Looking For a New Book? Watauga High School Library’s Two Most Popular Books

Caroline Clark, 11, reads The Inheritance Games in the comfort of her own home, during the fall months. “When the weather gets colder, I like to do nothing more than snuggle up with a good book,” said Clark.  Photo Creds: Abbi Clark

Abbi Clark, Sports Desk Lead

The weather is getting cooler as fall shows itself through the colorful transformation of trees all around us. Fall brings about a cozy atmosphere that influences many students to stay indoors and spend time reading. But those who aren’t big readers find themselves asking, “Where do I start?” 

The Watauga High School library has a vast selection of over 16,000 books to choose from, which can be overwhelming for those trying to pick up the fun and productive hobby of reading. An option these students have is looking at the most popular books that are checked out from the library and starting their reading journey there. 

Among the most popular books at the Watauga High School Library are “The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, and “Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell. Though the books are completely different in terms of genre, they are both directed towards high school students. Avid and aspiring readers alike would find these books worth the read.

Minor Spoilers Ahead

“The Inheritance Games”

“The Inheritance Games” by Jennifer Lynn Barnes is a mystery book and the first of a series with 6 installments. The book starts off by introducing the young protagonist, Avery Grambs, who narrates the entirety of the book in first person. Despite her young age, she struggles financially without parental help, which leads her to live a tougher life than most. 

This all changes for Avery when she is called to be in the presence of a will reading for a billionaire, whom she has never met. She is promptly flown out to the “Hawthorne House” where she gets to meet the Hawthornes, the family of the late billionaire. As the will is read, Avery is shocked to discover her inheritance. 

A mystery develops as Avery searches to find the reasoning behind these events. She works to piece together the puzzle with smaller games and puzzles throughout the book. As the story continues, the mystery thickens and new details are brought to life, leaving more questions than answers. A love triangle even emerges, giving the book a romantic side that keeps the reader on the edge of their seat.

Overall, the book is filled with suspense and mystery, leaving the reader wondering, “What will happen next?” It’s a great book to sit down and read all at once, since it's so fast-paced. The drama of the book and the cliffhanger at the end makes it a great first book in the series. The only downside would be that it can be a little hard to follow with so many different characters and descriptions, but it gets better as everyone is introduced. I would recommend the read for those looking to start a new, fast-paced book and a subsequent series.

“Eleanor & Park”

“Eleanor & Park” by Rainbow Rowell is a romance book that follows the 2 main protagonists, Eleanor Douglass and Park Sheridan. The story is told in third person and switches perspectives every chapter. The book starts with Park sitting on his bus alone while trying to avoid the other kids. Park is Asian-American, which makes him feel different compared to the other kids. The first chapter ends with a new student, Eleanor, entering the bus and struggling to find a seat, so Park reluctantly lets her share his seat.

Eleanor is seen as big and awkward and dresses in weird clothes. Her peculiarity causes the other kids to make fun of and exclude her. And her home life isn’t much better, as she has to deal with poverty and abuse.

Eleanor and Park have to continue sharing a seat on the bus though neither of them enjoys it. As the book continues, they begin to form a connection and an unexpected romance begins to form. The pair has to deal with bullying and family troubles which shape the main conflict of the book. They must learn to navigate high school life despite being different, knowing that they have each other.

The romance can come on heavy but considering that the main characters are high schoolers who have never felt love like that before, it makes sense. The book deals with heavier topics such as abuse, bullying, and gender identity, which gives it a slightly more mature feel. Though the romance is strong it can feel relatable since the characters are so heavily flawed. The book is a roller coaster of emotions, alternating between sweet moments where a lonely couple finds solace in each other and darker themes of hopelessness and loneliness.

All in all it is a good book with fully fleshed out and flawed characters that make it more relatable to high school students or just anyone who has experienced love or a feeling of being alone and different.

Overall both books are worth the read and can be perfect to pick up as the days get chillier. Once those books are finished, there are thousands more to choose from in the Watauga High School library. It’s hard to stay bored when inside with a good book.