Johnston students have read many books in this past year. The books were chosen by avid book readers who have read a variety of books this year. 

Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing is a murder mystery, the story follows two timelines that slowly connect. The first perspective is Kya as she grows up in the marshes of North Carolina isolated from the world. The second perspective is an investigation into the murder of Chase Andrews, a celebrity of Barkley Cove in North Carolina. Kya becomes unexpectedly linked to Chase Andrews and becomes the prime suspect. 

“My favorite book of 2024 was Where the Crawdads Sing. I liked it because it had a fascinating plot and interesting characters which kept me engaged until the very last word. It also had many different elements that were unique and blended well including mystery, science, romance, and coming-of-age, and I liked that as well,” said Natalie Miller 27’

Love in Winter Wonderland

Trey Anderson has to balance the pressures of school popularity with a job at his family’s local bookshop, Wonderland. Ariel Spencer needs tuition for the prestigious art program and a job at Wonderland is the answer. They learn it is on the brink of being shut down, they team up to stop the doors from closing before the Christmas Eve deadline. They are on a hate-to-love journey that will change them forever. 

“My favorite book of 2024 was Love in Winter Wonderland by Abiola Bello. I liked this book because it shows the story of two teenagers trying to save a bookshop from closing permanently. My favorite thing about this book was the determination shown by the two, and how they kept persevering through their issues. As well as how in the end *spoiler alert* the community rallied behind them to help their book shop stay open,” said Mya Campbell 27’ 

The Women

Frankie McGrath is a young woman from a wealthy family that decides to enlist as a nurse in The Vietnam War after her brother was killed in war. She leaves her comfortable life in California to serve in a war-ravaged country under dangerous conditions. When she returns, the atmosphere in America is hostile to veterans and dismissive of women’s contributions to the war and she struggles to find her place. The Women tells a story of the overlooked women who served in Vietnam.

My favorite book of 2024 was The Women. She gave a compelling and intimate historical drama. She introduces many topics and tragedies but also keeps it light-hearted. The Women is a captivating story that is sure to keep your attention.