by Analie Nguyen (’26)

Everyone knows that the IA library is a great place to research, study, and socialize, but the best thing about the IA library is the abundance of literature available to students in less than 5 minutes! Here’s a list of the top nine books of the IA library that I’ve found so far.

1. The Dead and the Gone by Susan Pfeffer

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With the moon’s gravity being amplified tenfold, the apocalypse threatens to kill them all. Alex is left to grow up and become the protector of his sisters after his parents are nowhere to be found. In a world that grows more disturbing by the day, Alex struggles to remember what it means to be human. Or is he still even that?

2. Heartless- Marissa Meyer

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This book is an incredible work of art, as it beautifully narrates what it feels like to have the lives of everyone you love resting on your shoulders. The desperation that lingers in hope is seamlessly incorporated into the story. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys apocalyptic, gritty novels.

Heartless follows the early life of the Queen of Hearts. revealing who she was before her crown and her twisted reign. She used to be Catherine, a noblewoman whose otherworldly deserts attracted the eye of the King of Hearts. Despite his admirable status, she finds herself running away from his advances, deeper into the court of Hearts, which is more twisted than she ever imagined. Then again, Wonderland is never as simple as it seems…

While there have been thousands of theories about villains’ origins, none have been as heartbreaking as the Queen of Hearts’. Heartless tells the story of a doe eyed girl slowly becoming evil for the sake of love.

3. Unwind

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The famous court case, Roe vs Wade, finally boils over into a war. A compromise is struck, protecting all human lives from abortion. That is, until you reach 13 years of age. From the age thirteen until your eighteenth birthday, your parents have a choice. Life or death. Adulthood or ending. They can choose to have you killed. The phrase “Your life is in their hands” took on a whole new level of reality. 

This was one of the best dystopian series  I have ever read. It takes the conflicts of today into consideration and warns society of the most drastic solutions possible. And yet, you can’t help but fear that these solutions are in our near future. It’s an incredibly thought provoking book that tells of a future that might just be set in stone.

4. Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday- Natalie Anderson

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What would you do if the person you’ve always trusted became your greatest enemy? What if saving your family means sentencing them to a life behind bars? In the novel Let’s Go Swimming on Doomsday, these senerios become a reality for bystander Abdi. Terrorists are wreaking havoc and taking lives by the hundreds. Abdi has been accepted into their group–  with much suspicion. Abdi intends to be that weak link that breaks the chain, but it feels like someone is on to him…

What makes this book interesting is that it alternates between time periods every chapter. This may sound confusing at first, but it unwinds the story perfectly. It is rare that I enjoy  heavy topic books, but this book was so captivating and interesting . It highlights real problems of today’s society. This book really deserves to be read in every school.

6. How We Fall Apart

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America–the land of the free and home of the brave. Yet for some, freedom is only a thing that can be achieved through money, and that money can only be achieved by blood. In this story, some are willing to lose blood to climb up the ranks. Things get too far though when a student is murdered at Sinclair Prep.  Scabs start to bleed and the students’ pasts leak out. 

It is rare to see books that dive so deep into the problems of having overbearing parents or feeling the pressure to succeed. IA students are even more likely to experience these feelings, as the IB course is known for its rigor. This book depicts these struggles beautifully without invalidating any of the stress of being young and having so many expectations to exceed.

7. Anastasia And Her Sisters

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Grand Duchess Anastasia: a princess to many, but a survivor to those who truly know her. Born a duchess, Anastatia grew up in a world full of parties, balls, and fun. But even Anastatia knew something was on the brink of breaking. Anastasia and her family live in fear of a rebellion, but hold on tight to hope. What happens if the situation becomes hopeless?

Historical fiction novels are good at reminding readers that certain historical figures had lives, and this book is one of them . It helps readers remember that Anastasia and her family were real people, with real feelings. This book really makes them come to life. I found myself being drawn to Anastasia and really seeing her as more than part of a classic story or film.

8. Book of a Thousand Days – Shannon Hale

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When a king sees his daughter misbehaving, he locks her in a tower with no escape. The princess and her handmaiden are sealed in a secluded tower where the princess quickly gives up hope. But Dashti the handmaiden gets to work, trying to stay alive for the both of them. When no prince is in sight to save them, Dashti does what no one is willing to do– break out of the tower.

This book tore me apart. Dashti is so loyal to her princess that I couldn’t help being in awe. It’s rare to come across a character with so much gumption and stubbornness. While there is some romance in this book, its main themes are not held to that. This book is a refreshing break  from today’s repetitive fantasy books.

9. Silver 

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When a strange bug is found wandering school grounds, there was no thought that it would bring a zombie invasion. But here Paul is, barricading the science room with no more than 40 students. Without means of  communication with the outside world, they know that no one is coming to save them. Time is running out as the creatures are getting smarter, and the doors won’t hold forever.

This was such a good book! I had never read a zombie apocalypse book like this one, it was so original. Most books make their characters abandon their empathy as soon as the apocalypse hits but this one emphasized the ability humans have to work together in insane conditions.

All these books are available in the IA library. Though these books all vary vastly on the genre spectrum, I can vouch for the incredible work that was put into these books. I highly recommend all of them.  If you need assistance finding, please ask Ms. Zhao or Mrs. Janek. Who knows, maybe you’ll read a book that wasn’t even listed. As always, good luck!