Summer reading recommendations

By Autumn Sandlin and April Winebarger

The Bell Jar, by Sylvia Plath

Esther Greenwood seems to have everything. A dream job at a magazine, a boy vying for her affection, and she lives in one of the most fabulous cities in the world, New York. Esther can not seem to escape the feeling that her life is becoming increasingly not her own and the bell jar effect takes place. After multiple suicide attempts she finds herself in a mental institution and the only question remains, will the bell jar leave her alone? 

Bossypants, by Tina Fey

Tina Fey is well known for her stints on "Saturday Night Live" and her show "30 Rock." This book is a collection of funny stories from Tina's childhood, the hypocrisy women encounter when they're the boss in a workplace and millions of other insightful — not to mention hilarious — little random tidbits from her thoughts on Photoshop, the Internet and being a mother. It's a very light and hilarious book sure to elicit a smile and some laughs.

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Elizabeth Bennett is outspoken and often disagrees with her mother's choices for her a suitable husband. There is only one man who has the same attitude as her and admires her from afar, Mr. Darcy. They come from different statures in life, though, as the Bennetts are not excessively rich and Mr.Darcy is. Will he let his excessive pride get in the way of love and lose Elizabeth to someone else?

East, by Edith Pattou

"East" is a fantasy novel about a teenage girl who travels to the far north with a talking polar bear to save her sister's life. In the bear’s castle, Rose encounters a mysterious being and tries to discover its secrets. East is dauntingly long, but full of fast-paced, intriguing mystery and action, and well worth the read.

Gone, by Michael Grant

One day, everyone older than 15 in Perdido Beach, Calif. is gone, poof, and the kids are left with no resources and no rules. Some young teenagers try to bring order to the town, taking care of infants and rationing food. But others want nothing less than chaos. Gone is a fast-paced sci-fi thriller that opens a continuing series with an enthralling premise.

Young Wizards, by Diane Duane

Young Wizards is an in-progress series (currently nine books) that presents wizardry as a scientific concept. The titular young wizards, Nita and Kit, fight the Lone Power to stop the universe from dying. The first book, "So You Want to be a Wizard," begins a saga of friendship and fighting evil in this under-appreciated older fantasy series.

Autumn Sandlin and April Winebarger are juniors at Elizabethtown High School.