For those interested in video games, friendship, love and life…
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
Set in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Venice Beach, California, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow follows the journey of two game designers, Sadie and Sam, as they navigate success, love, jealousy and friendship over the span of 30 years. And, let’s not forget about our favorite character, Marx, Sadie and Sam’s best friend. Collectively, we cried about five times. Whenever someone asks for a book recommendation, this is the one we give.
Recommended for grades nine and up.

For science fiction fans…
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
Schoolteacher Ryland Grace wakes up in a mysterious spacecraft with no companions and no memories of his past, but unbeknownst to him, he is on a mission to save Earth from an apocalypse. When we first read this book, we were immediately fascinated by the world-building and scientific accuracy. In addition to the amazing plot, the book explores deeper topics such as morality and survival, making it the perfect sci-fi read.

For those looking for a feel-good romance…
Funny Story by Emily Henry
A girl gets dumped by her fiancé for his girl best “friend,” who also dumps her fiancé … and the two heartbroken people are forced to live together. Not only is this such a fun concept, but the characters and conflict are given incredible depth. This book was a great mix of humor, romance and some more serious topics such as identity and trust.
Recommended for grades ten and up.

For those interested in Greek mythology…
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
A retelling of the Trojan War, The Song of Achilles is a modern take on Homer’s Iliad from Patroclus’s perspective. Although books on mythology can seem intimidating (especially if you’re not a “JCLer”), Miller’s writing is captivating and beautiful, so you won’t get bored! This is the type of book that we love to heavily annotate, as it’s truly unforgettable.
Recommended for grades nine and up.

For those interested in emotional memoirs…
I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
Writer, director and former child actress Jennette McCurdy unpacks her traumatic experiences with child acting and her abusive mother in this emotional and moving memoir. We highly recommend listening to this on the audiobook version — Jennette McCurdy’s voice is raw and real. While celebrity memoirs tend to suck, this one was amazing, even though we weren’t Disney kids.
Recommended for grades ten and up.

For those looking to reflect on the world around them…
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The narrator, an adult Kathy H., reflects on her experiences growing up at Hailsham, a mysterious boarding school that is isolated from the rest of the world. Although it may not seem like it at first, this story is set in a dystopian world, the details of which are slowly and masterfully revealed by Ishiguro over time. This book is such an amazing study on morality, identity and memories and is definitely the perfect read for the philosophers out there.