| Summer Reading: Leading Ladies By: Gesina Phillips For some people, the phrase “summer reading” may conjure up images of interminable boredom or last-minute cramming. However, there are lots of books outside of those assigned for English class. From classics to new releases, there is more than enough reading material for every day of your summer vacation. Just because a book is assigned doesn’t mean it isn’t enjoyable! Poetry and prose by Sylvia Plath is sometimes taught during English class, but the character that she creates in her novel The Bell Jar is an interesting companion with whom to spend some time with this summer. Esther Greenwood is in many ways an ordinary young woman. However, as she encounters the double standards and limitations in the life of a woman during the 1950s, she begins a battle with mental illness. The novel chronicles Esther’s descent into depression and her gradual journey toward recovery. Her story, while not a cheerful and unchallenging beach read, is an up-close look at both a time-period and the phenomenon of depression. The enduring works of literature taught in school are called “classics” for a very good reason, but there is no reason to overlook modern writing. Melinda, the heroine of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak, is a high school exile. After she calls the police on a rowdy party, her former friends desert her and she becomes an outcast; however, no one knows the truth about that night, and Melinda isn’t telling anyone. Throughout her freshman year, she deals with trauma, recovery, and the struggle to find a voice. Melinda’s journey, while more extreme than most, is an engrossing tale of self-discovery. Though the robot and warrior-filled landscape of science-fiction and fantasy literature would seem to leave little room for female protagonists, there are in fact many books where the princess saves the day. For example, Lyra Belacqua is a fierce girl in a men’s world in Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass. When children begin disappearing, Lyra sets out on a quest to get to the bottom of the mystery, and in the process is thrown into an even bigger adventure. Her world of armored polar bears and witches, zeppelins and demons, is one of magic and wonder. Lyra doesn’t let anything get in her way, and the result is an absorbing read good for any setting, from the beach to the backyard. If the traditional dragons and princesses format of fantasy isn’t necessarily your thing, there is a wealth of science-fiction that blends the real world with that of dreams. The dystopian society of the Uglies trilogy seeks to ensure that everyone is equally pretty with the aid of cosmetic surgery, conducted on a person’s sixteenth birthday. However, the surgery also obliterates a person’s individuality. The protagonist, Tally, is forced to make the choice between “ugly” and “pretty”—and therefore individuality and conformity—when she discovers the true implications of her society. In a world where the ordinary has been overturned, she becomes a heroine for her courage and will. Whether you prefer stories from the past, stories that focus on the trials and tribulations of high school, or stories of fantasy and the supernatural, there is a wealth of female-fronted fiction available. This summer, when seeking a break from assigned reading, why not befriend one of these heroines? |
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