May Picks

1. The Giver by Lois Lowry
   It is set in a society which at first appears to be utopian but is revealed to be dystopian as the story progresses. The novel follows a 12-year-old boy named Jonas. The society has taken away pain and strife by converting to "Sameness", a plan that has also eradicated emotional depth from their lives.

2. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
   The novel follows the story of Jane, a seemingly plain and simple girl as she battles through life's struggles. Jane has many obstacles in her life - her cruel and abusive Aunt Reed, the grim conditions at Lowood school, her love for Rochester and Rochester's marriage to Bertha.

3. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
   Fifteen-year-old Charlie is coping with the suicide of his friend, Michael. To lessen the fear and anxiety of starting high school alone, Charlie starts writing letters to a stranger, someone he heard was nice but has never met in person.

4. And Still I Rise by Maya Angelou
   'Still I Rise' by Maya Angelou is an inspiring and moving poem that celebrates self-love and self-acceptance. The poem takes the reader through a series of statements the speaker makes about herself. She praises her strength, her body, and her ability to rise up and away from her personal and historical past.

5. The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
   The series follows Tessa Gray, an orphaned teenage girl who discovers she has the power to shape-shift but doesn't bear a mark that shows she is a warlock. She is forced to learn how to control this newly established power and navigate the new world she was thrust into by means out of her control.