Spread the Word: Keystone’s “Be a Bookworm” recommends great summer reads
At the Swedish National Museum, there’s a 17th-century oil painting titled A Young Man Reading at Candlelight. The image is simple: a young man, fully absorbed in a book, lit only by the soft glow of a candle. Yet across centuries and cultures, his quiet focus feels familiar. It reminds us that the act of reading—of losing oneself in words—is a deeply human moment that transcends time.
In our current era of constant notifications, algorithm-driven content, and rapid AI advancements, the need for slow, deliberate reading feels more urgent than ever. Especially for teenagers, books offer a space to practice patience, sit with complexity, grapple with unfamiliar ideas, and reconnect with the inner self. Keystone Academy encourages this kind of reading: more than a habit, it is part of our culture. Through the popular “Be a Bookworm” column in Keystone’s weekly In the Loop newsletter, the Keystone Libraries recommend books that are tied to current events or explore history, culture, education, or the future of technology. Still, other picks simply open a door to somewhere unexpected.
The summer holidays are upon us, and for those looking for something to pore over, we’ve gathered this year’s top recommended “Be a Bookworm” titles into a single list. It’s our invitation to anyone—student, parent, teacher, or friend—who wants to spend part of the break immersed in reading.
