As winter approaches, the tried and true tradition of curling up with a cozy blanket, hot chocolate, and great read is upon us. Many struggle to find insightful and appreciated gifts for their loved ones during the holiday season this time of year. It gets to a point where socks and gift cards don’t excite anyone anymore, adding pressure for all gifters to find exciting presents waiting to be enjoyed.
With the rise of “Booktok” and countless movie and show adaptations of favorite titles coming out, many heads are turning back towards bookshelves and libraries, with hundreds of stories waiting to be read and pored over. If you’re struggling to find a gift for someone this season, here is a curated book gift guide.
For the gamer:
Finding a book for someone who seems to only enjoy complex storylines and characters through an illuminated screen may seem a challenging task. However, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin is a perfect solution. Published in 2022, this story follows two best friends throughout their journey as they develop “Ichigo,” a video game about a lost child facing a set of obstacles. As a reader who had never played any major video games, I quickly found myself immersed in the creation of this game while also excitedly following the tumultuous character driven plot. This is a great gift for someone who enjoys gaming and would love seeing that world reflected in a different piece of media.
For the athlete:
Boys in the Boat follows Joe Rantz, a college student in Washington struggling to make ends meet. After seeing it as a financial solution, he joins his school’s rowing team and quickly gains an intense love for the challenging sport and his closely bonded team. This true story shows how he and his boatmates worked tirelessly to win a gold in the 1936 Summer Olympics after facing many obstacles. Any athlete will be able to empathize with all of the hard work it takes to achieve these earned victories, and this story could also serve as inspiration to any players about perseverance and resistance.
For the romantic:
Most associate winter holidays with December and January, but we all know the friend who’s impatiently waiting for February to roll around so they can enthusiastically celebrate Valentine’s day. For people who religiously watch rom-com classics, there are hundreds of books to choose from. Better Than The Movies by Lynn Painter is one of my unwavering recommendations for anyone who enjoys a developed romance plot along with character arcs and a fun soundtrack on the side. The novel portrays Liz’s senior year of high school, and she’s determined to live it out the way the world intended –by getting into her dream school, and securing her ideal boyfriend. Coincidentally, her old childhood crush has just moved back and Liz has no idea how to approach him. The surprising twist will catch any reader off-guard. This book is a roller coaster of emotions, but it teaches important life lessons about self worth along with an appropriate amount of swoon.
For the artist:
Though high school may seem like an endless stream of tests and slideshows, there’s no denying the considerable amount of teenage artists that walk through Skyline’s halls. In The Henna Wars by Abida Jaigirdar Nishat, a high school student, enters an entrepreneurial contest at her school by starting a Mehndi stall and offering Henna tattoos. This is a traditional method of tattoos with intricate designs on hands. It’s applied with Henna, and originates from South Asia, West Africa, and the Middle East. It’s a cultural practice that she holds very dear to her heart, like millions of others around the world. When two other students open a rival henna business, a string of attempted sabotages ensues as each side wants to garner the most customers. This story definitely shines light on a less common art style here in western culture, and will no doubt intrigue any artist who is looking to expand their artistic knowledge and find new inspiration.
For the baker:
The winter season comes with a range of delectable food on the sugary side. This means anyone with an interest in baking is undoubtedly swamped with family and friend requests for an array of treats like pies and tarts. So, giving these bakers a comfortingly immersive novel they can read while relaxing is the perfect gift. Heartless by Marissa Meyer is a prequel to Lewis Carroll’s classic Alice In Wonderland, and is about Catherine – the future Queen of Hearts – who dreams of opening her own bakery. When her stunning desserts unintentionally woo the king, she is determined to keep control of her own destiny while she starts to fall for a mysterious jester who’s part of the king’s court. This book provides a new perspective into how villains are made, and the array of what motivations drive everyone to success. It will also leave any reader hungry and ready to create some elaborate treats based off of Catherine’s delectable, wondrous creations. Any baker will empathize with her experiences, and will likely enjoy the fantasy and romance plot that’s easy to follow and exciting to discover.
