Quarantine Book Recommendations
February 18, 2021
Reading is a hobby for plenty of people and it is a great way to pass time, however, finding books that spark interest in readers can be difficult. Here are some books that are definitely worth the read:
A Lesson Before Dying is a historical fiction book that is a part of Oprah’s Book Club written by Ernest J. Gaines. It takes place in 1940s Louisiana when segregation was still occurring in the United States. Grant Wiggins is a local teacher who teaches in a one-room schoolhouse for black children. He is not content with his life and small-town boredom. One day Miss Emma, his aunt’s friend, asks a favor of him. She is the godmother of a young man named Jefferson, who was wrongly convicted of murder and was being sentenced to death. Miss Emma wanted Grant to talk to him and make Jefferson’s last days meaningful. The book details the life of blacks in America and the injustices they experienced through the period of segregation and how it reflects today. It goes above and beyond to emphasize the struggles their community underwent and still undergoes.
Another great recommendation is The Invisible Life Of Addie LaRue by V.E Schwab. It is a historical romance novel taking place in France in 1714 and New York in 2014. Addie lives in a small village and is seeking more than just her simple rural life. One day she prays to the gods after dark, a forbidden practice, asking for freedom and independence. The gods used her desperation against her and cursed her to be forgotten by everyone she meets and made her immortal. In New York City of 2014, centuries later, she meets a man who was able to remember her after she met him at a bookstore. The novel greatly describes the character’s emotions and is an absolute tear-jerker. It has deep significance and symbolism that changes perspectives about life and romance.
The Sun is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon is a teen romance drama novel that is set in modern-day New York City. Natasha Kingsley is a high school student who immigrated to the United States from Jamaica when she was eight years old. Her family is being deported in less than a day and in her last twelve hours in New York, she tries to overturn the deportation. As she runs errands she crosses paths with Daniel Bae, a young Korean boy who is going to Yale to become a doctor to please his parents. Natasha doesn’t believe in true love, however, Daniel falls in love with her and wants to make her feel the same way. The novel is filled with humor and heart-wrenching moments that will tug at your heartstrings. It will have you hooked and unable to put the book down. The movie adaptation is available on Hulu to watch after reading.
John Green has produced many exceptional books, and Turtles All the Way Down is the perfect example of his well-written literature. Aza Holmes is a sixteen-year-old girl who suffers from severe anxiety. She and her best friend Daisy try to solve the mysterious disappearance of their local billionaire, Russell Pickett because he lives a close proximity to Aza’s house. Along the way, she didn’t expect to catch feelings for Russell Pickett’s son, Davis. Together they conquest to find Davis’ father and Aza runs through teenage and mental hardships to overcome. Turtles All the Way Down breaks down and focuses on the mind of teenagers with anxiety. In this case how Aza views her world. It depicts the struggles of mental health issues through relatable characters and how anxiety takes a toll on people.
These books definitely deserve to be appreciated and make sure to put them on reading bucket lists. They most certainly can become new favorites and cherished works for readers of all kinds.
![Many students have had extra time on their hands to get healthier and Gloria Falach, 10, tells us about her experience with diet changes shes made. “The biggest change I’ve made since quarantine is I’m trying to eat healthier,” Falach stated, “Since I have a lot of [extra] time.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/unnamed-12-475x277.jpg)
![4/26/20: “I placed them [bunny drawings] all around the living room in the most obvious locations to see if they would see all of them quickly. But, first I tested my sister to see if she could find all of them and it took her about 1 minute and 40 seconds to find them all. The one in the kitchen was the one they all struggled finding for some reason. So they were trying to find all 4 but they were struggling. My sister and I started laughing at them because they had passed by the last one like three times. When they found all four I asked them which was their favorite. The one in the kitchen was their favorite because it was cartoony. Then I told my parents that one of the reasons I drew bunnies [was] to honor our pet bunny that we loved. Then my mom told my sister and I to go to the room so she could hide all the eggs in the living room. We did the little scavenger hunt as a family. My parents were watching us look for all of them while giving us clues.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Estephany-Hernandez-475x475.jpg)
![4/25/20: “It’s scary because over the news you hear about people dying. I was scared and I wore a face mask. Only one person was allowed into the room unlike my last pregnancy, [so] I was so happy to come home. It’s difficult because we have to tell people no they can’t see the baby as a precaution to not get her sick. They’re seeing the baby through videos, Facetime, and it’s crazy! I’m panicked; it’s really hard to do everything (anybody can get her sick) - emotionally draining.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Amelia-Gonzalez-469x475.jpg)
![4/22/20: “For me the quarantine has affected every aspect of my life; being stuck at home has forced me to have more responsibilities. I have to balance being a full time college student and keeping up with all the work that I’ve been assigned. It’s been a lot more stressful because my professors have been assigning a lot of work that makes it hard for me, especially since I have to also watch after my two younger siblings. One also has online courses and needs a lot of attention being in 1st grade. I have to help him with his assignments while also watching over my other brother who is only 2 years old; he requires a lot of attention. My mom’s hours have also changed at work and now that she works more hours; I’m basically the only one running the household. The thing is I also have to attend mandatory Zoom lectures and that’s also difficult because I can’t focus on my classes due to all my responsibilities. And I’ve been having to do a lot more around the house. I have a lot of chores such as picking up after my siblings and doing laundry [and] making meals. And it’s been taking a toll on me because I feel overwhelmed with everything going on, especially with my mom being on the front lines. She comes into contact with people with the virus daily so we have been taking extra precautions at home and sanitizing everything. A family friend recently passed away of covid and it was really scary for my family. It was scary for my family because this family friend lives only 5 mins. away from us.”](https://www.thedowneylegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Ashley-Urizar-356x475.jpg)