By Odalys Leal

1. Paper Towns
   by John Green

Best known for his book and hit movie The Fault In Our Stars, John Green has managed to get yet another one of his books in the bestsellers list. Paper Towns is the story where Quentin Jacobsen, an average teenage boy, falls in love with Margo Roth Spiegelman, his stunning and mischievous next door neighbor.

After years of admiring her from afar, Quentin is surprised when Margo suddenly enlists his help one night, in one of her famous revengeful pranks. The next day, however, Margo Roth Spiegelman goes missing, the reason for her disappearance becoming a mystery. When Quentin discovers clues that may lead to Margo’s whereabouts, he and his friends decide go on an adventure to save the girl of his dreams. Along the way however, Quentin begins to discover that maybe Margo Roth Spiegelman is not the perfect girl he made her out to be.

Although the story may seem cliché, it has both witty humor and seriousness that makes a book compelling. John Green captured certain facts about us as people that we never like to admit. This book forces the reader to realize that sometimes people present different versions of themselves to fit the different people they associate with. It makes the reader realize that the world is a big place and that people who are so self-absorbed are simply a small part of the whole. The book leaves the reader with an immense feeling of awe and contentment. Read the book and then go see the movie when it comes out this summer!

2. Doctor Sleep
   by Stephen King

Summer is a great time to enjoy a fun bit of horror and chills. Doctor Sleep is definitely fits the bill of enjoyable horror. The sequel to The Shining comes with everything that any reader would expected from Stephen King.

Protagonist Danny Torrance is now a man and has left the Overlook Hotel and its terrors behind, or so he thinks. A group of supernatural beings called the True Knot begin feeding on children who have the shining. By slowly killing the child, they collect something called steam, which keeps them young and alive. When Dan meets twelve year old Abra Stone, it becomes his job to protect her from the True Knot and stop them from murdering others.

Although the story does contain horror material, there are also meaningful parts including the importance of dealing with alcoholism, managing healthy relationships and how there is darkness even in the best person and a little light in the worst.

3. The Night Circus
   by Erin Morgenstern

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves where two young magicians, Celia and Marco, play a game in which only one can be left standing, the circus just a stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Both have been trained since childhood for this game, making things complicated when the pair slowly falls deeply in love.

What makes this book so good is how the story comes alive from the pages, due simply to the creative descriptions that work the reader’s imagination. This book is simply good old fashioned great storytelling.

The Night Circus gives readers the feeling of realness. It draws the reader into the story, and also into getting to know all the nuances of the characters as well. This is the kind of story that weaves its way into the heart and leaves the reader craving for a sequel.

4. Perks of Being a Wallflower
   by Stephen Chbosky

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a classic story that everyone must read at least once. It tells the story in letter form; the main character, Charlie, writing to a friend. It follows him throughout his freshman year in high school, from covering the troubles of fitting in, to fighting the demons that life threw at him. This novel is one of the most touching books on this list. It makes the reader feel attached to the characters in a good way. There are even many eye opening topics that Charlie talks about in his letters. These letters will cause tears to be shed and also chuckles of laughter as Charlie takes the reader with him through his school year. Although bittersweet, the ending leaves the reader with a satisfied feeling.

5. Miss Peregrine’s Home
   for Peculiar Children
   by Ransom Riggs

This book is unlike any other. It is a twisted dark fantasy of sorts that is also very interesting to read. The story begins with sixteen year old Jacob traveling to a distant island where he discovers Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children in ruins.

Deciding to explore the abandoned building, Jacob discovers that the children that once lived there may have been sent to a remote island for a good reason. With the knowledge that these children may have been dangerous, Jacob is troubled to find out that maybe, these children are still alive after many years in exile.

The book contains a collection of creepy vintage photographs scattered into the story that makes it even more interesting to the reader.