Knoji’s School Holiday Reading List: 10 Unmissable Books High Schoolers Can’t Stop Reading

School Holiday reading list season is here, and Knoji has curated the ultimate must-read lineup for High schoolers.

Knowing what to read over the School Holidays can be hard, especially with so many entertainment options competing for attention. However, reading is crucial as it builds critical thinking skills, strengthens vocabulary, and encourages creativity during time away from the classroom.

From reluctant readers to avid book lovers, these 10 titles are perfect for relaxing, escaping, and discovering stories that stay with you long after the holidays end. You might even learn something new. So, put the phone down and pick up one of these books!

Top 5 FICTION books to add to your personal School Holiday reading list:

1. A Monster Calls – Patrick Ness (2011). This fantasy novel follows a young boy named Conor who is visited nightly by a monster. The monster tells him stories to help him cope with his Mother’s serious illness, forcing Conor to face his fears, grief, and the truth about his feelings. The text can be found for free here!
2. Never Let Me Go – Kazuo Ishiguro (2005). This dystopian novel follows Kathy and her friends as they grow up in a seemingly normal boarding school. As they mature, they slowly uncover the disturbing truth about their lives and the purpose they were created for. The text can be found for free here!
3. Animal Farm – George Orwell (1945). This political novella follows a group of farm animals who overthrow their human owner to create an equal society. The pigs of the farm eventually take control, creating a dictatorship that mirrors the oppression they tried to escape. The text can be found for free here!
4. Metamorphosis – Franz Kafka (1915). This absurdist novella follows Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning transformed into a giant insect. As readers we see how his transformation leads to isolation and rejection by his family. The text can be found for free here!
5. The Outsiders – S.E. Hinton (1967). This coming-of-age novel follows Ponyboy Curtis, a teenager caught between two rival gangs. After a violent incident, the Ponyboy is forced to reconsider how he understands loss, loyalty, and change. The text can be found for free here!

Top 5 NON-FICTION books to add to your personal School Holiday reading list:

1. Born A Crime – Trevor Noah (2016). This memoir follows Trevor Noah growing up mixed-race in apartheid South Africa, where his existence is illegal. Through humorous anecdotes from his childhood, the text shows how his close relationship with his Mother helped him navigate poverty, violence, and racism. The text can be found for free here!
2. When Breath Becomes Air – Paul Kalanithi (2016). This memoir follows neurosurgeon Paul Kalanithi as he is diagnosed with terminal cancer at the height of his career. He reflects on life, death, and meaning while balancing saving others through surgery with facing his own mortality. The text can be found for free here!
3. The Danger Of A Single Story – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2009). This nonfiction essay follows Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie as she reflects on her experiences with stereotypes and representation. She explains how hearing only one story about a culture or group leads to misunderstanding and harm. The text can be found for free here!
4. The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind – William Kamkwamba (2009). This memoir follows William Kamkwamba growing up in Malawi during a time of famine and hardship. We learn how how he teaches himself engineering from barely any resources, and uses scrap metal to build a windmill to help save his village. The text can be found for free here!
5. Into Thin Air – Jon Krakauer (1997). This discursive follows Jon Krakauer’s experience during the 1996 Mount Everest expedition disaster, in which eight climbers were killed and several others were stranded by a storm.  The text details the events that lead to tragedy and the difficult choices made in extreme conditions. The text can be found for free here!

Want more reading recommendations? Check out Knoji’s monthly Book Nook here!