I know you're shocked, but yes, I did say to read during your vacation. Not only is reading fun and entertaining, but quite frankly it prepares you for the next semester, no matter what grade you're in or moving on to. Who wants their brain to turn to mush anyway? Reading over the winter break (and during the summer, too) will make next year in school so much more enjoyable.

Still don't believe me? Well, being the nerdy kid that I am, I've spent my school years taking as many Honors and Advanced Placement classes as I possibly can. With them came dreaded summer work! For the past three summers, I've spent a boat-load of time reading required books for school.

What I once thought of as a plague has actually turned out to be a joy, however. I've always liked reading, but during the summer I can be just as lazy as the next kid. I never had the desire to read over the summer. My summer reading lists have changed that, however, and have made my summers more fun than ever

Reading required books has encouraged me to pick up some other books that I never thought I would like. As it turns out, they were some of the best books I've ever read.

So what's my point? You should read this winter, too! Be it a novel, a graphic novel (manga), or just a newspaper or magazine -- don't let your brain turn to mush! Get a leg-up on next year, and have fun doing it!

Pick up last summer's reading list, if there's anything there you haven't already read. What was on my summer reading list this year? Four books: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austin, Hardball by Christopher Matthews, and The Courage of Their Convictions by Peter Irons.

The latter two are political books that I read for my AP American Government class, and I would assume that they wouldn't be of much interest to many of you! If you're curious about if they're any good, Y-mail me. =)

So here are some suggestions for great books that you could read this winter:

• The Harry Potter Books by J.K. Rowling - The Sorceror's Stone, The Chamber of Secrets, The Prisoner of Azkaban, The Goblet of Fire, and The Order of the Phoenix. I love all of these books very much. I've been reading and rereading them for many years. In fact, I reread them AGAIN last summer. They each have a fantastic plot, and if you love fantasy and mystery, you'll love these books. Heck, if you've already read them, read them again! (Don't just watch the movies. Though they are good, the books are much better!)
  
• The Lord of the Rings Books by J.R.R. Tolkien - The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, The Return of the King, and The Hobbit. Again, don't just watch the movies. These books have a lot to offer, especially to the fantasy-lover. They may be a little hard to understand for some. Try starting with The Hobbit. =D
  
• Any book by John Steinbeck. Some of Steinbeck's best books are set during the Dust Bowl, 50 years ago. Many of his books are VERY short (a lot shorter than The Grapes of Wrath, which is good but enormous), so there's no excuse not to read them. Check out The Pearl, Of Mice and Men, or The Red Pony.
  
• For young and old kids alike, why not read The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis? There are seven books, my favorite being The Silver Chair. They are very well-written books and are fun to read, whether you are 8 years old or 16 years old.
  
• Some of the best books I've read have been summer reading books. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee, 1984 by George Orwell, The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorn, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown, and The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara are among them. These books are all classics and have a lot of historical significance.
  
• Amy Tan books like The Hundred Secret Senses or The Joy-Luck Club are extremely fun to read. They center around Chinese-American families and culture.

I've just listed a bunch of great books that you should check out someday, maybe not this winter or even next summer, but sometime in the future.

Basically, what I wanted to say in this article was, READ WHENEVER YOU CAN! Don't just watch TV or play video games. Stimulate your mind (and have a good time doing it). Read something from the fantasy or science fiction section of your local library, read Shakespeare or Charles Dickens, heck, read a comic book! Just read!

Make the library your friend this winter. It'll pay off and you'll have a great time!

Well, I'm off.

Hmmm... which to read first, my summer reading books or Harry Potter? =S