Does reading make you smarter? Summer is here — the perfect time to delve into a good book, whether a literary classic or a fresh release.
Top seven books to read this summer
Left unread: Just one in three young people aged eight to 18 in the UK say they enjoy reading in their spare time. Glossary
Gothic - Characterised by gloom, mystery and horror.
Booker Prize - One of the most high-profile literary prizes for novels in the English language.
ISS - International Space Station. A large spacecraft in orbit around Earth.
Ecology - The study of the relationship between living things and their environment.
Prose - Writing or speaking that is natural and does not follow a style such as poetry.
Neurodivergent - People who process information in a different way to others. Examples of neurodiversity include autism and ADHD.
Nasa - The National Aeronautics and Space Administration, responsible for the US space programme.
Symbiotic - A mutually beneficial close relationship that lasts for a long time. Often used to describe two species of plants and animals that work together to survive.
Empathy - The capacity to understand and feel the suffering of others.
X - A social media network, formerly known as Twitter and owned by Elon Musk.