The best books we read in 2021
Vista staff choose the best fiction and nonfiction titles of the year
JESSICA MILLS / CONTRIBUTOR / THE USD VISTA
As the semester comes to a close, and the stress of finals wears off, reading for leisure is becoming more of a possibility. Whether you’re headed back home or spending the holidays on vacation, now is the perfect time to unwind while reading outside the classroom.
Choosing which book to read, from the thousands of offered titles, is no easy task. For this reason, the USD Vista staff created a list of must-read novels and shared their own opinions on why these are the best books they read this year.
“Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens – Taylor DeGuzman / Editor in Chief
“‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ by Delia Owens is as stunning as it is heartbreaking. The book tells the story of a reclusive, young girl, who is shunned as an outcast by her town as the “Marsh Girl” for quite literally living alone in the marsh. When the hometown hero, Chase Andrews, is pronounced dead, the town immediately suspects that it’s Kya Clark, the Marsh Girl, who was once secretly in a relationship with Andrews. As a reader, you become deeply attached to characters as the mystery and investigation of Andrews unravels. This profound coming of age story will leave you speechless at every turn of the page.”
“Pet Sematary” by Stephen King – Jarek Morgan / Assistant Sports Editor
“I was genuinely afraid while reading this book.”
“Crying in H Mart” by Michelle Zauner – Jenny Han / Assistant News Editor
“This book revolves around Zauner, the author, who is trying to connect with her Korean heritage and mother. As a Korean-American who is struggling to define what it means to be Asian in a White-dominated society, this was the first book I’ve read that truly resonated with me and my experiences. This book definitely is part of an increase in Asian-American media in the US, and it is a heartwarming, heartbreaking, and delightful read.”
“Beartown” by Fredrick Blackman – Charlotte Ferguson / Assistant Feature Section Editor
“At first, I thought it was purely a book about hockey, but I soon realized it was so much more than that. It’s a story about a community, family, and the pressures that fall on all of us. The book is so well written and in a slightly unconventional style that makes you want to keep going. It made me laugh, cry, and left me wanting more. Do yourself a favor and read this book.”
“Migrations” by Charlotte McConaghy – Anna Valaik / Arts and Culture Editor
“It’s a beautiful story of a woman just simply trying to figure out her place in the world. She’s complex and real, and the story packs in emotion on almost every single page. However, bring a tissue box alongside your reading because it can sometimes be heart crushingly sad.”
“The Bone Shard Daughter” by Andrea Stewart – Jessica Mills / Contributor
“The unwinding suspense of this plot truly left me in awe. The creativity Stewart demonstrates in this fantasy book is unparalleled. As an avid reader, especially in the fantasy genre, Stewart’s plot is unique to anything I have read before. Her plot twists were amazingly unexpected, so much so, I never wanted to put the book down. We follow the story of Lin, daughter of the emperor and her journey to mastering “bone shard magic.” Written from five different points of view, this is not an easy read, but the plot is so sharp and the characters so vivid, it’s truly a brilliant page turner.”
From heart wrenching fiction novels to inspiring nonfiction page turners, there is a story here for everyone to enjoy before next semester begins.