By MADISON LEE
Discovering books to read has never been easier. Many great books have gone viral and reached millions of teen readers. Jericho High School librarian Ms. Salzberg said, “Things like TikTok get you excited about reading.”
The use of social media can expand students’ reading horizons. Ms. Salzberg added, ”Once you’ve read some of the popular titles on social media, I can recommend books in the same genre.”
Ms. Salzberg invites students to speak with her in the high school library about their interests if they are unsure what to read. Ms. Salzberg said, ”If a student does not like to read books, I use movies or even video games to find connections to books with similar themes.”
Books are available in the high school library as well as the Jericho Public Library. E-books can be found on Sora and Overdrive. To access e-books, students can sign in to Overdrive with their Jericho Public Library card number and sign into Sora with their high school email address.
Here is a curated list of some suggested titles.
1. “One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
“One of Us is Lying” is a mystery thriller novel published in 2017. Ms. Salzberg said, “I think the author did a very good job of portraying the point of view of teens.” This is one of the most popular books checked out in the Jericho High School library and was adapted into a TV series on Peacock. Ms. Salzberg added, ” It is a whodunnit story, so that’s why I think a lot of kids liked it.”
JPL: E-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: Audiobook and e-book on Sora
2. “Lessons in Chemistry” by Bonnie Garmus
“Lessons in Chemistry” is a novel published in 2022. Through the protagonist’s story, the book explores issues of sexism in the workplace and the meaning of family. It was Bonnie Garmus’ first novel and became a national bestseller. Ms. Salzberg said, “I immediately loved it because I felt all the characters were very real.”
JPL: E-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: Audiobook and e-book on Sora
3. “The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelis
“The Silent Patient” is a psychological thriller published in 2019. The novel explores themes of art, love and deception and keeps the reader guessing throughout the book. It is currently being developed into a movie and is one of the most checked out e-books in the high school library. Ms. Salzberg said, “Almost all the teachers have read The Silent Patient.“
JPL: Audiobook and e-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: Audiobook and e-book on Sora
4. “The Midnight Library” by Matt Haig
“The Midnight Library” is a fantasy novel published in 2020, which tells the story of a woman named Nora who is given a chance to reflect on her life choices through a magical library. The novel explores the concept of living with regret and finding happiness.
JPL: Audiobook and e-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: Audiobook and e-book on Sora
5. “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo
This 2015 novel was a viral sensation on TikTok and is the first book of a duology, which follows the Shadow and Bone trilogy that was adapted into a Netflix series. Jericho freshman Harnoor J. said, “I like the characters and reading about their first interactions.”
Jericho High School Library: E-book on Sora
6. ” The Summer I Turned Pretty” by Jenny Han
This is a young adult novel published in 2009, which tells the story of a young girl’s experience with love and heartbreak. The novel is praised for its relatable characters and realistic portrayal of teenage life. It is book one of a trilogy and was adapted into a popular TV series for Amazon Prime.
JPL: Audiobook and e-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: E-book on Sora
7. “Book Lovers” by Emily Henry
“Book Lovers” is a romance novel published in 2022 by Emily Henry; the main character is a literary agent who is unlucky in love. Ms. Salzberg said, ” Emily Henry writes a lot of cute romance novels which I really enjoyed reading towards the end of 2022.” Books by Emily Henry have risen to popularity because of their presence on social media such as Tik Tok.
JPL: Audiobook and e-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: Audiobook and e-book on Sora
8. “Murder on the Orient Express” by Agatha Christie
“Murder on the Orient Express” is a mystery fiction story published in 1934. It has been adapted into various forms of media including movies, television series and stage productions. Neha K. said,” My favorite mystery was the first story about a woman who was poisoned and the interesting methods they used to deduce who killed her.”
9. “The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
This novel, which was published in 1982, explores themes of race, gender and class while telling the story of an African-American woman living in the South. It was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1983 and adapted into a movie in 1985 by Steven Spielberg.
JPL: E-book on Overdrive
Jericho High School Library: E-book on Sora
10. “The Invisible Life of Addie Larue” by V. E. Schwab
This work of historical fantasy was published in 2020 and is slated to be adapted as a movie by Studio eOne. It follows the life of a young woman who makes a deal with the devil in order to become immortal. According to Ms. Salzberg, this is another Jericho teacher favorite.
