Encouraging Reading

If you enjoy reading, it is always fun to recommend books and encourage others to embrace literature. Reading is both a way to learn new words and facts, expand your imagination, and see things from another point of view. It always surprises me when I hear someone say, "Yeah, well, I don't really like reading." In my mind reading is something everyone should appreciate. You don't have to be fast or read all the time, but you should all immerse yourselves in a book you like once in a while.

Besides just telling people about the books you've read and making recommendations, there are other things that will encourage others to look into literature. One of the main points I'd like to stress is that support of your local library is key. Help out and participate in the events that they run. The public library I use has great programs and is very open to new ideas. I'm sure its the case in other libraries too. If you see something about a program people you know might be interested in, speak up! It is more than likely that they are happy to learn of a new activity related to their interests. Besides just being a great place to learn about more books, library events are an enjoyable way to discover something new, create, make new friends, get new ideas, or simply enjoy an evening. I can personally say that the people I've met at the library usually share a few things in common with me, but the differences in their personalities always bring whatever topic we're covering into a new and unique light. A library is an ideal setting for creativity to flourish, and it is one of my favorite places to be.

The Future of Us

The Future of Us, by Jay Asher and Carolyn Macker,  is a good book for people. who enjoy technology and the concept of time travel. It is written from the perspective of two high school seniors in 1996. Josh and Emma have been neighbors and best friends their whole lives, but lately there has been tension between them. Emma gets a new computer and Josh's family gets a special CD-ROM. When he brings it over and they download it, they find themselves looking at their Facebook accounts 15 years in the future. Facebook hasn't been invented yet, though. Every time they log on, their future changes. Carrying the message that what you do now affects your life down the line, this story reveals two characters who are trying to discover themselves and understand what mistakes they are making. I'd recommend this book for ages fourteen and older.

The Infernal Devices Series

For people who have read and enjoyed The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices series is another good choice of reading. Also written by Cassandra Clare, it delves further into the world of the Shadowhunters. It also uncovers some back history behind the characters of  The Mortal Instruments.
Set in the past, Victorian London, Tessa Gray, the main character, is introduced. Moving from new York to London, she discovers that her older brother and only living relative, Nate, has gone missing. The only people who seem to know what might have happened to him are the mysterious Darke Sisters. Confronted with the knowledge that she has the power to change her form to look like others, Tessa is trapped with the Darke Sisters until she is rescued by two Shadowhunters, Will and Jem. Like Clary, Tessa finds herself immersed in a world of magic and monsters, but she finds that she may fit in there more than she originally thought. It is very interesting, because you discover more about certain names mentioned in The Mortal Instuments. Also, the warlock Magnus Bane and several other characters reemerge in this series as well.
So far the books are as follows:
Clockwork Angel
Clockwork Prince
The book, Clockwork Princess, is scheduled to come out in a few months.
I think this series is good for readers fourteen and up.

The Mortal Instruments Series

The Mortal Instruments is a series of books by Cassandra Clare. I was first introduced to it through the "Battle of the Books", a local reading competition. It is a piece of urban fantasy. The first book, City of Bones, introduces the main character, Clarissa Fray (Clary). Living in New York City with her mother, Clary is at a club when some strange events unfold. She sees three other teenagers covered in odd markings kill a fourth boy. When Clary's mother is kidnapped, she falls into a world she never knew existed. The three teenagers, she discovers, are Shadowhunters, special warriors whose job it is to rid the earth of demons, and protect the world from other dangerous magical creatures. As Clary tries to discover what happened to her mother, she is confronted by several questions. No one knows how she can suddenly see a world that is hidden from the eyes of normal humans. She also must face the fact that her mother hid the truth about her past. As she helps the Shadowhunters fight a man who was thought to be dead, Clary must also discover who she is while finding out that nothing is what it seems.

This series is so far comprised of five books, though it is not complete. Here are the titles:

City of Bones

City of Ashes

City of Glass

City of Fallen Angels

City of Lost Souls

I'd suggest it for people fourteen or older. I think it is a very interesting and engaging world. The main character isn't my favorite character, but all the key figures in the story have unique and interesting personalities. 

Cloak

Recently, I was rereading a fantasy story, set in the modern day.  Cloak, written by James Gough, is a good book for someone who enjoys mythological creatures.

The main character, thirteen year-old Will Tuttle is allergic to almost everything. He spends his days, bored and friendless. His world changes when he discovers a race called enchants, a society of half-humans hidden in plain sight, who manage to keep ordinary people from noticing their non-human aspects. Will is the only one to be able to see through their disguises.  The story is about what happens to Will as he finds himself in a world he would have previously thought of as just a myth.

I think this book deserves the rating 9 out of 10. Though not overly challenging in vocabulary, it is an interesting tale with several humorous characters and a strong plot. The world created by the author is both amazing and engaging.  I’d suggest this book for readers ages 12 and up. 

To Catch a Pirate

To people who like the idea of reading a book that is a historical fiction adventure and a romance all at once,  To Catch a Pirate by Jade Parker could fit your style.

Set in the Caribbean of the 1700s, this story is about a young woman, Annalisa Townsend. Her father has been sent by King George to govern a small town on an island. While sailing to the island with money intended to help finance the town, their ship is attacked by pirates. They steal the money, and Annalisa’s father is arrested because the royal governor of New Providence thinks he helped the pirates take the money. A year later, Annalisa forges a letter claiming she has permission to hunt down pirates and sets out to regain the stolen money, capture the pirates who stole it, and thereby free her father. James Sterling,who is one of the pirates who helped steal the treasure, stumbling across Annalisa in the process, is specifically hunted by the young woman in the hope that he’ll know where the money is hidden. But she begins to find herself succumbing to his charm and falling in love with him instead…

I would give this book a rating of 10 out of 10. I would recommend it for teens fourteen and older, though, as it has some rude language and several battle scenes. 

The Magic of Books

Reading is both a wonderful pastime and a way to expand your own imagination. Some books are made to teach its readers about deeper lessons in life, while others are good to spice up a boring rainy afternoon. Whatever your preferred type of literature is, you will find that some stories will speak to you and others don’t. Some books will give you new ideas. One thing is for certain: whether you’re a computer whiz, a writer, an artist, a sports jock, or something else entirely, there is a book out there written for someone like you, and if you look in the right places, you will find the book that speaks to you.