As the final bell rings on Dec. 18 many students go from having a multiple tasks to do for school to barely any. This well-deserved break gives students time to things they want to from hanging out with friends to watching Netflix, and my personal favorite catching up or even rereading my favorite books. The list below is some of my favorite stories that will be sure to please during holiday break.

5. Cinder

Coming at No. 5, would be the novel science fiction novel Cinder by Marissa Meyer. When I first picked up this book last year during the holidays I wasn’t to positive I’d like it. I’m more of a historical or realistic fiction kind of reader, and usually I stay far away from science fiction but this book really, really impressed me. It takes place in New Beijing, while mysterious lunar people wait to attack Cinder’s home planet. Cinder is a futuristic version of Cinderella, and most “people” are cyborgs. It’s an extremely awesome twist on a well-known tale.

4. The Help

Next would have to go to The Help written by Kathryn Stockett. It’s about three completely different women who find themselves creating a book about how african american maids were being treated in the early 1960s. The book is told in three different perspective, which I usually don’t care for really blew me away. The Help, teaches friendship, love, and how important it is for you to stand up for what you believe in. The Help should be a classic that everyone should at least read once.

3. Orphan Train

Continuing, the next book to read over this holiday break is Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline. This book starts off slow with orphan Molly steals a book, and is forced to do community service for a local widow Vivian. Molly is supposed to help Vivian clean out her attic but as Molly begins cleaning through Vivian’s possessions great stories of Vivian’s life unfold. This brings the two characters living in practically two different worlds together.  This is a great book to read over the holidays because it reminds you the importance of friendship and family.

2. If I Stay

Another novel that deals with importance of family and friendship is the young adult novel If I Stay by Gayle Foreman. Musician Mia, and the rest of her family are in a tragic car accident. Mia is the only one that lives although she is badly hurt and in a coma. Somehow within her coma she is able to see everything going on in the hospital around her. She is stuck with the decision to wake up and live or decide to die to be with the rest of her family. One of my favorite aspects of this book would be the fact it is told in mainly flashbacks.

1. The Diary of Anne Frank

No. 1 on my list is a classic and probably my favorite book of all time. During the holidays, (especially during New Years) I always reread The Diary of Anne Frank. This will always be my favorite book just because it is a reminder that even in the worst situations you should be able to find good in people. It’s also a great reminder to never give up on hobbies you enjoy, and not to mention what you do can affect the world you live in.

This list is just a few of the books on my shelf read over the holiday break. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.