With winter break approaching comes the inevitable question of what to do with multiple weeks of free time. Some people are traveling, some are seeing family, but some are doing nothing at all. So what do you do with those empty weeks? Well, among other things, you can read. So, here are some books from each genre to brighten up your winter break.

Fantasy: “Six of Crows” by Leigh Bardugo

“Six of Crows” is one of my all time favorite books. On the surface, the story is about a group of teenagers who are on a mission to rescue an inventor from a prison in a rival country. Each character has their own unique motivation and background. The story itself is very dark and gritty and contains discussions of sexual assault and emotional abuse. If this is something that bothers you, it may be a good idea to skip this one. The world of “Six of Crows” is based in an atypical fantasy environment, set mainly in the country of Kerch, which was heavily influenced by the Dutch Empire. This setting starkly contrasts the usual knights-and-princesses fantasy stories based on Western Europe. 

The book does contain a lot of vocabulary that may be confusing to the reader, as it takes place in an already-established universe. As such, many people suggest reading the first trilogy, “Shadow and Bone,” before reading the “Six of Crows” duology. However, when it comes to the quality of the writing, “Six of Crows” is far superior. Overall, “Six of Crows” is a great book series, and its complex multi-layered plots and likable characters make it a great way to kill time.

Historical Fiction: “The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” by Taylor Jenkins Reid

“The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo” is a book exploring the experiences of LGBTQ+ movie stars in the 1950s-80s. The book is framed around the experiences of fictional movie star Evelyn Hugo, and her experiences as a bisexual woman; although there are other LGBTQ+ characters within the novel. The story itself is an incredibly interesting read, as you watch the characters witness the Stonewall Riots, the AIDS crisis, and other queer milestones in the latter half of the 20th century. 

Science Fiction: “Ender’s Game” by Orson Scott Card

“Ender’s Game” is a very well-known book, earning many awards for its fantastic writing and characters. It, like many science fiction stories, takes place in a dystopia. In this world, children are taken away from their parents at young ages and sent off to train to become soldiers. The main character is Ender, a prodigy who moves quickly through both battle school and command school, and is considered to be a potential leader of the world’s army in their battle against the foreign aliens they are in the midst of fighting. However, throughout the story, Ender becomes more and more disillusioned with the system he is a part of. The story culminates in a bittersweet ending and leaves the reader with a lot of questions about why society seems to jump to fighting.

Realistic Fiction: “The Hate U Give” by Angie Thomas

The “Hate U Give” is a story about Starr, a black girl who watches her best friend being shot and killed by police officers. The majority of the novel discusses the aftermath of the event, and the way it impacts her life, while at the same time shedding more light on police brutality and the unfair conditions black people face in their day-to-day lives. The story itself is incredibly well-written and emotional, but is also startlingly real. However, it is necessary to warn readers that there is a fair amount of swearing, as well as extensive discussions of drugs, which some people may feel uncomfortable with. 

Non-Fiction: “Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi

The graphic novel “Persepolis” is an autobiography, telling Marjane “Marji” Satrapi’s story of being a child in Iran during the Islamic Revolution and the war in Iraq. Marji’s father was a Marxist, who often attended protest rallies, as was her uncle who was forced to flee to the USSR, before eventually being executed. As a result, a significant part of the story is about Marji exploring her own political affiliations as well as navigating being a girl under an Islamic fundamentalist regime. “Persepolis” was also turned into a movie in 2007, which went on to earn several awards, including an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature and a Golden Globe nomination.