Top Seven books for Winter: Get yourself warmed up for the Holidays!

Believe me, who is not excited for the winter holidays? When you can curl up in your favourite armchair, grab a cup of tea or hot chocolate and read a delightful book. After all, isn’t that what winter holidays are for? So, lean back and enjoy.

Romance:

East- By Edith Pattou

East, or also known as The North Child, is a captivating book about fate, adventure and acceptance. The book is set in the Finnish countryside. It revolves around a young girl named Rose, with a thirst for adventure, much to her mother’s bewilderment. The family is fighting sickness, poverty, and with a mountain of debts waiting to crash down on them, it’s a surprise that Rose has managed to live a joyful, carefree childhood. That is, until a polar bear makes an unexpected entrance, and offers the family wealth, mental and physical well-being and an undisturbed, successful life ...for Rose! And so, an unforgettable journey begins, about self-discovery and appreciation.

Fantasy:

Sky Song-By Abi Elphinstone

This book is set in the frosty land of Erkenwald, where icebergs with glistening edges poke out of the sapphire sea like many needles, and the northern lights luminate the hardened ice. So, where are the nation of this land? They are not so easy to find. Erkenwald is reigned by a cruel queen, and the people must hide to survive. Join Eska, a girl trapped in a cursed music box (How does she fit in there? Magic.) and Flint, a boy whose inventions may save the world one fateful day. But why does the queen want Eska’s voice so much? What happens to the adults who are captured? Why do the children hear their voices every night? And... who is Eska, and why doesn’t she remember her past?

Heart-Warming:

The Travelling Cat Chronicles- By Hiro Arikawa

Nana the cat is on a trip. He is not sure where he's going or why, but it means that he can sit in the front seat of a silver van with his beloved owner, Satoru. Side by side, they tour around Japan through the changing seasons, visiting Satoru's old friends. But what is the purpose of this road trip? And why is everyone so interested in Nana? Nana does not know, and Satoru won't say. But if Nana finally works it out, his small heart might break... Need a heart-warming book? Here you go. Warning: Do not read without a packet of tissues next to you. Tears ensued. Seriously. This book is one of my favorites: It teaches us about sacrifice, love and acceptance.

Historical:

The Book Thief- By Markus Zusak

When death tells you a story, you don’t complain. We are writing 1939. Germany is fighting their hardest war yet. The story follows our young heroine, Liesel, as she tries to find her way in a world that she thought she knew well. Her mother is taken away, and she is left with her foster parents: Rosa Hubermann, a woman with an awfully dirty mouth, and Hans Hubermann, a quiet accordionist. Follow Liesel as she learns to survive within the cruel lands of the Nazi Germany and learns the power of words.

Thriller:

Darkest Minds-By Alexandra Bracken

When a sudden disease kills children throughout the United States, it leaves the survivors with supernatural abilities. As a result, the government places the survivors in a rehabilitation camp. On Ruby’s tenth birthday, her mother locks Ruby in the garage; having no memories of her, she sends Ruby to Thurmond, where Ruby is determined to be an Orange, a dangerous class where they can control other people's minds and memories. The circumstances are cruel, and when she is just about to give up, a glimmer of hope appears. This compelling book is a dystopian-action-thriller written for teens, raising several questions regarding discrimination and politics.

Action:

The Hunger Games- By Suzanne Collins

Another dystopian blockbuster: The Hunger Games circulates around a controlling government, privileged citizens, vicious media and a 16-year-old girl named Katniss. What else would you need in a dystopian novel? The Hunger Games is set in the distant future. Each year, as a punishment for the failed rebellion by District 13, the 12 Panem Districts are forced to pay tribute to the ruthless Capitol regime, in the form of the Hunger Games, a ruthless reality show where 24 teenagers fight to the death for the Capitol Citizens’ entertainment. When Katniss’s sister, Primrose, is picked to enter the Hunger Games, Katniss volunteers to take her place. She will have to fight hard for her morals, personality and sanity.

Supernatural:

Miss. Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children- By Ransom Riggs

When Jacob is fifteen, his grandfather starts ranting and raving about monsters coming to get him. Jacob and his dad write it off as dementia. Big mistake: When Jacob goes to check on his grandfather, he finds him dead… and he comes face to face—with the monster that killed him. So... Who, or what, are these creatures? Why is only Jacob able to see them? And most importantly... What does a seemingly abandoned orphanage have to do with the case (’all of this’ rather ’the case’. again, it's a little less awkward of a phrase and is more commonly used)?

How much of these books have you read? Have you noted some down to add on your reading list? Well, I won’t hold you up anymore. Get the comfiest blanket around your house and nestle in one of your favorite armchairs. Hot chocolate ready? Have a nice time!