READING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

As the month of October approaches, students will inevitably find themselves with a lot of free time to pursue their hobbies. Unfortunately, one habit that is slowly waning away in the modern day-and-age is the desire to read. There are so many distractions available to students at a moment’s notice that they have started to find the act of picking up and reading a book to be arduous – a mentality that needs to be erased in the new generation.

Thankfully, devices such as the Amazon Kindle have made reading more accessible for the modern generation. Students who want to expand their literary knowledge should read the following books that cover various interests and subjects.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – 8-10 years old

If a child needs to get into the habit of reading, then it’s helpful to make this task as accessible as possible. Books with illustrations, simple language, and high levels of readability is a great way to start off. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a great way to start off since it fits into all the points mentioned above. A sense of dry humour and quirky images make this book a great way to kickstart the habit of reading in a child.

Charlotte’s Web – 10-12 years old

A definitive book that’s accessible to read from an early age, Charlotte’s Web is a must-read for a child that’s entering his or her formative years. It’s a simple story about a spider named Charlotte, a pig named Wilbur, and a girl named Fern – and yet, it’s so much more than that. Touching upon numerous themes such as friendship, life, love, innocence, death, and change – the book is a great way for children to get into the habit of reading. It is a classic for a reason, after all.

The Golden Compass – 12-14 years old

The fantasy genre is a great avenue to explore for budding readers due to the sheer wealth of options available. However, listing out any of the Harry Potter books would be cheating here since the series is so widespread. So, instead, readers who have somewhat of an interest in this genre would find it in their best interests to read The Golden Compass, the first book of the His Dark Materials series. It’s an excellent book that’s rich in detail will engross any reader even remotely interested in quality fiction writing.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens – 14-16 years old

The self-help genre has boomed in modern times due to the heightened awareness among the general populace regarding the concept of mental health. Various books in this genre have proven to be highly influential in dictating the lives of individuals and providing them with some much-needed direction. For students in the modern age, the sheer number of distractions available to them can cause a lapse of discipline. To help these individuals figure out ways to be more focused and prioritise effectively, reading The7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens is highly recommended. The book is written by Sean Covey and is a simplified version of his father’s work – The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey. It breaks down the information provided previously and streamlines it to be more relevant for teenagers. It’s an excellent read for students who feel distracted in these formative years and wish to get themselves back on the right track.

To Kill A Mockingbird – 16-18 years old

Most people consider To Kill A Mockingbird to be Harper Lee’s magnum opus, and for a good reason – the book touches upon many social topics that still hold relevance to this date. The book won a Pulitzer Prize upon release for the manner in which it touched upon and elaborated on various themes, including justice, acceptance, prejudice, and tolerance. It became a social phenomenon amongst the masses and is an excellent book for students to read so that they can experience a literary masterpiece first-hand.

The month of October will be well-spent by reading the following books, which showcase different aspects of the literary spectrum. They touch upon various themes and topics that will broaden the minds of students and encourage them to mentally develop themselves by developing a habit of reading constructive literature.