The Media Center is hosting a reading competition, Escape to the World of Reading. The theme is Harry Potter. Students and staff members may select a Harry Potter house and join using this link. This competition runs until June when the winning team and individuals are announced.

All books you read during this school year can be entered into the system via this link. Winter break starts on the 24th and it’s a perfect time to relax, grab a hot chocolate, and enjoy a book. In case you are out of books to read,  here are three of my favorites.

Harry Potter – This seven-book series is a world-recognized name, and the theme of this year’s competition. Follow the lives of Harry Potter and his best friends, Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, through seven enticing fantasy novels. Harry and his friends are wizards who learn at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The three kids certainly don’t have a normal life, even for wizards. They are full-time students who have to save themselves, and the world, from the evil Voldemort… “he who must not be named”. 

Flipped – Flipped is a book that takes place from 1994 – 2000. It’s from the perspective of the two main characters, Bryce Loski and Juli Baker. The book follows them from second grade to eighth grade when Juli had a massive crush on Bryce, and Bryce couldn’t stand her. But, as they grow older, something flips.

Lunar Chronicles – The Lunar Chronicles is a 5 book series that puts a twist on childhood fairy tale characters. Each book follows a different character, but they are all connected in the goal of defeating the evil Queen Levana. The first book is Cinder, which is a twist on the character, Cinderella. Cinder is a part robotic girl who starts the fight to defeating Levana.

Harry Potter and the Lunar Chronicles have a sprinkle of everything. These books are fantasy by definition, but they also have drama, thriller, romance, and mystery aspects. Flipped is realistic fiction and has moments middle school and high school students can relate to. All of these books have amazing character development and a thickening plot that keeps readers turning pages.

Happy holidays and happy reading!