As secondary school curricula become increasingly complex and standardized testing intensifies, the development of strong reading comprehension skills becomes paramount for student success. However, beyond academic achievement, a love of reading fosters intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and a foundation for lifelong learning.
To support your child’s ongoing journey in English learning, our English curriculum specialists have curated list of books that you can read to improve your analytical thinking and vocabulary knowledge, where these titles provide a worthwhile investment of your valuable reading time.
| 1. | Walk Two Moons – Sharon Creech (Novel / Young Adult Fiction) Walk Two Moons is a young adult novel by Sharon Creech, and is narrated in first person through Salamanca Tree Hiddle, better known as Sal. While traveling across the country to Idaho with her grandparents, she tells of her new best friend, Phoebe Winterbottom, while her own story unfolds at the same time.
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| 2. | Tuesdays with Morrie – Mitch Albom (Biographical fiction / Memoir) Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of your mentor as you journey through life, and the insights faded. Wouldn’t you like to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you? Mitch Albom had that second chance. He rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing Morrie was dying of ALS – or motor neurone disease – MItch visited him every Tuesday rekindling a relationship which brought us lessons on how to live.
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| 3. | Lord of the Flies – William Golding (Novel / Parody, Allegory) A plane crashes on an uncharted island, stranding a group of schoolboys. They attempt to forge their own society, failing, however, in the face of terror, sin and evil. And as order collapses, and terror begins its reign, the hope of adventure seems as far from reality as the hope of being rescued. Labelled even a vision of the apocalypse, Lord of the Flies is perhaps our most memorable novel about “the end of innocence, the darkness of man’s heart.”
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| 4. | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time – Mark Haddon (Novel / Mystery) Although gifted with a superbly logical brain, for fifteen-year-old Christopher everyday interactions and admonishments have little meaning. He lives on patterns, rules, and a diagram kept in his pocket. Then one day, a neighbour’s dog, Wellington, is killed and his carefully constructive universe is threatened. Christopher sets out to solve the murder in the style of his favourite (logical) detective, Sherlock Holmes. What follows is funny, poignant and fascinating. |  |
| 5. | The Chrysalids – John Wyndham (Novel / Science-fiction) What if you live in a post-apocalyptic world, where radiation is causing genetic mutations in plants and animals…and humans? What if such mutations are looked upon as being impure and destructive, or in the case of humans, sterilised and cast out of society? In The Chrysalids, John Wyndham presents an anguished society where deviations are viewed as abominations. The intolerances rising from fear, the sad plight of the outcasts, and the desperate flight of those who would be found out. And yet, from an unbelievable source, there is hope…
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| 6. | Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini (Novel / Bildungsroman) Amir is the son of a wealthy Kabul merchant, a member of the ruling caste of Pashtuns. Hassan, his servant and constant companion, is a Hazara, a despised and impoverished caste. Their uncommon bond is torn by Amir’s choice to abandon his friend amidst the increasing ethnic, religious, and political tensions of the dying years of the Afghan monarchy, wrenching them far apart. But so strong is the bond between the two boys that Amir journeys back to a distant world, to try to right past wrongs against the only true friend he ever had. |  |
| 7. | Hiroshima – John Hersey (Non-fiction Literature / Memoirs / Japan)
John Hersey’s journalistic masterpiece, tells what happened on August 6, 1945, when Hiroshima was destroyed by the first atom bomb ever dropped on a city. The full horror of nuclear weapons to the post war generation is told through the memories of six survivors. Almost four decades after the original publication of this celebrated book, John Hersey went back to Hiroshima in search of the people whose stories he had told. His account of what he discovered about them is now the eloquent and moving final chapter of Hiroshima.
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| 8. | Crazy Rich Asians – Kevin Kwan (Novel / Satire, Romantic Comedy) {N.B. Trilogy includes China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems} Crazy Rich Asians is the outrageously funny debut novel about three super-rich, pedigreed Chinese families and the gossip, backbiting, and scheming that occurs when the heir to one of the most massive fortunes in Asia brings home his ABC (American-born Chinese) girlfriend to the wedding of the season. Uproarious, addictive, and filled with jaw-dropping opulence, the novel portrays multiple conflicts, yet what it means to be young, in love and gloriously rich.
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| 9. | Here & Beyond: 12 Stories – Cyril Wong (ed.) (Singaporean Short Stories) These 12 stories chart the emotional ups and downs of protagonists who strive to find meaning against the backdrop of negotiations between the local and the global, between the past and an ever-changing, urbanised present. Rediscovering the self and the value of relationships form the focus of these tales, which range from the realistic to the surreal, with the occasional epiphany about one’s mortality and the meaning of existence within the bustling city.
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| 10. | Heartland – Daren Shiau (Novel / Singaporean Literature)
Heartland explores the paradox of rootedness and rootlessness facing Singaporeans born after the Japanese Occupation. Wing, who has just been conscripted, is unable to reconcile his future but unwilling to dwell in the past. He finds his own meanings in an intense attachment to his surrounding landscape. Yet, as relationships and the years slip by him, Wing is irresistibly forced to question his own certainties and the wisdom of the people he values |  |
Other than these books, we also recommend students to read from reputable news sites:
Here’s why reading is important:
Brainpower Boost:
- Cognitive Development: Reading strengthens critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills. It exposes teens to complex ideas and vocabulary, enhancing their overall cognitive function.
- Memory and Concentration: Regularly engaging with text improves memory and strengthens concentration spans, beneficial for academic success and beyond.
Emotional Intelligence and Empathy:
- Understanding the World: Books offer windows into different cultures, experiences, and perspectives. This fosters empathy and helps teens develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
- Social and Emotional Learning: Reading exposes teens to a wide range of emotions and characters, allowing them to explore and navigate their own emotions in a safe space.
Lifelong Skills and Identity:
- Communication and Writing: Reading strengthens vocabulary and writing skills by providing exposure to different writing styles and sentence structures.
- Curiosity and Imagination: Books spark curiosity and ignite the imagination. They encourage exploration of new ideas and interests, helping teens develop their identities.
Stress Relief and Relaxation:
- Escape and Entertainment: Reading provides a healthy escape from daily pressures and allows teens to unwind and relax. It can be a source of comfort and entertainment.
- Stress Management: Getting lost in a good book can be a great way to de-stress, improve mood, and promote overall mental well-being.
Additionally:
- Improved Academic Performance: Strong reading skills are linked to better academic performance across all subjects.
- Vocabulary Expansion: Reading exposes teens to new words, improving their vocabulary and communication skills.
- Lifelong Learning Habit: Developing a love for reading in their teens sets the stage for lifelong learning and knowledge acquisition.
How Indigo Nurtures the Love for Reading :
Indigo’s pedagogy stands out as a uniquely tailored educational experience, thoughtfully designed to cater to the revised syllabus, academic requirements and latest exam trends.
Developed through rigorous research and meticulous design, our notes include current affairs and model essays, where students can extract relevant examples to use in their own exams. Reading a model essay every lesson not only helps students understand the requirements on writing a good essay, but also aids learning vocabulary and sentence structures. At indigo, we provide ala-carte essay services where students can upload their written essays for our teachers to mark, as well as provide consultation services when students are in need. Additionally, Indigo’s Oracle Telegram channel where our teachers curate relevant news articles that our students can read to gain extra knowledge.