From classic literature to modern fiction to devotionals and Christian teaching, your high schooler will benefit greatly by developing a summer reading list. Here are 10 books that will help facilitate imagination and spiritual growth for your high school student throughout the summer months.
10 Great Books for High Schoolers During the Summer
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee: This is a must-read classic that follows the trial of an African American man in the deep south of Alabama during the Great Depression era. The reader will see the struggles racism created during an already trying time. Join the journey as the Finch family wrestles with the southern culture while loving all people no matter their background or skin color.
- Crazy Love by Francis Chan: Love is a term that people use many times but what does love actually mean. What did Jesus mean when he said to “Love the Lord your God with heart, mind, and soul”? Chan will guide you as you explore the Crazy Love Jesus commanded those who wanted to get a taste of the Kingdom of God.
- Lord of the Flies by William Golding: Schoolboys are stranded on an island without any adult supervision. They must learn the ways of survival and figure out a way off the island. Can a group of boys band together, or will they end up killing each other before they are rescued?
- The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald: Extravagant parties. Love Triangles. Living the American Dream. All these are part of this novel. Follow Nick Carraway as he tries to live vicariously through his wealthy neighbor during the 1920s. Discover the struggles of coveting and realizing that things are not always what they seem.
- The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis: Step into an amazing world of talking animals, creative magic, and great battles. Four siblings discover this new world while playing hide and seek. Throughout the book, the reader will see how self-sacrificing will always triumph over the evils of the world.
- The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank: A Jewish family is hiding from the Nazi soldiers who have been instructed to persecute anyone who doesn’t follow their ideology. Anne keeps a diary as she struggles with loneliness, anxiety, anti-semitism, and fear. The reader will have to learn about their true identity while seeing a teenager mature during a troubling time.
- Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper: God created people to have a life that shows the unmeasurable grace that has been given out to the world. Are you wasting it? John Piper wants followers of Jesus to live a life that glorifies God. People should not be so caught up in the comforts and pleasures in the world, instead, they need to show the transformation of the passion of Jesus.
- Cost of Discipleship by Dietrich Bonhoeffer: The German theologian explores the demands Jesus gives his followers through the Sermon on the Mount. Learn how to get away from a life of cheap grace and see how costly grace gives Christians a true picture of daily living. Discover how to be a consistent follower of Jesus while showing self-sacrifice and love.
- The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: Greasers and Socs are going to battle, no matter the situation. Some like to follow the rules, while others hold onto the philosophy that “rules are meant to be broken.” While witnessing his best friend kill someone, Ponyboy and Johnny have to go on the run to keep from jail time.
- Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis: Lewis offers a philosophical approach to comprehending the founding beliefs that hold Christians together. Become better equipped to answer the many questions that try to disprove the truth of Christianity. By using logic, the reader will be able to engage in meaningful conversations with non-believers and show the power of the gospel of Jesus.
Summer is a great time to sit outside and read new books. Use this list of books as a starting point as you continue to grow in your understanding of your true self. These books can be challenging and force you to look within yourself as you engage in the writings of these authors. If you would like to know more about Haywood Christian Academy, contact us.