the good and bad of humanity while being entertaining,” junior Caden Carter said.

    Courtesy of Caden Carter