As students wrap up final exams and the stress of a hectic school year fades, it can be easy to let all thoughts of mental enrichment fade as well. With a little intention, though, summer can be a time when students reconnect with the idea of learning what they want to rather than what they must. If we want to instill a passion for lifelong learning, summer is a great opportunity, when students can take control. Summer classes (perhaps in completely non-academic areas, like pottery or scuba diving) are a great way to enjoy learning. Internships or volunteerism can also offer the chance for summer enrichment. But one of the easiest places to start can be to pick up a good book! Many parents treasure the relaxation of reading for pleasure on vacation and sharing that joy with students only requires a little bit of effort.

A suggestion this summer: choose a book to read with your child and make it a point to regularly discuss it as you read. Here’s a list of options for summer reading that will appeal to high school students and parents alike and will surely offer opportunities for meaningful discussion.

1. True at First Light. Ernest Hemingway. This tale of safari in Kenya doesn’t often make it onto high school English class reading lists but offers an easy to digest sample of one of the greatest fiction writers of the 20th century. Hemingway’s depiction of women has come under much criticism in recent years, and this book offers students and parents an opportunity to discuss the ways that literature can fuel dialogue about gender roles.
2. West with the Night. Beryl Markham. Pairs well with the first title on this list. Another tale set in 20th century Africa with the author as protagonist, but here from a female perspective. Markham is certainly not the type of woman that Hemingway depicts in his work.
3. Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Robert Pirsig. This 1974 classic follows a father and son on a cross-country road trip. Its examination of mental health and questions of the self vs. other are challenging to unpack, but are well worth the effort.
4. Why Does the World Exist? Jim Holt. For those who enjoy contemplating the big questions, Holt takes a very worthy stab at exploring perhaps the biggest of all. This 2012 bestseller offers some context for considering a question that can at once feel absurdly simple and impossibly complex.
5. Educated. Tara Westover. This memoir traces the childhood of the author, who was raised in a strict survivalist family in the mountains of Idaho. Her journey is unique in that she was initially forbidden to go to school, and came to discover the value of education in spite of her parents. An excellent read for students who struggle to see the value of school.
6. Hillbilly Elegy. J.D. Vance. Similar in some ways to Educated, this memoir is written by an author whose family history put up significant obstacles to his success. It diverges, though, to explore with brutal honesty the conflicted identity of poor, rural America.
7. Factfulness. Hans Rosling. This optimistic look at the world we live in will almost certainly leave you looking at our current position in the context of history in a new light. Perhaps more importantly, it offers useful thoughts about the importance of questioning our preconceptions. Great reading for those who have an interest in global trends.
8. Masters of the Games. Joseph Epstein. This collection of essays is a must for lovers of professional sports. Epstein covers a range of topics and time periods with flair and reveals lessons about why we get so connected to these games played by other people. The essays are generally short and easy to tackle in small servings. Making the book ideal for those who struggle with “getting into” longer works.
9. Kon Tiki. Thor Heyerdahl. At once a high-seas adventure story, an examination of human perseverance, and an argument for questioning conventional wisdom, Kon Tiki is a classic for a good reason. It’s a page turner and a great beach read, but it also can be an inspiration to pursue your passions.
10. Desert Solitaire. Edward Abbey. First published in 1968, the book is a poetic memoir of the author’s time working as a ranger in Arches National Park. It is a passionate argument for the value of wild places, and an exploration of the changes that man brings when he begins to visit them. The themes are perhaps even more relevant today than when originally written, and the book offers thought-provoking questions about the future of the American west.