For a teacher, there’s no better feeling than the start of a break–unless it’s the start of a break with a comfy chair, a fluffy blanket, a cup of coffee, and a big stack of books. Whether you want to curl up with a cozy mystery, go back in time with page-turning historical fiction, or challenge yourself with a classic, we have a list for you.

1. A Clever Rom-Com for Lit Lovers

The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman is the story of a quirky bookseller whose life revolves around her cat and her trivia team. While this might sound a bit cliche, Nina is a complex and clever character–a sort of modern-day Elizabeth Bennet She is happy with her job and her friends and is content to keep her world small and comfortable. But when her long-lost father dies, Nina is confronted with an entire family she never knew existed. As if that’s not enough to turn her life upside down, her trivia nemesis (who it just so happens is quite handsome) wants to get to know her better. But can Nina leave her comfort zone enough to start a new chapter in her life?

2. A Heartbreaking Story of Friendship and Betrayal 

The Color of Our Sky is the story of childhood friends who are torn apart by betrayal and the horrors of child prostitution. Beautifully written, Amita Trasi takes us into the world of Mutka a lower-caste girl who is saved from life as a temple prostitute when she is sent to be the house girl of an upper-caste family in Mumbai. There she becomes friends with the family’s daughter, Tara. But when Mutka is kidnapped, Tara worries she is to blame. Shortly after Mutka’s kidnapping, Tara’s family moves to America, but eleven years later, she returns to India to search for her friend. In effort to save Mutka and alleviate her own guilt, Tara uncovers the dark truth about Mutka’s fate and her own family’s secrets. 

3. Historical Fiction You Can Recommend to Your Students

When her father leaves 16-year-old Eliza Lucas in charge of his South Carolina plantations, she is forced to find a way to make them profitable. The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd is the story of how, through Eliza’s ingenuity and efforts, indigo saves her family’s plantations and eventually becomes the primary cash crop of the entire state. This novel about one of America’s founding mothers (Lucas also becomes the mother of two signers of the Declaration of Independence) is a fascinating story that will appeal to adults and teens. 

4. A Feel-Good Whodunit

Vera Wong has a well-ordered, albeit boring, life–that is until she finds a dead body in her tea shop. When the police investigation does not meet Vera’s satisfaction, she decides to solve the murder herself. Fortunately, Vera’s no-nonsense attitude allows her to remain objective (sort of) even as she bonds with all her murder suspects. But can she maintain her objectivity as she gets closer to discovering who the killer is? Find out in Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutano.

5. Nonfiction that Reads Like a Novel 

If you grew up in the 80s, you might think you know the story of the Space Shuttle Challenger. However, Adam Higginbotham’s Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space will give you new and fascinating insights into America’s space program and how the Challenger disaster affected America’s view of the future. The New York Times calls Challenger a “heart-pounding thriller.”

7. Sci-Fi for People Who Don’t Read Sci-Fi

Project Hail Maryby Andy Weir begins with the main character waking up from what he surmises is a coma. He doesn’t know who he is or where he is. As his memory returns bit by bit, he not only discovers his mission to save Earth but also some hard truths about himself. Project Hail Mary is funny, smart, cool, and ultimately redemptive. This one is also a fabulous audiobook.

8. A Me-Too Story for Middle Schoolers

Even though this novel centers around a group of 8th graders, any woman who has ever felt pressured not to “make a big deal” out of an uncomfortable situation will relate to What Happened to Rachel Riley by Claire Swinarski. Middle school isn’t easy for anyone, but when Anna Hunt realizes that the most unpopular girl at her new school was once an “it girl”, she is determined to figure out what happened to Rachel Riley. What she discovers is a complex backstory and a truth that is uncomfortable for everyone involved. 

9. A Hilarious Memoir Full of Fun Facts

In The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World, author A.J. Jacobs sets out to make his mark by reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica in a year–all 33,000 pages. What ensues is a hilarious year-long dive into…well, everything. But the real story is how this quest affects Jacobs, his family, and his friends.

10. A Novel About Miracles–But Not Necessarily the Ones We Want

Ruben Land came into the world with swampy lungs and didn’t take his first breath for a full 12 minutes. Raised on the story of how his father’s command to breathe snatched him back to life, Ruben had always believed in miracles. But when his older brother, Davy, kills two intruders and then flees the law himself, the miracles Ruben’s family needs to bring Davy home seem to allude them. Or do they? Peace Like a River by Leif Enger is an epic story that is tragic, heroic, sweet, and often funny. Most of all, it asks us to rethink our ideas about miracles.  

11. A Novel for Anyone Longing for a Simpler Time

Hannah Coulter (and all the novels in Wendel Berry’s Port Williams series) tells the simple but beautiful story of the people of Port William, Kentucky and how their lives intertwine to create a community that is rare these days–but one like many of us still long for.

12. Classics and the Modern Novels They Inspired  

Whether you’re a fan of the classics or you just want to skip ahead to their modern counterparts, here are some great suggested pairings. 

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Other Bennet Sister by Janice Hadlow

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie and The Never King by Nikki St. Crowe

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain andJames: A Novel by Percival Everett

13. Classics Southern Style

Who knew that Pride and Prejudice read in a Southern accent would be so perfect? Apparently, The Cultured Bumpkin did, and on his YouTube Channel, you’ll also find the works of Edgar Allen Poe, William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and more read in Southern accents. More than just entertaining, these classics actually seem more accessible in the Cultured Bumpkins slow, melodic drawl. Even listeners from up north are sure to be captivated. 

Teachers often possess a love for reading. Ironically, our profession as educators often keeps us from this great pleasure. Here’s hoping the break gives you plenty of time to rest, recharge, and lose yourself in a good book or two. 

Check out all our top picks for students of all ages.