Article contributed by Noura Khalid
How many of us have struggled with our reading challenges? And how many of us have gone through reading slumps that interfere with our reading schedules?
The answer is, we all have! That’s why we’ve made a list of books that will help you get rid of that terrible reading slump, and make you feel like you’re one step ahead of your reading challenge too!
Read on to discover some great short reads to help boost your reading challenge!
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
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You may remember this movie from your childhood, and guess what? There’s a book! The adventures of Jess and Leslie in their magical kingdom by the woods is quick read with around 130 pages and a lot of nostalgia.
Animal Farm by George Orwell
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Some of us didn’t get the chance to read classics like Animal Farm while we were in school so why not start now? Animal Farm is about a society of mistreated animals and their mission to create a just environment.
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
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A mystery novel about eighteen year old Mary Katherine Blackwood, who lives in an estate with her sister and uncle. There were more members of the Blackwood family until a tragedy struck, and only three members survived. The remaining Blackwood’s live in isolation, but Mary senses that danger is approaching.
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf
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A feminist essay that discusses women’s right to an education, financial independence, and many other interesting topics.
The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas
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If you’ve read the Throne of Glass series, this is a collection of five short novellas surrounding the famous Celaena Sardothien, Adarlan’s most feared assassin. Here we sink into the many adventures of Celaena before we came to know her in Throne of Glass. Whether you’ve read the Throne of Glass series or not, this collection is a great place to start as it’s such an intriguing and fun read. Plus you’ll feel accomplished every time you finish a novella, especially since you can even mark each novella on Goodreads. What could feel more satisfying?
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
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I read this book earlier this year and loved it! The story is about a middle-aged man who goes back to his childhood home. Memories seem to return to him, and he remembers the farm-house that was at the end of the road and the peculiar girl who lived there. He hasn’t thought of her in quite some time, but just by sitting there he begins to remember the strange and frightening situations that happened to him as a little boy.
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
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A story about a Shepherd boy who longs to travel and search for treasure. Although this book is fictional, it’s more known for teaching the readers about wisdom and following your heart and your dreams.
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
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We Were Liars is one of my favourite reads and it focuses on a group of four friends who stay on a private island during the summer. A fun story until devastation strikes and you’re hit with an ending you didn’t expect.
The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
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The Tales of Beedle the Bard is a collection of fairytales that the Wizarding World grew up with, especially since we’ve all wanted to hear about these tales since Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
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Who wouldn’t want to explore the magical world of Narnia? A land that can be found at the very end of a wardrobe full of magic and adventure that you’ll love no matter how old you are.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle
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You might have heard about this book from your childhood or from the movie adaptation earlier this year, so I decided to read the book before seeing the movie. When Meg’s father disappears, it’s up to her, Calvin, and Charles Wallace to find out what’s happened to him, and rescue him from whatever is holding him captive. But can they outwit the forces of evil they will encounter on their heart-stopping journey through space?
Coraline by Neil Gaiman
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Coraline has just moved to her new home, and she’s decided it’s time to explore when she finds a strange door in her house that seems to lead to another apartment just like hers. However, this one has another mother and father who want Coraline to stay, and she needs to find a way out.
The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula K. Le Guin
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A twenty-three page book about society that will contribute to your reading challenge and teach you a thing or two about life. All about choices and justice and what we are willing to put up with if it means our happiness will continue.
The Bane Chronicles by Cassandra Clare
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If you’re a fan of Cassandra Clare’s Shadowhunters series then you’re bound like this one, which is a collection of eleven short stories about Magnus Bane. Through these stories you’ll get to know a little bit more about his life and his various adventures, as well as meet a few beloved characters.
The Boogeyman by Stephen King
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A short story written by the king of horror himself. A quick twenty-three page read for those who would like to experience Stephen King’s stories and writing for the first time. The Boogeyman is about a man who is chased by memories of his past, and who remembers the murders of his three children.
