Need help choosing a book to read during Enrichment? Look no further! As it’s now spooky season, here is a brief review list of some of my favorite books to read around this time of year, spoiler free. From mystery to historical fiction, you’re sure to find your next read in the Book Nook shelves of the Deep Work Center!
For Middle Schoolers:
Beyond the Burning Time by Kathryn Lasky
This book is a fictional story based on the events of the 1692 Witch Trials in Salem, Massachusetts. It focuses on the experience of a young girl named Mary Chase, living in the midst of chaos as suspicion, fear, hysteria, and, most of all, accusations of witchcraft plague her town. When her mother is accused, she and her brother Caleb must decide whether to save themselves or stand up for their mother’s innocence.
I really enjoyed this book on the Salem Witch Trials as it was from the personal perspective of a young girl, as opposed to the history-focused retellings in books and documentaries. Her own struggle is very highlighted through her internal monologues as she witnesses the craze of the accused and, even more so, their accusers. I’d recommend this book for its strong storytelling and especially to those who enjoy historical fiction!
For Upper Schoolers:
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
This is a classic murder mystery about ten strangers who are invited to a secluded island off the coast of England by an unknown stranger. None of them know exactly why they have been brought there, but they soon find out that they all have mysterious pasts somehow linked to murder. When each of them begins dying one by one, they start to suspect that they may be in more danger than they realized.
This novel might be one of my most favorite books of all time for its suspenseful plot and complex characters. Cristie’s skillful plot-weaving and hint-leaving carries the whole novel and makes it the masterpiece that it is. I’d recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an eerie novel with great twists and turns!
By Lilly Rose Madani ‘27, Co-Arts & Entertainment Editor
