"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" by Jesse Andrews

Short Book Summary

When he’s not doing his best to be invisible, high school senior Greg Gaines and his “co-worker” Earl Jackson make mediocre parody films for fun. Then Rachel Kushner, a past childhood friend, is diagnosed with leukemia, so Greg’s mom demands that he befriend her.

About the Cover

The theme of Greg and Earl’s parody films is a driving force in the novel, as they allow each of the three characters to connect and bond. The cover embodies the comical nature of their movies and the three main characters, and their character stories and personalities as I felt they related to the viewing of films: PAUSE, PLAY and STOP. Greg is laid-back and sarcastic and uses humour to get him through his experiences in life. When he befriends Rachel, he begins to put his own life on hold and makes a film for her. And, when she later passes away, Greg is unsure about his life after graduation, thus being representative of “PAUSE”. Earl, on the other hand, swears a lot and is brutally honest, but he’s a devoted friend to Greg and encourages him throughout the events he’s experiencing in the book, thus representative of the “PLAY” function and driving force of the group. Rachel is battling cancer and coming to terms with her mortality, and at the end of the novel she sadly passes, thus representing the “STOP” function. Each of the three characters are embodied as popcorn characters on the cover, as they encapsulate the filmmaking narrative and comical feel of Greg and Earl’s movies, and the characters themselves.

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

Short Book Summary

Charlie’s story is told through letters he writes to a “friend” about his life: his family, his lack of social life, his thoughts and feelings, and his aunt Helen. Charlie is described as a wallflower, someone who observes the world around him from afar and keeps quiet, and as the novel progresses and Charlie writes more letters about his experiences, he soon grows and evolves as a person.

About the Cover

The front cover depicts a faceless figure standing in the corner of a room, representing the main character Charlie, as Charlie is somewhat anonymous to the reader and could look like anyone. This figure is surrounded by blooming flowers, representing the growth of Charlie’s character through his triumphs and struggles and his hopes for him and those around him. The white wall, when observed from the front to the back cover, is a nod to Charlie’s letters and how he addresses the reader.

"The Outsiders" by S.E. Hinton

Short Book Summary

Fourteen-year-old Ponyboy Curtis is known as a “Greaser” and a rival of the rich kid gang, the “Socs”. So is Johnny Cade. One night, the two of them experience something that changes the course of their lives, for both better and worse, forever.

About the Cover

In the novel, “Greasers” have a reputation for being tough and rough-around-the-edges, but with Ponyboy and Johnny, there is more to them than their outwardly exterior and association with their gang. Both characters are depicted on the front cover, with layers to their profiles being ripped open and exposed to subtly show more to who their characters are: Johnny’s will to do what he thinks is right and his new love of sunsets, and Ponyboy’s sensitive and reflective nature. The layers also hint at the pivital events that these two experience together through the depictions of the church and a switchblade.