It’s always great finding a new book to get your teeth stuck into, and who better to ask for recommendations than our brilliant Youth Advisory Board?
If you want to keep up with the board’s activities and get involved in the discussion, we are sharing updates on Twitter, and you can find further book recommendations on the @NottmCityofLit Instagram.
Zach recommends: Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez
An essential and revelatory coming-of-age narrative from a thrilling new voice, Rainbow Milk follows nineteen-year-old Jesse McCarthy as he grapples with his racial and sexual identities against the backdrop of his Jehovah’s Witness upbringing.
Deanna recommends: The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran
Originally published in 1923 by Knopf, The Prophet is a teaching fable that has been cherished by millions for nearly 100 years. Deanna says: ‘I love the way this book reflects Gibran’s belief in the unity of religions. His words are for everyone – regardless of religion – and the 26 prose poems in this book speak to many people at different stages in life. And the images are so memorable! It is a little like magic.’
Abigail recommends: The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
The unforgettable, heartbreaking story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy boy and the son of his father’s servant, The Kite Runner is a beautifully crafted novel set in a country that is in the process of being destroyed. It is about the power of reading, the price of betrayal, and the possibility of redemption; and an exploration of the power of fathers over sons—their love, their sacrifices, their lies.
Jodie recommends: Persuasion by Jane Austen
Jane Austen’s final finished work, and what is widely regarded as her most moving novel, offers delicate, ironic observations on social custom, love, and marriage while applying a sharp focus lens to English manners and morals. It is a story of love, friendship, and second chances.
Minh-Anh recommends: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price. Minh-Anh says: ‘I like it because it deals with the complexities of love and and the importance of finding the courage to let go.‘
Nidaa recommends: Allegiant by Veronica Roth
Told from a riveting dual-perspective, Allegiant brings the Divergent series to a powerful conclusion while revealing the secrets of the dystopian world. Nidaa says: ‘I love dystopian books! This is one of the most intense and action-packed dystopian trilogies around, and this final book in the series has a very unique perspective on different worlds.’
Emani recommends: Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng
Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price. Minh-Anh says: ‘I like it because it deals with the complexities of love and and the importance of finding the courage to let go.‘
Connor recommends: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
In the year 2044, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he’s jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade’s devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world’s digital confines, puzzles that are based on their creator’s obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
Joe recommends: Mythos by Stephen Fry
From Persephone’s pomegranate seeds to Prometheus’s fire, from devious divine schemes to immortal love affairs, Stephen Fry draws out the humour and pathos in each story and reveals its relevance for our own time.