Any book lover has been there: strolling through the aisles of the bookstore, surrounded by stories but failing to find one with a decent premise. When you come across the 10th book that’s a typical young adult vampire tale or a mainstream dystopian romance, finding a book can go from fun to overwhelming in no time. If you’re ever having a hard time finding something to read, look no further than these four novels. For anyone from the casual reader to the bibliophile, there’s no way to go wrong with these undeniably wonderful books.
**“The Mediator: Shadowland” by Meg Cabot**
The first of a six-part series, this book is a unique ghost story with lively, realistic characters that absolutely bring the novel’s premise to life. Set in California, the story is led by the strong heroine Suze, who is a psychic mediator — a liaison between the dead and the living.
Just after Suze’s family moves into her new house, she finds a spirit in her bedroom. Although he is kind, and cute, he doesn’t seem to have a purpose for still hanging around. Suze has trouble figuring out what to do with him. When Suze goes to school, though, she encounters a ghost that isn’t so polite — one who’s out for revenge.
Don’t judge this book by its young teen-driven cover; it’s a touching and fast-paced story that makes it perfect for a quick read. But trust me, it’ll have you buying the sequel in no time.
**“I Am The Messenger” by Markus Zusak**
A raw depiction of underside realities of everyday life, “I Am The Messenger” is about 19-year-old Ed Kennedy, an unassuming taxi driver who’s hopelessly in love with his best friend, Audrey. After thwarting a bank robbery, Ed begins to receive playing cards with vague instructions to mystery locations. In figuring out what he must do at the locations, Ed discovers a few horrible tragedies and a renewed way to view his life. Ed must struggle to not only complete the assignments, but also to find the mystery person that is sending him the cards.
Although Zusak is better-known for his later novel “The Book Thief,” “I Am The Messenger” is a realistic and heartbreaking novel that shows the very mortal struggle of finding one’s purpose in life.
**“Elsewhere” by Gabrielle Zevin**
“Elsewhere” is an incredible novel with a premise that is unique, fresh and completely its own. A new take on reincarnation, 15-year-old Liz Hall is accidentally killed and finds herself in a world called Elsewhere. Elsewhere is essentially a holding place where people age backwards until they are shipped back to earth as babies, ready to be reborn into the world. Liz struggles with the idea that on her next birthday she will be 14 instead of 16, and she has to live with her grandmother Betty, whom she doesn’t like quite as much as she thought.
“Elsewhere” is a tale of life, death and the beauty in togetherness, no matter where you are. This is a wonderful novel that, at less than 300 pages, will surely be happily devoured in a matter of days or even hours. “Elsewhere” is deeply funny and poignant, a novel that will truly stay at the forefront of your mind long after you set it down.
**“Still Alice” by Lisa Genova**
“Still Alice” was recently turned into an Oscar-nominated film starring Julianne Moore and Alec Baldwin, and while it saw success at the award shows, the novel still remains one of the most heart-wrenching books of the decade. The novel begins with Dr. Alice Howland giving a speech. In the middle, she forgets a word, which is especially freaky for her because she has given the speech a million times before. This is the beginning of her diagnosis — early-onset Alzheimer’s. This story details Alice’s descent into the disease, her struggles with her family and a look into her mind as it slowly fades away.
Experiencing the characters in this novel is like looking into a harsh portrait of human nature; it’s brutally honest in its portrayal of Alice’s struggles with her disease and her family’s struggles to understand what she’s going through. The novel is a beautiful, well-researched look into the life of a person who must deal with losing her best resource: her mind. This is a serious and brilliant novel that will break your heart. If you’re going to take this on, bring some tissues. You’re going to need them.