This heartwarming 2019 graphic novel details the story of two high school seniors, Deja and Josiah, who work at a seasonal pumpkin patch every Halloween. Deja and Josiah hunt through the massive farm to find Josiah’s crush; the mysterious Marcy who works at the Fudge Shop across from their Succotash Hut. Along the way, they encounter a diverse range of tired but dedicated employees and unruly children as they try to make the most out of their last Halloween before they graduate high school. 

Time weaves the plot together, with the pair working to accomplish everything that they can do at this magical patch before it’s too late. Relatable for all seniors who are nearing the end of their K-12 journeys, the simple yet dynamic art by Faith Erin Hicks elevates the emotion of every scene beyond just the words.

“The Night Circus” is a 2011 fantasy enemies-to-lovers romance novel by Erin Morgenstern about two proteges of extremely powerful magicians at The Circus of Dreams—a circus that practices real magic, challenging audience expectations with reality breaking stunts and illusions. Proteges Celia and Marco are unknowingly locked into a secret competition to determine who is the stronger of the two. 

What sets the novel apart is its unorthodox story structure. Although chapters are set in different settings, time periods and viewpoints, the overarching narrative comes together seamlessly to create a cohesive story with multidimensional characters. Although it is a slow read, Morgenstern takes the time to thoughtfully develop characters and details as they explore a setting which is equally enthralling and horrifying.

Anna James’ debut novel “The Bookwanderers” serves as the first in her series chronicling the life of Tilly Pages, a young British girl who lives in a bookstore with her grandparents after her mother disappeared when she was a baby. Upon discovering that she and her family have the power to explore the fictional worlds present within the books that she holds dear to her heart, Tilly and her friend Oskar traverse the worlds of “Anne of Green Gables,” “Treasure Island” and “A Little Princess,” meeting their respective characters and searching for clues about Tilly’s mother along the way.

Seeing many classic book characters together within one story makes this book stand out. Even though the story is meant for younger readers, it’s a heartwarming story to read with a younger sibling and your favorite pumpkin spice flavored snack as you immerse yourself in the worlds of Avonlea and the streets of London on a drizzly fall morning.

Franz Kafka’s short story “The Metamorphosis” is a classic, gripping tale of a lowly salesman, Gregor Samsa, who wakes up one morning to discover that he has been transformed into a massive human sized insect! What follows is a series of events recounting Samsa’s new life in his bedroom as this unearthly creature as his mind deteriorates from the isolation he experiences from his family and from the world. Kafka’s blunt and realistic writing style is illustrated through the  disturbing depiction of Samsa’s life as a vermin (well, realistic if you ignore the whole mysterious transformation aspect of the story). Inherently absurd and frankly frightening, the novel’s unconventional premise might make it a great short read if you have a bit of time on your hands that you want to fill. If you’re down for a thought provoking narrative centered around existentialism and humanity, try picking up a copy of Kafka’s magnum opus.