With the school closure extended through the end of the school year and the shelter-in-place order continuing indefinitely, it is understandable that people are desperate for an opportunity to escape the reality of a world dominated by Coronavirus news. Here are La Puma’s top 5 picks for books to help divert your attention during these trying times.

5. The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton. The Outsiders is a novel sharing the struggles of young greasers in the 1960s. For those who did not read it in middle school, it is worth the time. With ideas concerning the redundancy of social classes, this novel is sure to get you thinking.

4. The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. This novel highlights the importance of inclusiveness. Protagonist Charlie Kelmeckis is pegged as a wallflower, but his friends help to bring him out of his shell. This shows the importance of reaching out to others, and provides valuable life lessons.

3. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. This dystopian novel illustrates a time in which reading books is illegal. It may also alert you to the dangers of a society obsessed with technological diversion. The lessons that can be learned from this book are extremely important to this generation.

2. Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone. Lamorinda’s 2020 Teens Read book, Every Last Word shares the internal struggle of high schooler Samantha McAllister, a sufferer of Purely-Obsessional OCD. This novel teaches empathy, drawing attention to subtle elements of experience often overlooked.

1. Harry Potter. This 7-book series by J.K. Rowling is a classic, and likely can be found on many Moraga bookshelves. With a captivating storyline about the wizarding world, it is sure to take you mind off of the monotony of isolation during the pandemic.