By Lydia Minko, Year 10 Journalist Leader

With Book Week this week I thought I’d share my top lockdown reads. These are the books which I found most entertaining and helped me pass the time stuck indoors in a safe but action packed and exciting way! There is something for everyone:

A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik

Genre: YA (young adult) fiction

Age Rating: 15+

Come to a school with no teachers, no holidays and no friendships — save strategic ones. The Scholomance is a school for the magically gifted but be warned, failure meets certain death, quite literally.  Maleficent monsters lurk the halls, waiting to pluck an unsuspecting student to make them its meal. El possesses a dark power capable of wiping out all of these monsters but the problem is, is that using it would kill everyone around her. In conclusion, think: young adult Harry Potter mixed with some dark academia. 

They Both Die At The End by Adam Silverav

Genre: LGBTQ+ , Young Adult, Fiction

Age Rating: 14+

Rufus and Mateo meet through an app after finding out they both have one day left to live. This is a world where an organisation called Death Cast calls you at midnight of the day you will die. They both meet and decide to live out their last day alive as fully as possible. Although both from different backgrounds and upbringings they both find an unlikely companion in each other which takes them both by surprise. If you are a masochist and are looking for a good cry, this is the book for you. 

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Genre: Fantasy Fiction

Age: 13+

Caraval is the first book in a trilogy and each book surprises me more than the last with how good they are. This series is one of my absolute favorites and feels like magic in a book. Scarlett lives on an island with her sister and cruel father. She has long dreamed of visiting the legendary Caraval, a faraway, once-a-year, performance but it seems to her that it will never happen since her father has arranged a marriage for her. But when the long dreamt of invitation arrives, her sister, Donatella, with the help of a mysterious sailor, whisk her away to the island. Only upon arrival Donatella is kidnapped by the show’s mastermind, Legend. It turns out that this year’s Caraval revolves around her sister and the first person to find her is the winner. Scarlett is swept away in a game of love, heartbreak and magic. This book series is a perfect escape and adventure — a wonderful read!

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Genre: Young Adult/ Mystery/ Thriller

Age: 12+

A perfect family, with a perfect life, with perfect houses and perfect summers. That’s what you see at least, but is it all lies? There isn’t much that I can say about this book without spoiling it but just know it is a fantastic read. I read it in one sitting and the ending was so shocking I spent the rest of the day (week if we’re being honest) processing the events. Perfect for mystery lovers of all ages!

The Shadow And Bone trilogy by Leigh Bardugo

Genre: YA fantasy

Age: 11+

A soon to be Netflix series, Shadow and Bone follows Alina Starkov who has no particular talents but when she finds herself with a strange power, suddenly an entire kingdom is depending on her to save them. Ravka, torn and surrounded by enemies, needs a saviour, but will Alina be enough? A brilliant and easy read which can be followed by the Six of Crows duology set some years after and follows a gang of teens who are on a mission to break into the most impenetrable fortress to exist and save a scientist who holds some very dangerous knowledge. Great entertainment, I thoroughly recommend. 

The Godfather by Mario Puzo 

Genre: Fiction / Classic

Age: 15+

An absolute classic! It follows Don Corleone, a mafia leader in post WW2 New York. It’s a quick, action packed, and pretty simple read although it has some mature scenes. I definitely recommend it. Something that everyone must read at least once in their life with so many valuable lessons.

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

Genre: Fiction / Classic

Age: 14+ / advanced 

I am in awe of Oscar Wilde! His writing is absolutely mesmerizing, and again I found so many valuable lessons and interesting concepts in this book . He captures the triviality of the superficial things in life and how what’s on the inside matters the most. Another must read. 

Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell

Genre: Historical Fiction

Age: 14+

A stunning book. It covers the raw experience of a mother who loses one of her children and her marital struggles. Drawing on Maggie O’Farrell’s long term fascination with the little-known story behind Shakespeare’s Hamlet. This book is perfect in so many ways, from the prose to the structure and storyline. 100% worth it. 

There are so many amazing books out there, no matter who you are; what interests you, there’s something for you to read. I’ve only just scratched the surface so if you are interested in discovering more books check out the link to my Goodreads Bookshelf here. (Most of it is fantasy fiction but I can guarantee there is something to love about every single one of them!)