Hot reads for a cool spring break

By Cynthia Hager
Poca High School

Spring Break is almost here, and if you’ve got plans to hit the beach for some sun, why not pack a book and do more than just get a tan? There is nothing like sitting in the sand, reading a good book and listening to the sound of the ocean’s waves.

If you don’t have a book in mind to take with you, check out these great reads below. They fall into a variety of subjects, from chick lit to classic novels. And they’re all just waiting for you to read them.

If you haven’t yet read “Forever in Blue” by Ann Brashares — the final book in the “Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” series — this would be a great opportunity to do so. The book is one to remember as the girls all realize how much they need each other.

In it, Lena meets a new guy at school and decides she needs to move on from her relationship with Kostos, but the end throws you a twist like no other as to whom she’ll end up with. Carmen takes up acting and makes a new friend who isn’t so great, and Bridget flies to Turkey to take part in an archaeological dig. Tibby and Brian work to keep their relationship alive, as many things go wrong with them.

If that’s not your style, try Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice.” Explore the love-hate relationship between Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett, who personify the novel’s title. Mr. Darcy finds Elizabeth to be too prejudiced, and Elizabeth finds Mr. Darcy to be too proud. This romantic comedy may be old, but it’s surely a page-turner.

Another classic novel, “Night” by Elie Wiesel, is another wonderful read. Although it’s very sad, it is a true story that you’ll never forget. Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor, and this book is his memoir. In it, he tells the horrific stories of the things to which he and his family were subjected to in the concentration camps.

“Night” is a short, quick read but one you’ll remember. This is one book that everyone should read at some point in his or her life.

For those girls out there who just want to read about juicy summer relationships, though, “Pool Boys” by Erin Haft is the book for you. The story takes place at the upscale Silver Oaks Country Club, where scandals and secrets fill the daily gossip. The book follows the lives of Brooke, Charlotte and Georgia during one hot summer.

“First French Kiss and Other Traumas” by Adam Bagdasarian is a collection of short stories about the author’s hilarious childhood. From bad kisses to Little League incidents, this book covers it all. It is extremely funny and sure to make you remember some of your own humorous childhood moments.