June 30, 2007

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows — J. K. Rowling
Oh my God. This is, without a doubt, top of everyone’s reading list this summer — adults and kids alike. I don’t know about you, but I booked my copy four months ago, and have been counting down the days ever since. I can’t wait for another year at Hogwarts. Forget emailing when you have owls! Who needs maths when you’ve got Potions? I could do with a fabulous feast in the Great Hall, or Christmas with the Weasley’s. Forget cricket when you can play Quidditch! I’d trade in my Alto for a Firebolt broomstick any day.

Is there anyone scarier than Voldemort? Greater than Dumbledore? Funnier than Fred and George Weasley? More loveable then Hagrid? More infuriating than Snape? Forget the real world! This summer, wrap yourselves up in J. K. Rowling’s fantastic and magical world, in her latest and final instalment of Harry Potter. Expect fireworks bigger and better than you’ve ever seen before — this is the grand finale. Brace yourselves, take a deep breath and hop on to the Hogwarts Express for one last time.

2. The curious incident of the dog in the night-time — Mark Haddon
This novel is an intriguing insight into the mysterious yet fantastic mind of an autistic child, unable to communicate properly with other people. Fifteen-year-old Christopher Boone narrates this remarkably unique account of the events that follow after a neighbour’s dog, Wellington, is killed. Christopher sets out to solve this murder case, entertaining and astounding readers with his extraordinary mind along the way. Through his book, Haddon presents a parallel universe, where the world we live in is perceived entirely literally by Christopher, transforming it into an illogical and outlandish place. Explore Christopher’s incredible world of patterns, rules and numbers that are both his blessing and his curse.





3. Animal Farm — George Orwell
Orwell’s legendary masterpiece, Animal Farm, is a clever parody of the Russian Revolution. While it might be useful and interesting to know the parallels between the novel and the historical event, it is by no means necessary. When the farm animals overthrow the farmer and decide to rule themselves, all seems perfect with their newfound freedom from their previous tyrant. Slowly, their ideal world disintegrates as their true nature begins to surface, and new, crueller tyrants emerge. As Orwell’s immortalised line says, “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others”, this is a story of the greedy, selfish, and power-hungry nature of many humans in the world today.





4. Goodnight Mister Tom — Michelle Magorian
Set during World War II, this immensely touching story, centring round young Willie Beech, shows how the war wasn’t just fought by men in battle grounds far away, but by everyone — even the youngest of children. As a sad, deprived and abused evacuee from the city, Willie finally finds hope and happiness in the countryside with kind and aged Tom Oakley who takes him in. This is a heart rending tale of the destruction war reaps, and the innate goodness found in a rare few who make this world a better place.






5. To Kill a Mockingbird — Harper Lee
Regarded as a masterpiece of American literature, this is a classic that deals with issues of race and humanity. This is slightly heavier reading, but a must for everyone. Set in the sleepy Southern town of Maycomb, Alabama, a black man is accused of a crime against a white woman. The town has no doubt of his guilt, and believes he should be severely punished.

Atticus Finch, a lawyer, believing Tom Robinson to be innocent despite the overwhelming case against him, takes him on as a client, much to the anger and indignation of the white community who believe it preposterous that a respectable, white lawyer should defend a black criminal against a white woman.

Told through the eyes of Scout, Atticus’ young daughter, this is the story of justice, equality, goodness, humanity, and always standing by what is right, no matter what the cost.

6. Kiss the Dust — Elizabeth Laird
Kiss the Dust tells the tale of a forgotten and persecuted race. The Kurds, living by the beautiful mountains and valleys of the Zagros that span northern Iraq, Iran and Turkey, have their own language and culture. They, for the last three decades, have been persecuted and ignored by the Iraqi, Iranian and Turkish governments. They are swept up into political predicaments and suffer in wars they want nothing to do with. This is the tale of just one teenage girl, Tara, and her family, whose life is torn apart by politics. While this might be just a story, it is based on true events, and brings to light the heart break and tragedy that is still being faced by the Kurds today.





7. The Switch/Public Enemy Number Two/Stormbreaker — Anthony Horowitz
I couldn’t decide which of Horowitz’s books I liked the most, so I decided to list three of them. He is a writer who can do no wrong. Bursting with wit, his books take you on a rollercoaster of action, drama, and suspense, through to the finale with a big bang. His protagonists are classic teenagers — cynical and tormented — a delight for Horowitz’s teenage readers. Stormbreaker has recently been made into a motion picture with an all-star cast.







8. I am David — Anne Holm
Also set in World War II, this shows the situation on the other side of the battleground. It is the story of a teenage Jewish boy who is pursued and persecuted because of his religion. His horrific and arduous journey through Eastern Europe during the war is both poignant and gripping. Set in a world ridden with war and hatred, this book carries with it the importance of equality, tolerance and respect for all religions and cultures of the world; a message still valid, and sadly ignored by many people even today.







9. Lord of the Flies – William Golding
If you really want to push yourself with reading this summer, this is the book to go for. A plane crashes on a desert island, and a group of school boys find themselves stranded on their own with no adults to help or supervise. The book begins with rich descriptions of the beautiful island, and the fun and games the boys enjoy all day, and gradually descends into a dark, evil concoction of murder and violence. Written in light of two horrific World Wars, the second ending with the development and use of atom bomb — a dangerous weapon that has permanently changed the dynamic of war, power and politics, this novel is a cynical commentary on “the darkness of man’s heart”.





10. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe — C. S. Lewis
My favourite in a series of seven books, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe follows Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy on their hair-raising, heart-stopping and mind-boggling adventures through the magical world of Narnia. Lewis’ creation of an entirely new world does not stop here, and nor should you! Discover the other six books in the Chronicles of Narnia, and experience the magical and fantastic realms of his imagination.